Human's Lib
Human's Lib is the debut studio album by English synth-pop musician Howard Jones.[1] Released in March 1984, it entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week and remaining on the chart for 57 weeks.[2] The album's sound is characterized by prominent synthesizer arrangements and themes of personal empowerment and humanism, reflecting Jones's philosophical influences.[1] Key singles including "New Song", "What Is Love?", and "Things Can Only Get Better" achieved significant commercial success, with "What Is Love?" reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. Produced by Rupert Hine, Human's Lib marked Jones's breakthrough, establishing him as a prominent figure in the 1980s synth-pop scene amid the era's electronic music trends.[3] Its optimistic tone and melodic hooks contributed to strong reception, with the record later certified platinum in the UK for sales exceeding 300,000 units.[2]Background and recording
Conception and development
Howard Jones began developing the material for Human's Lib after years of performing in local bands and solo shows, starting from age 14 and persisting through multiple rejections before securing a record deal.[4] He honed his live setup using synthesizers such as the Roland Juno-60, Jupiter-8, and Moog Prodigy, alongside the TR-808 drum machine, playing in pubs and clubs while self-releasing cassette demos sold at gigs to support himself.[5] This period culminated in a signing to WEA Records in 1983, facilitated by A&R executive Paul Conroy, following Conroy's move from Stiff Records to Warner Brothers.[5] Songwriting for the album typically originated at the piano, where Jones quickly captured initial ideas before expanding them with elements from his live electronic rig, including drum machines and synthesizers reflective of early 1980s technology.[6] He described the process as responsive to sounds, often building songs around an inspiring sonic element—such as a beat or synthesizer patch—mutating it into structured form, which aligned with his exploratory blending of minimalism, piano, and electronic textures.[7][8] Lyrically, Jones collaborated with Bill Bryant on six of the album's ten tracks, contributing to themes of personal empowerment and humanism.[5] By the time of studio preparation, the songs were fully composed, with Jones providing detailed demos to producer Rupert Hine, who curated the final selection to maintain a cohesive tone, excluding some tracks deemed unsuitable.[5] This pre-production rigor ensured the album captured Jones's pioneering synthesizer experimentation, including early uses of Yamaha DX7 sounds for bass and flute-like timbres in tracks like "What Is Love?".[8] Jones later reflected that entering the studio marked his first experience with a professional producer, emphasizing Hine's role in extracting optimal performances while preserving the raw energy of his live-derived material.[5]Recording sessions and production techniques
The recording sessions for Human's Lib took place at Farmyard Studios over approximately five weeks in 1983, with producer Rupert Hine overseeing the process alongside engineer Stephen W. Tayler.[9][10] Jones arrived with pre-written songs and demos, allowing Hine to restructure arrangements rather than starting from basic sketches, emphasizing a collaborative refinement of Jones's existing programs.[5] The sessions utilized an early Solid State Logic (SSL) in-line mixing console with built-in compression on every channel and automation for precise control during mixing.[10][5] Production techniques centered on analogue tape recording combined with emerging digital elements, including separate tracking of drum machine outputs—such as bass drum, snare, and hi-hat—for individualized processing.[9] Drums were primarily sourced from an E-mu Drumulator for toms, with a LinnDrum providing time code for synchronization and a Simmons SDS6 for additional percussion; these were interfaced with synthesizers like PPG Wave models and enhanced via AMS digital delay units for effects like 16-second sampling and tempo-locked variations achieved by "freezing" time code loops.[9][10] Bass lines were performed live rather than sequenced, using Jones's rig including a Roland TR-808, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Roland Juno-60, Jupiter-8, and Moog Prodigy synthesizers.[5] Keyboards featured MIDI-linked systems, such as a Prophet T8 and dual Yamaha DX7s for layered soundscapes, with the DX7's presets providing bass and brass elements on tracks like "What Is Love?"—notably one of the first hit songs to prominently feature the instrument.[9][10] Additional sampling included Emulator II for flute-like shakuhachi tones and hi-hat loops performed by session drummer Trevor Morais with swing quantization.[10] Vocals were multitracked using slave reels to build layered harmonies, limited to no more than four takes per part to preserve spontaneous energy, with Hine contributing backing vocals.[10][5] Challenges included the Drumulator's unreliable tape-based sequencing, prompting a shift to LinnDrum for stability, while Hine restrained over-reliance on MIDI's expansive capabilities to maintain musical focus.[9] The approach prioritized punchy, dynamic sonics through SSL compression and hands-on mixing on the large console, resulting in a sound Jones later described as "fantastic" and attributable to Tayler and Hine's expertise.[10]Musical style and composition
Genre influences and sound
Human's Lib exemplifies the synth-pop genre prevalent in mid-1980s British music, characterized by its reliance on electronic instrumentation and melodic hooks designed for pop accessibility.[11] The album draws influences from earlier synth-pop and new wave acts, incorporating elements reminiscent of Ultravox's atmospheric synthesizers and Thomas Dolby's clever electronic textures, particularly in tracks like "Conditioning" and "Pearl in the Shell" that evoke a slightly darker, introspective edge amid upbeat arrangements.[3] Additional parallels exist with Tears For Fears' anthemic structures in "New Song" and Gary Numan's thematic motifs of control in "Conditioning," reflecting a synthesis of 1982–1984 new wave trends without pioneering entirely novel territory.[12] The sound is dominated by layered synthesizers providing leads, pads, and brass-like tones, paired with drum machine rhythms that drive danceable grooves, creating a bright, modern electronic palette suited to radio play.[3] Howard Jones' high tenor vocals, often overdubbed for harmonic depth, cut through the mix with clarity, emphasizing emotional delivery over raw power, as heard in the soaring choruses of "What Is Love?" and "New Song."[12] Occasional acoustic touches, such as saxophone on "Pearl in the Shell," add organic contrast to the predominantly synthetic framework, while the overall production yields a polished, optimistic tone that aligns with the era's commercial synth-pop wave.[3] This combination results in competent, melody-focused tracks that prioritize listener engagement through familiar yet effective electronic motifs.[10]Lyrics, themes, and song structures
