HUMAN LEAGUE - THE SOUND OF THE CROWD

Released: April 24, 1981

Charts: UK: #12 

"The Sound of the Crowd" marked the band's commercial breakthrough, reaching #12 on the UK charts in May 1981. Written by Philip Oakey and Ian Burden, it was recorded at Genetic Sound Studios and released as a single in April 1981. Later, a remixed version was included in the album “Dare”. The track was the first to incorporate vocals from new members Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, who sang alongside Oakey’s lead vocals.

Following a split orchestrated by manager Bob Last, original members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh departed to form Heaven 17, leaving Philip Oakey and Adrian Wright uncertain about the band’s future. Facing an upcoming tour with Iggy Pop and a lack of musical experience, Oakey recruited two local club-goers, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, bringing a fresh dynamic to the lineup, even if it initially irked some fans. Soon after, musician Ian Burden joined, and with producer Martin Rushent, the reformed Human League created "The Sound of the Crowd." 

Ian Burden revealed that the lyrics for the song initially served as a placeholder. He had jotted down some spontaneous, stream-of-consciousness lines to convey his idea for the vocal parts to Philip Oakey, avoiding the typical "la-la-la" or humming approach. Burden expected Oakey to replace these with his own lyrics, but, to his surprise, Oakey kept Burden's original verse lyrics and instead wrote a new chorus.

No official promotional video was made for “The Sound of the Crowd”, but televised performances, including the band's Top of the Pops appearance on April 30, 1981, and a later performance on Later... with Jools Holland on November 25, 1995, were included as bonus content on the DVD accompanying “The Very Best of The Human League”.