The official video for Love Action
Back a couple of weeks ago, KevinAZ was tweeting about Human League albums and I proceeded to listen to some albums from this Sheffield band that I hadn’t heard in years. And it reminded me what my favorite Human League song was “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” from the 1981 album “Dare“, which is also stylized as “Dare!“.
Hit Song
This particular song was released as a single in August 1981. Which for me, that would have been 2 months after I graduated from high school. I was big on new wave bands like Devo and the B-52’s and electronic music was all the rage. I knew of Human League, but had only heard a few songs from their previous albums. “Dare” was created after the band had a line-up change, with original member Martyn Ware leaving to start the band Heaven 17.
The song is about band leader Phil Oakey’s various relationships, including a shout out to himself.
The album had one other hit song, “Don’t You Want Me”, which helped propel the band into the mainstream. I liked “Don’t You Want Me” but it didn’t grab me like “Love Action” did at one point during the song.
Since 2014
Original image found at What’s On
So where is the band today? They are still together and perform live often. The band’s line-up has been pretty stable with the same three members being in the band since 1981, the year “Love Action” came out.
I don’t recall having a chance to see them live, but you can bet I would love to hear “Love Action” live.
I always had an appreciation of new wave music but only what I heard on the radio. Translation? My only Human League exposure is “Don’t You Want Me.” I should try more.
Heh, yes “Don’t You Want Me” is one on the list of songs that I shout “that’s not the only song they ever did” at the radio. Give Dare! a whirl, so many good songs there.
That hit song was great, and I heard it a lot. But it seemed to be overplayed, at least when it first hit the radio.
Excellent writeup. And good choice from Dare too. I love the Martyn Ware era. And love the first post-Ware album Dare. That I think is their masterpiece. Later albums as I found the other week were all very hit and miss.
I like Travelogue and most of what followed, but could never get into Reproduction (the good news about Ware leaving is that we got Heaven 17!). It’s sad that their follow-up albums didn’t get much play here in the US. I liked all of them… loved Octopus.
Thank you, sir. And thanks for the inspiration for this My Favorite Song post. And I agree, with some song exceptions, the albums after Dare were hit and miss.
I have many favorites by Human League. If forced to pick I’d probably pick “One Man in My Heart.” Did you ever hear “Credo?” I don’t think it was ever released in the US, but I’ve heard tracks from it on their compilation albums. “Never Let Me Go” is about as classic as it gets for a Human League track in 2010!
I will have to go listen to those songs. I am not recalling “One Man in My Heart”, “Credo” or “Never Let Me Go” Guess I need to go listen to a compilation album here to catch them and see it if jogs a music memory.