description The Human League - Dare! Overview
The Human League’s Dare! remains an iconic synth-pop album released in 1981. It significantly impacted popular music by blending electronic instrumentation with intelligent lyrics and danceable rhythms. The record's success broadened the appeal of new wave to a wider audience, particularly attracting fans of pop and electronic genres.
It is appreciated by those interested in 80s music history and influential British bands.
help The Human League - Dare! FAQ
Who produced Dare, and what gear shaped its sound?
Martin Rushent produced it, reportedly buying one of the first Linn LM-1 drum machines in the UK for the sessions. That machine plus the band's synths gave the record the precise electronic pulse that defined it.
What was the biggest single from Dare?
'Don't You Want Me' hit No. 1 on the UK Christmas chart in 1981 and went on to top the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. It remains the band's signature song and one of the best-selling singles of the era.
Is Dare the first album after the original Human League split?
Yes. Founders Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left in 1980 to form Heaven 17, and Dare was the first release by the rebuilt Philip Oakey-led lineup with Joanne Catherall, Susanne Sulley, and guitarist Jo Callis. It came out on Virgin Records in October 1981.
What other singles came off the album besides 'Don't You Want Me'?
'Love Action (I Believe in Love)' and 'Open Your Heart' both reached the UK Top 10 in 1981 ahead of the album's biggest hit. Combined with the No. 1, they made Dare a singles powerhouse rather than a one-hit record.
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