Day 0489 - Dare

The Human League "Dare" (19881) - got it

The Human League had lost two of its founding members Maryn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh who were busy getting Heaven 17 up and running.

Lead singer Philip Oakley recruited two teenage girls as dancers/backing vocalists and set about making the 80s-est 80s album to ever 80s.  The band's previous, more experimental sound is given the odd nod, particularly in selected tracks on side B, but mostly this album is stripped-down, catchy synth-pop finery.

Track "Don't you want me" is one of those big 80s hits that most people know.

Day 0473 - UB40 "Signing off" (1980)

UB40 "Signing off" (1980)

 
I was most familiar with UB40 as purveyors of slightly twee reggae covers of Elvis and Neil Diamond songs; but this is actually a strong, moody reggae offering.

The band came from a working class background in Birmingham and funnelled discontent around their grim reality (the high unemployment figures, the rise of Margaret Thatcher's government, and the increasing popularity of the racist party the National Front) into lyrics that ranged from downbeat to scathing.

The music also ranged from lengthy atmospheric reggae jams, to deep rocksteady grooves and all with Ali Campbell's strong, heartfelt vocals.

At 66 minutes long, it was probably a little too much UB40 for my tastes, but then reggae has never been a genre that could hold my attention for too long a time.