Human's Lib
Encyclopedia
Human's Lib is the debut album by British pop musician Howard Jones
. It was released in March 1984 and entered the UK Album Charts at the no. 1 spot, spending a total of 57 weeks in the charts. The album sold 100,000 copies in its first week of release and has been certified 2× Platinum by the BPI
for sales in excess of 600,000 copies. The album went gold in many European countries and was a big hit in Japan and the US.
Four songs from this album were released as singles in the UK, all of which reached the top 20: "New Song"
peaked at #3, "What Is Love?"
at #2, "Hide and Seek"
at #12,, and "Pearl in the Shell
" at #7. "New Song" and "What Is Love?" also made it into the Billboard
charts in the US.
"Equality" was released as a single only in South Africa
, as a commentary about the policy of apartheid there at the time.
Some CD editions substitute the 6:32 extended mix of "What Is Love?" for the 3:45 album version and add "China Dance", an instrumental B-side from the "Hide and Seek"
single, as a bonus track (track 11).
Howard Jones (musician)
Howard Jones is a musician, singer and songwriter. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, "Jones is an accomplished singer-songwriter who was a regular chart visitor in the mid 1980s with his brand of synthpop. Jones, who was equally popular in the U.S., appeared at Live...
. It was released in March 1984 and entered the UK Album Charts at the no. 1 spot, spending a total of 57 weeks in the charts. The album sold 100,000 copies in its first week of release and has been certified 2× Platinum by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
for sales in excess of 600,000 copies. The album went gold in many European countries and was a big hit in Japan and the US.
Four songs from this album were released as singles in the UK, all of which reached the top 20: "New Song"
New Song (Howard Jones song)
"New Song" is the debut single by musician Howard Jones, released in September 1983. The song, from the album Human's Lib, reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. The single spent 20 weeks on the Top 75. In the US, "New Song" peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, although it was not...
peaked at #3, "What Is Love?"
What Is Love (Howard Jones song)
"What Is Love?" was the second single by musician Howard Jones. Released in November 1983, from the album Human's Lib, it reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the singer's highest chart placing to date...
at #2, "Hide and Seek"
Hide and Seek (Howard Jones song)
"Hide and Seek" was the third single by musician Howard Jones. It was released in February 1984, and reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. It appears on Jones' album Human's Lib.The B-sides, "Tao Te Ching" and "China Dance", are both instrumentals...
at #12,, and "Pearl in the Shell
Pearl in the Shell
"Pearl in the Shell" is the fourth and final single released by musician Howard Jones from the album Human's Lib. Released in May 1984, the song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart...
" at #7. "New Song" and "What Is Love?" also made it into the Billboard
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts in the US.
"Equality" was released as a single only in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, as a commentary about the policy of apartheid there at the time.
Reception
Track listing
All tracks composed by Howard Jones unless indicated otherwise. Track timings are taken from the original UK LP edition.Some CD editions substitute the 6:32 extended mix of "What Is Love?" for the 3:45 album version and add "China Dance", an instrumental B-side from the "Hide and Seek"
Hide and Seek (Howard Jones song)
"Hide and Seek" was the third single by musician Howard Jones. It was released in February 1984, and reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. It appears on Jones' album Human's Lib.The B-sides, "Tao Te Ching" and "China Dance", are both instrumentals...
single, as a bonus track (track 11).
Personnel
- Howard Jones - synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
- Davey PayneDavey PayneDavid 'Davey' Payne is an English saxophonist best known as a member of Ian Dury's backing band The Blockheads, and his twin saxophone solo on their 1978 UK #1 single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"....
- saxophone - Stephen W. Tayler, Ben Rogan - engineer