Secrets (The Human League album): Difference between revisions

Secrets
Secrets
Studio album by The Human League
Released	6 August 2001
Recorded	2000–2001
Genre	Pop, electronic
Length	51:46
Label	Papillon Records; BTFLYCD0019
Producer	Toy (Dave Clayton and Kerry Hopwood)
The Human League chronology
Singles from Secrets
	"All I Ever Wanted"; Released: 23 July 2001; "Love Me Madly?"; Released: 2003;

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Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Alternative Press	7/10^[2]
Dotmusic	8/10^[3]
The Gazette	^[4]
The Guardian	^[5]
The Independent	^[6]
Muzik	4/5^[7]
Q	^[8]
The Times	^[9]
Uncut	^[10]

Secrets is the eighth studio album by British synth-pop band The Human League. It was issued in 2001 by Papillon Records and was the Human League's first studio album in six years. The album was well-received by critics but performed poorly commercially.^[11]

Background

As on the previous album Octopus, the band was presented as a trio of singers – Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley (credited by her married name, Susan Ann Gayle, which she would drop professionally in October 2007), although band member Neil Sutton contributed songwriting and keyboards.

Following the band's short stint with East West Records for their top-ten 1995 album Octopus, they signed to Papillon Records in May 2000 and began recording tracks for the album with production team TOY, featuring former ABC members Dave Clayton, Q, and Kerry Hopwood, at the act's studio in Sheffield.^[12]

In a Guardian interview to promote the record, Oakey spoke of the personal difficulties that he and Sulley experienced during the nineties. Both had medicated with Prozac to cope. He said that Secrets has "the overall feeling of mental illness about it".^[13]

The album contains sixteen tracks, seven of which are short, transitional instrumentals.

"I was probably more happy with that album than with any other," Oakey said in 2003.^[14]

Release

The album was released in the UK on August 06, 2001.^[1] It opened on the UK Albums Chart at number 44,^[15] selling only 4,143 copies in its first week.^[16] It is their joint-lowest charting UK album, along with Credo released a decade later in 2011.^[15] Commercial success was hampered due to the bankruptcy of Papillon (a division of Chrysalis Records) shortly after its release.^[17] On the poor charting, Oakey said in 2008: "That took us aback for a bit. We realized that we have to find different ways to get our music to people. And to be honest, listeners have grown older. They don't go out of their way to find music like they did when they were teens."^[18] As of March 2011, the album had total sales of 11,854 copies.^[16] Secrets was released in the United States on Ark21 Records November 2001.^[19] The first single "All I Ever Wanted" returned the Human League to the UK Singles Chart after a five-year absence peaking at number forty-seven.^[15] In 2003, after the collapse of Papillon Records, a follow-up single from Secrets, "Love Me Madly?," was released privately by Michiel Van Bokhorst's Nukove Records, a company set up especially to release Human League records.^[20] The album was reissued as a deluxe 2CD version in April 2018 by Edsel Records.^[21] As part of Record Store Day 2018, the album was issued for the first time as a three-sided double LP white vinyl.^[22]

Critical reception

The album was generally well-received by critics in the UK.^[11] The Times gave a positive review. David Stubbs wrote: "Secrets is a pleasing mixture of old style Human League and state-of-the-art techno pop. Songs such as All I Ever Wanted and Liar are splendidly melodramatic, with Phil Oakey's voice the perfect antidote to the sub-Mariah [Carey] vocal aerobics peddled by today's pop groups."^[9] The Guardian's Betty Clarke was also favourable. She wrote: "Philip Oakey still writes catchy yet ambiguous pop songs, and his voice manages to be both severe and tender... This isn't just a return to form: it stands alone as completely brilliant."^[5] Steven Clark of The List was very favourable, and called it a "return to the trademark Human League sound... to say it's their best album since Dare is faint praise." He concluded, saying: "[S]o the fact that in 2001 they are actually valid and making excellent pop music puts the Human League back to the top of the league."^[23]

