The selection kicks off with The Things That Dreams Are Made Of. I first came across the US-based blog DreamTime in the mid-2000s, where predominantly 1980s songs would be spliced and re-edited to create super extended versions. Sometimes they just didn't work, either due to using incompatible mixes or variable vinyl sources; sometimes, they hit the spot. I'd place The Things That Dreams Are Made Of in the latter category, taking elements from the Dare and Love And Dancing* versions to create nearly ten minutes of synthpop greatness. The blog is long gone, but DreamTime is still going strong on Soundcloud, currently featuring the likes of Simple Minds, Heaven 17, Kate Bush, a-ha, Talk Talk and David Bowie.
* Yes, I know that the latter is officially The League Unlimited Orchestra and not The Human League, but I'm not complaining.
DreamTime's re-edits pay homage to Razormaid and Hot Tracks (in turn inspired by 1970s innovators such as Tom Moulton, Larry Levan and Walter Gibbons) and I've included a couple of examples here. Steven Tucker (Hot Tracks) stretches out (Keep Feeling) Fascination whilst Art Maharg (Razormaid) remixes 1990 comeback single Heart Like A Wheel.
There are a few original 1980s extended versions, too: Love Action (I Believe In Love), co-produced with Martin Rushent, appears as the penultimate song on Dare and was segued with Hard Times on the original 12" single in 1981. The Sign first appeared on follow-up album Hysteria and was remixed by Nigel Walker for the 12" single B-side for Louise in 1984. Love Is All That Matters was released as the final single from Crash, produced and co-written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, fresh from working with Janet Jackson on the super successful Control. It was a testing time for the band and fans alike.
The Human League's most recent album of new material was Credo, preceded by the single Night People in 2010. Again, there appears to have been a mixed response to the album and it didn't reclaim the commercial success of previous albums, but I like it a lot. Here, the legendary French producer Cerrone (who turned 70 in May - belated happy birthday wishes!) amps up the heavy disco sound of the original.
Last but not least, the intriguingly named T.O.E.C. - an acronym for Two On Each Camel, apparently - remix big mid-1990s hit One Man In My Heart, a rare outing for Susanne Sulley on lead vocals. T.O.E.C. are/was Swedish production duo Joakim Björklund and Sören Elonsson and when I hear this remix, I can't help but be reminded of fellow Swedes Ace Of Base and All That She Wants, not a huge surprise as T.O.E.C. produced a couple of tracks on the same album, Happy Nation.
I've never seen The Human League live in concert mainly because they had an annoying habit of playing in Bristol on or around my birthday, when I was otherwise engaged. They've just announced an open air concert at Dreamland in Margate in July 2023, featuring support from none other than Marc Almond. I've no plans to go, but it sounds fantastic.
1) The Things That Dreams Are Made Of (DreamTime Mix) (2007)
2) (Keep Feeling) Fascination (Digital Mix) (1997)
3) The Sign (Extended Re-Mix) (1984)
4) Love Action (I Believe In Love) (12" Edit/Album Version) (1981)
5) Love Is All That Matters (Extended Remix) (1988)
6) Night People (Cerrone Club Mix) (2010)
7) Heart Like A Wheel (Razormaid Mix) (1990)
8) One Man In My Heart (T.O.E.C. Extended) (1995)
1981: Dare: 4
1984: Louise (12" single): 3
1988: Love Is All That Matters (12" single): 5
1990: This Is Only A Test! Volume 9 (Razormaid CD): 7
1995: One Man In My Heart (CD single): 8
1997: Hot Tracks: The Edge Level 03 (Hot Tracks CD): 2
2007: The Things That Dreams Are Made Of (bootleg MP3): 1
2010: Night People (promo CD): 6
Superb!!!! I'm off on holiday soon and I like having 50-60 minute mixes to hand as the end is my cue to either top up the sun cream, turn over and apply fresh sun cream or head into the shade. This will work perfectly.....Cheers!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, JC, I hope you enjoy it! I would advise caution if taking the recent Julian Cope selection with you. It runs to 65 minutes and I'd hate to be indirectly responsible for a case of sunburn ;-)
DeleteIf you're not already on your hols when you read this, check the TVV inbox and there's something there for you.