The lyrics of Human's Lib emphasize themes of personal and societal liberation, introspection, and the rejection of artificial constraints on human nature, often infused with optimistic self-help philosophy derived from spiritual influences including William Bryant's teachings.[3] Tracks like "Conditioning," "Pearl in the Shell," and the title song incorporate Bryant's contributions, blending positive affirmations with undertones of darker human impulses such as lust, aggression, and self-destructive tendencies, while advocating for their natural acknowledgment over repression.[3] [13] The album critiques societal norms and encourages challenging preconceived ideas, as in "New Song," where Jones urges listeners to question appearances, fears, and inherited beliefs to foster originality and open-mindedness.[14] [4] Individual songs delve into specific facets of these themes. "What Is Love?" interrogates the essence of romantic connection amid emotional barriers, positioning love as a profound, transformative force.[3] "Hunt the Self" promotes rigorous self-examination to uncover authentic identity, while "Equality" addresses systemic divisions—extending beyond racial prejudice to any structures that foster opposition among people—and calls for unity through empathy.[15] [16] "Don't Always Suicide" confronts despair and suicidal ideation with messages of resilience and hope, countering bleak introspection with appeals to endurance.[17] The title track "Human's Lib" explicitly grapples with primal urges—"lust and drink" or "hit[ting] some people"—framing them as inherent rather than cursed, and posits liberation through embracing natural human inclinations without moralistic overlays.[13] [15] Overall, the lyrical content reflects a humanistic ethos prioritizing emotional authenticity and philosophical inquiry over conformity.[3] Song structures adhere to synth-pop conventions, typically featuring concise verses building to anthemic choruses, synth-driven intros, and bridges that heighten tension through layered keyboards and dynamic builds.[3] "New Song" deviates by employing a non-repetitive chorus structure, prioritizing narrative progression and rhythmic drive over cyclical hooks to underscore its theme of innovation.[18] Atmospheric tracks like "Hide and Seek" extend durations (5:34) with expansive instrumental sections, incorporating echoing synths and minimalistic percussion for introspective mood, while hits such as "What Is Love?" (3:45) and "Pearl in the Shell" (4:03) maintain tighter, radio-friendly formats with verse-pre-chorus-chorus patterns and vocal hooks masked slightly by dense production.[3] "Out of Thin Air" concludes with ethereal, fading synth washes, emphasizing thematic closure through ambient resolution rather than resolution via traditional refrains.[15] These arrangements balance accessibility with experimental edges, aligning structure to lyrical intent—propulsive for calls to action, expansive for philosophical depth.[3]Release and promotion
Initial release and formats
Human's Lib was initially released in the United Kingdom on 9 March 1984 by WEA Records Ltd.[19][20] The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, reflecting strong pre-release demand driven by preceding singles.[3] It was issued in three primary formats: a 12-inch vinyl LP (catalogue WX 1), an audio cassette (WXC 1), and a compact disc, marking an early adoption of CD alongside traditional media in the synth-pop genre.[3][21] The vinyl pressing featured standard black discs, with limited white vinyl editions produced later. In the United States, Elektra Records handled distribution, releasing the album on 12 June 1984 primarily on vinyl LP (60346-1) and cassette, ahead of widespread CD availability.[22][21]Singles and chart performance
"New Song", released in August 1983 as Howard Jones's debut single, entered the UK Singles Chart on 3 September 1983 and peaked at number 3, spending 20 weeks in the top 100.[23] In the United States, it reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984. The track's success preceded the album's release and established Jones's synth-pop style in the market. The follow-up single, "What Is Love?", issued in November 1983, climbed to number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, held from the top spot by Paul McCartney's "Pipes of Peace", and charted for 15 weeks.[24] It performed more modestly in the US, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's philosophical lyrics and electronic arrangement contributed to its radio play and helped propel anticipation for Human's Lib. "Pearl in the Shell", released in May 1984 as the third single, achieved a peak of number 7 on the UK Singles Chart over 12 weeks.[25] It received limited US promotion and bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at number 108, failing to enter the main chart. No further singles from the album charted significantly, though promotional versions of tracks like "Hunt the Self" appeared in limited formats without commercial impact.[26]| Single | Release Date | UK Peak | US Peak (Billboard Hot 100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "New Song" | August 1983 | 3 | 27 |
| "What Is Love?" | November 1983 | 2 | 33 |
| "Pearl in the Shell" | May 1984 | 7 | — (bubbled under at 108) |
Commercial success
Album charts and sales
Human's Lib debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart upon its release on 9 March 1984, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week and accumulating 57 weeks on the chart, with two weeks at the summit.[28][22] In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number 167 on 24 March 1984, eventually peaking at number 59 and spending 43 weeks on the chart.[22] The album's chart performance extended to other territories, including a peak of number 18 in Canada and appearances in the Netherlands and New Zealand.[29]| Country | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 |
| United States | 59 |
| Canada | 18 |