Some critics were more mixed and felt the music lacked the hooks of their early hits. Wayne Hoffman of Billboard wrote: "Seven instrumental interludes offer some respite from uninspired lyrics. But there's little new ground broken here. And one key ingredient of Human League's recipe is lacking: irresistible hooks that drove such hits as "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" and "Human."^[24] Likewise, Andy Gill of The Independent felt the band had made little progress from their "Dare heyday". While he named some tracks on the album to be admired, he felt that "the hooks here aren't anywhere near as adhesive as 'Love Action' and 'Don't You Want Me'."^[25] The BBC's Tim Masters however, disagreed with this stance, saying: "After some disappointing albums in the late 80s and early 90s, the Human League have achieved that rarest of feats: a record with more hooks than a fisherman's kit bag. The opening track 'All I Ever Wanted' is like the last two decades never happened."^[26]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"All I Ever Wanted"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	3:32
2.	"Nervous" (transitional track)	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton, Toy	2:05
3.	"Love Me Madly?"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	4:08
4.	"Shameless"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	3:56
5.	"122.3 BPM" (transitional track)	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton, Toy	1:39
6.	"Never Give Your Heart"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	3:48
7.	"Ran" (transitional track)	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	0:49
8.	"The Snake"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	4:25
9.	"Ringinglow" (transitional track)	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton, Toy	3:23
10.	"Liar"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	3:21
11.	"Lament" (transitional track)	Neil Sutton	1:12
12.	"Reflections (Demons of the Mind)"	Steve Fellowes, Philip Oakley	6:38
13.	"Brute" (transitional track)	Philip Oakley	2:27
14.	"Sin City"	Philip Oakley	4:24
15.	"Release" (transitional track)	Neil Sutton	1:58
16.	"You'Il Be Sorry"	Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton	4:01
Total length:			51:46

Chart performance

Chart (2001)	Peak position
German Albums Chart^[27]	64
UK Albums Chart^[15]	44

References

^ ^a ^b DiGravina, Tim. "The Human League: Secrets". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
^ "The Human League: Secrets". Alternative Press. April 2002. p. 77.
^ Wade, Ian (3 August 2001). "Human League - Secrets (Papillon)". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 2 January 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
^ Lepage, Mark (25 April 2002). "Power ballads from a pro". The Gazette. p. 37.
^ ^a ^b Clarke, Betty (3 August 2001). "Friday Review". The Guardian. p. 14.
^ Price, Simon (29 July 2001). "DISCS ETC: Music CDs". The Independent. p. 14.
^ Green, Thomas (August 2001). "Human League: Secrets (Papillon)". Muzik. No. 75. p. 74. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
^ Kane, Peter (August 2001). "Synthpop Doyens Return Winningly After 6 Years. Daft Who?". Q (179).
^ ^a ^b Stubbs, David (4 August 2001). "Pop albums". The Times. p. 13.
^ Reynolds, Simon (September 2001). "The Human League - Secrets". Uncut: 100.
^ ^a ^b Hughes, Josiah (13 January 2010). "Human League Sign to Wall of Sound for New Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ "Papillon inks deal with Human League". Music Week: 8. 20 May 2000.
^ Lester, Paul (13 July 2001). "Human remains: Two decades after their synthpop assault on the charts, the Human League are back". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
^ Buckley, David (October 2003). "Back to the future". Mojo. No. 119. p. 49.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Human League". Official Charts Company.
^ ^a ^b "Key Releases - 26.03.11". Music Week: 28. 26 March 2011.
^ Green, Thomas (3 April 2011). "theartsdesk Q&A: Pop Musicians The Human League". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
^ Iwasaki, Scott (1 August 2008). "Musicians still in League". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019.
^ "New This Weekend; Pop Albums". Los Angeles Times. 1 November 2001. p. F.5.
^ Van Bokhorst, Michiel Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Human League / Secrets 2CD deluxe - superdeluxeedition". www.superdeluxeedition.com.
^ Trendell, Andrew (6 March 2018). "This is the full list of Record Store Day 2018 releases". NME. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
^ Clark, Steven (29 November 2001). "Electronica/Pop - Human League". The List (429): 52. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
^ Hoffman, Wayne (3 November 2001). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. 113 (44): 41. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ Gill, Andy (26 July 2001). "Albums: The Human League". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
^ Masters, Tim (3 August 2001). "Secrets is top of the League". BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
^ "charts.de". charts.de. 27 July 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2012.^{[dead link‍]}

[AllMusic-1] DiGravina, Tim. "The Human League: Secrets". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2020.

