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On this day, 9 January 1987, synth-pop band The Human League played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall. The band had just released their 5th studio album Crash.
The album would provide the band with their second US number-one single, "Human", the same year. It was produced by the American production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who also wrote several tracks.
The album name was taken from a moment in the studio during the recording. Oakey described it thus:
It's from a crash cymbal, because it's a disco album again with lots of cymbals. One day somebody said "what sorts of cymbals do you want, a ride or a crash?", and we thought, "what a great title!"
Formed in Sheffield in 1977, initially an experimental electronic outfit, the group signed to Virgin Records in 1979 and later attained widespread commercial success with their third album Dare in 1981 after restructuring their lineup. The album contained four hit singles, including the UK/US number one hit "Don't You Want Me".
The band received the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1982. Further hits followed throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, including "Mirror Man", "(Keep Feeling) Fascination", "The Lebanon", "Human" (a second US No. 1) and "Tell Me When".
The only constant band member since 1977 has been lead singer and songwriter Philip Oakey.
SETLIST:
Hard Times
Money
The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
The Real Thing or I Need Your Loving
Do Or Die
Human
The Sound Of The Crowd
Love Action (I Believe In Love)
Jam
Love On The Run
Seconds
The Lebanon
Together In Electric Dreams
Party or I Need Your Loving
Mirror Man
Don't You Want Me
(Keep Feeling) Fascination
Rock'n'Roll
LIVE LINE UP:
Philip Oakey - vocals
Joanne Catherall - vocals
Susan Sulley - vocals
Ian Burden - bass & vocals
Neil Sutton - synthesizer
Russel Dennett - syntesizer, guitar, vocals
Jim Russell - drums
Meyrick - guitar, vocals
David Beevers - technical
