Track of the Week 2: 'The Sound of the Crowd' by The Human League
Well, as it is from this track that the title of this blog is taken, it had to be 'Track Of The Week' sometime and I thought now was a good a time as any.
'The Sound of the Crowd' was released 20th April 1981 and is in every way, shape and form, a Human League record- those thumping electronic drums, Phil Oakey's powerful vocal, and of course a complete lack of acoustic instruments (as gleefully advertised on the liner notes for the band's
legendary album 'Dare', from which this track is taken).
Probably due to its fearsome rhythm, or perhaps due to the often nonsensical lyrics (eg. 'make a shroud pulling combs through a backwash frame...'), the track was considered better defined as a 'dance' record than a 'pop' record by the band, and was therefore subjected to their unique (though short-lived) habit of labelling their singles as 'blue' (for pop records) or 'red' (for dance records).
Personally, I don't think it really matters what you call it- it's a great song that is a near-perfect example of the emerging synth scene in the early '80s, and whilst due to this it can sound a little bit dated, you can guarantee that if you put this on at a party- loudly, of course- it's sure to get people dancing.
People really DO look good when the music is loud, you know...