[2] "The Human League: Secrets". Alternative Press. April 2002. p. 77.

[3] Wade, Ian (3 August 2001). "Human League - Secrets (Papillon)". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 2 January 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2019.

[4] Lepage, Mark (25 April 2002). "Power ballads from a pro". The Gazette. p. 37.

[Guardian-5] Clarke, Betty (3 August 2001). "Friday Review". The Guardian. p. 14.

[6] Price, Simon (29 July 2001). "DISCS ETC: Music CDs". The Independent. p. 14.

[7] Green, Thomas (August 2001). "Human League: Secrets (Papillon)". Muzik. No. 75. p. 74. Retrieved 6 November 2020.

[8] Kane, Peter (August 2001). "Synthpop Doyens Return Winningly After 6 Years. Daft Who?". Q (179).

[The_Times-9] Stubbs, David (4 August 2001). "Pop albums". The Times. p. 13.

[10] Reynolds, Simon (September 2001). "The Human League - Secrets". Uncut: 100.

[Exclaim-11] Hughes, Josiah (13 January 2010). "Human League Sign to Wall of Sound for New Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2 May 2019.

[12] "Papillon inks deal with Human League". Music Week: 8. 20 May 2000.

[13] Lester, Paul (13 July 2001). "Human remains: Two decades after their synthpop assault on the charts, the Human League are back". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2019.

[14] Buckley, David (October 2003). "Back to the future". Mojo. No. 119. p. 49.

[UK_charts-15] "The Human League". Official Charts Company.

[Music_Week-16] "Key Releases - 26.03.11". Music Week: 28. 26 March 2011.

[17] Green, Thomas (3 April 2011). "theartsdesk Q&A: Pop Musicians The Human League". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 25 April 2019.

[18] Iwasaki, Scott (1 August 2008). "Musicians still in League". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019.

[19] "New This Weekend; Pop Albums". Los Angeles Times. 1 November 2001. p. F.5.

[20] Van Bokhorst, Michiel Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[21] "Human League / Secrets 2CD deluxe - superdeluxeedition". www.superdeluxeedition.com.

[22] Trendell, Andrew (6 March 2018). "This is the full list of Record Store Day 2018 releases". NME. Retrieved 25 April 2019.

[23] Clark, Steven (29 November 2001). "Electronica/Pop - Human League". The List (429): 52. Retrieved 25 April 2019.

[24] Hoffman, Wayne (3 November 2001). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. 113 (44): 41. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

[25] Gill, Andy (26 July 2001). "Albums: The Human League". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

[26] Masters, Tim (3 August 2001). "Secrets is top of the League". BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2019.

[27] "charts.de". charts.de. 27 July 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2012.^{[dead link‍]}

