Search - Human League :: Human League - Greatest Hits

Didnt Realize They Had So Many Hit Songs, Did You?

G. Joseph Evans | Port Jefferson Station, NY USA | 04/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Strangely enough, The Human League actually has four completely different "Greatest Hits" compilations. The first was "Human League Greatest Hits" released in 1988 with 12 tracks. The second was "The Human League Greatest Hits" released in 1995 with 16 tracks. The third was "The Best Of The Human League" released in 1997 with 16 totally different tracks, and finally there's "The Very Best of The Human League" (hmm...yet another original title) released in 1998 with 13 tracks. What's even stranger, for Human League fans anyway, is that the song "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" does not appear on any of these albums. So in addition to one of these compilations, you will still need to buy the League's signature album, "Dare!" to get this song, which IS one of their best songs ever. Besides "Don't You Want Me", "(Keep Feeling) Fascination", "Mirror Man", "Human" and "Tell Me When", the other songs will probably not be so familiar with people in the United States because they were actually U.K top ten hits. The song "Being Boiled" which appears on three of the "Greatest" albums is the only disappointment simply because it is not the revamped techno-punk version that appears on the "Travelogue" album, but rather the original (and very bland) version that was recorded in 1978 on the Fast Product independent label. Otherwise, this really is a chock full of goodies from The Human League, the undisputed pioneers of synth pop."

Worthwhile Greatest Hits

G. Joseph Evans | 06/06/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Human League has released some above-average songs through the years. There are no duds on this hits collection. I've always thought that the lead singer had an original voice. No one else sounds like him. Far as I'm concerned, if they sound like no one else, they're not a bad singer. My personal favorites are: "Human," "Don't You Want Me," and "The Lebanon." These guys deserve respect for some of the best pop released."

An essential New Wave compilation

Marc Dalesandro | Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada | 03/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This version of the Human League's "Greatest Hits" is the one to buy. You get 16 tracks, basically maxing out the CD's capacity with an assortment of New Wave classics from this pioneering band.



Sure, Phil Oakey (note: NOT "Oakley") and the girls had a few misses that were somehow included here ("Being Boiled" and the very annoying - though chart topping - "Human"), but there is also a wealth of great tunes. "Don't You Want Me", "(Keep Feeling) Fascination", "The Lebanon", and my favorite, the wistful and beautiful "Together In Electric Dreams".



Their 1994 hit "Tell Me When", from their comeback album "Octupus" is also included. The only notable absent song is 1990's "Heart Like A Wheel".



Human League blended intricate synth soundscapes with great vocal performances to create some of the premier New Wave compositions of the 80s and 90s. This compilation is a great overview of their career to date. Five stars!



P.S. The liner notes on "Greatest Hits" are copious and informative."