Hysteria (The Human League album)
Occupation
- Philip Oakey: Vocals, Keyboards, Programming
- Jo Callis: vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Susanne Sulley: Voice
- Joanne Catherall: Voice
Hysteria is the fourth studio album by British synthpop band The Human League.
Genesis
After the worldwide commercial success of Dare! the band went first again with Martin Rushent into the studio. During the recordings of the rhythm tracks to the Titles To Hurt, Love you too Much and Do not you know it came between the producer and the band to the dispute. Rushent left the production and Chris Thomas was hired to finish the album. With The Sign, another rhythm of Jim Russell has been programmed which was more involved in the compositions on the following album Crash. Russell was previously drummer of the British pub rock band The Inmates. He had already worked with Rushent during the recording of Pete Shelley's solo album XL-1 as a drummer. But Thomas left the project unfinished, so that the album was finally completed with Hugh Padgham as a producer. Overall, the production moved back about two and a half years. The long wait bridged the label Virgin Records with the EP Fascination! .
Publication and chart success
The album debuted on May 19, 1984 at number three on the UK albums chart, spending a total of 18 weeks. The British Records Association BPI certified gold record in May 1984. The three coupled-out singles were able to place the UK Top 40, only un. In the Media Control Charts, the album reached number 44 and stayed 8 weeks. In the Billboard 200, the album reached number 62
Reception
Andy Kellmann plays in his review for the music Databank Allmusic on the long gestation period of the album and thinks it sounds exactly as you would the expected under the pressure of the certified with a platinum record predecessor: The melodies are occasionally dull and the arrangements often bloodless.