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@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | alt        =
 | released   = 6 August 2001
-| recorded   = 2000-2001
+| recorded   = 2000–2001
 | venue      =
 | studio     =
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 {{Album ratings
 |rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
-|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r550441|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
+|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/secrets-mw0000016641 |title=The Human League: Secrets |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=14 November 2020 |last=DiGravina |first=Tim}}</ref>
-|rev2 = ''[[Alternative Press]]''
+|rev2 = ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]''
 |rev2score = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Human League: Secrets |magazine=Alternative Press |date=April 2002 |page=77}}</ref>
 |rev3 = ''[[Dotmusic]]''
-|rev3score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Wade |first=Ian |title=Human League - Secrets (Papillon) |url=http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/August2001/reviews21333.asp |publisher=Dotmusic |accessdate=1 April 2019 |date=3 August 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040102205248/http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/August2001/reviews21333.asp |archive-date=2 January 2004 }}</ref>
+|rev3score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Wade |first=Ian |title=Human League - Secrets (Papillon) |url=http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/August2001/reviews21333.asp |website=Dotmusic |accessdate=1 April 2019 |date=3 August 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040102205248/http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/August2001/reviews21333.asp |archive-date=2 January 2004 }}</ref>
 |rev4 = ''[[Montreal Gazette|The Gazette]]''
 |rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Lepage |first=Mark |title=Power ballads from a pro |work=The Gazette |date=25 April 2002 |page=37}}</ref>
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 |rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Betty |title=Friday Review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/aug/03/shopping.artsfeatures1 |work=The Guardian |date=3 August 2001 |page=14}}</ref>
 |rev6 = ''[[The Independent]]''
-|rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Price |first=Simon |title=DISCS ETC: Music CDs |work=The Independent |date=29 July 2001 |page=14 |authorlink=Simon Price}}</ref>
+|rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Price |first=Simon |title=DISCS ETC: Music CDs |work=The Independent |date=29 July 2001 |page=14 |author-link=Simon Price}}</ref>
 |rev7 = ''[[Muzik]]''
-|rev7score = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Green |first=Thomas |title=Human League: Secrets (Papillon) |magazine=Muzik |date=August 2001 |issue=75 |page=74 |url=http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik075_august_2001.pdf |accessdate=6 November 2020}}</ref>
+|rev7score = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Green |first=Thomas |title=Human League: Secrets (Papillon) |magazine=Muzik |date=August 2001 |issue=75 |page=74 |url=https://archive.org/details/muzik075_august_2001/page/n73/mode/2up |accessdate=6 November 2020}}</ref>
 |rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
 |rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kane |first=Peter |title=Synthpop Doyens Return Winningly After 6 Years. Daft Who? |journal=Q |date=August 2001 |issue=179}}</ref>
 |rev9 = ''[[The Times]]''
-|rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="The Times">{{cite news |last=Stubbs |first=David |title=Pop albums |work=The Times |date=4 August 2001 |page=13 |authorlink=David Stubbs}}</ref>
+|rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="The Times">{{cite news |last=Stubbs |first=David |title=Pop albums |work=The Times |date=4 August 2001 |page=13 |author-link=David Stubbs}}</ref>
 |rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
-|rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |title=The Human League - Secrets |journal=Uncut |date=September 2001 |page=100 |authorlink=Simon Reynolds}}</ref>
+|rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |title=The Human League - Secrets |journal=Uncut |date=September 2001 |page=100 |author-link=Simon Reynolds}}</ref>
 }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
-'''''Secrets''''' is the eighth studio album recorded by British [[synthpop]] band [[The Human League]]. It was issued in 2001 by [[Papillon Records]] and was the Human League's first studio album in six years. The album was well-received by critics but performed poorly commercially.<ref name="Exclaim">{{cite magazine |last=Hughes |first=Josiah |title=Human League Sign to Wall of Sound for New Album |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/human_league_sign_to_wall_of_sound_for_new_album |magazine=Exclaim! |accessdate=2 May 2019 |date=13 January 2010}}</ref>
+'''''Secrets''''' is the eighth studio album by British [[synth-pop]] band [[The Human League]]. It was issued in 2001 by [[Papillon Records]] and was the Human League's first studio album in six years. The album was well-received by critics but performed poorly commercially.<ref name="Exclaim">{{cite magazine |last=Hughes |first=Josiah |title=Human League Sign to Wall of Sound for New Album |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/human_league_sign_to_wall_of_sound_for_new_album |magazine=Exclaim! |accessdate=2 May 2019 |date=13 January 2010}}</ref>
 ==Background==
-As on the previous album ''[[Octopus (Human League album)|Octopus]]'', the band was presented as a trio of singers – [[Philip Oakey]], [[Joanne Catherall]] and [[Susan Ann Sulley]] (credited by her married name Susan Ann Gayle, which she would drop professionally in October 2007) – although band member [[Neil Sutton]] contributed songwriting and keyboards.
+As on the previous album ''[[Octopus (Human League album)|Octopus]]'', the band was presented as a trio of singers – [[Philip Oakey]], [[Joanne Catherall]] and [[Susan Ann Sulley]] (credited by her married name, Susan Ann Gayle, which she would drop professionally in October 2007), although band member [[Neil Sutton]] contributed songwriting and keyboards.
-Following the band's short stint with [[East West Records]] for their top-ten 1995 album ''Octopus'', they signed to [[Papillon Records]] in May 2000 and began recording tracks for the album with production team TOY – featuring former ABC member Dave Clayton, Q and Kerry Hopwood – at the act's studio in Sheffield.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Papillon inks deal with Human League |journal=Music Week |date=20 May 2000 |page=8}}</ref>
+Following the band's short stint with [[East West Records]] for their top-ten 1995 album ''Octopus'', they signed to [[Papillon Records]] in May 2000 and began recording tracks for the album with production team TOY, featuring former ABC members Dave Clayton, Q, and Kerry Hopwood, at the act's studio in Sheffield.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Papillon inks deal with Human League |journal=Music Week |date=20 May 2000 |page=8}}</ref>
-In a ''Guardian'' interview to promote the record, Oakey spoke of the personal difficulties that he and Sulley experienced during the nineties. Both had medicated with [[Prozac]] to cope. He said: ''Secrets'' has "the overall feeling of mental illness about it".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lester |first=Paul |title=Human remains: Two decades after their synthpop assault on the charts, the Human League are back |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/jul/13/artsfeatures1 |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=24 April 2019 |date=13 July 2001 |authorlink=Paul Lester}}</ref>
+In a ''Guardian'' interview to promote the record, Oakey spoke of the personal difficulties that he and Sulley experienced during the nineties. Both had medicated with [[Prozac]] to cope. He said that ''Secrets'' has "the overall feeling of mental illness about it".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lester |first=Paul |title=Human remains: Two decades after their synthpop assault on the charts, the Human League are back |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/jul/13/artsfeatures1 |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=24 April 2019 |date=13 July 2001 |author-link=Paul Lester}}</ref>
 The album contains sixteen tracks, seven of which are short, transitional instrumentals.
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 ==Release==
-The album was released in the UK 6 August 2001.<ref name="AllMusic"/> It opened on the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number 44,<ref name="UK charts"/> selling only 4,143 copies in its first week.<ref name="Music Week"/> It is their joint-lowest charting UK album along with ''[[Credo (The Human League album)|Credo]]'' released a decade later in 2011.<ref name="UK charts"/> Commercial success was hampered due to the bankruptcy of Papillon (a division of [[Chrysalis Records]]) shortly after its release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Green |first=Thomas |title=theartsdesk Q&A: Pop Musicians The Human League |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/theartsdesk-qa-pop-musicians-human-league |website=The Arts Desk |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=3 April 2011}}</ref> On the poor charting, Oakey said in 2008: "That took us aback for a bit. We realized that we have to find different ways to get our music to people. And to be honest, listeners have grown older. They don't go out of their way to find music like they did when they were teens."<ref>{{cite news |last=Iwasaki |first=Scott |title=Musicians still in League |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700247154/Musicians-still-in-League.html |work=Deseret News |date=1 August 2008}}</ref> As of March 2011, the album had total sales of 11,854 copies.<ref name="Music Week">{{cite journal |title=Key Releases - 26.03.11 |journal=Music Week |date=26 March 2011 |page=28}}</ref> ''Secrets'' was released in the United States on Ark21 Records November 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=New This Weekend; Pop Albums |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 November 2001 |page=F.5}}</ref> The first single "[[All I Ever Wanted (The Human League song)|All I Ever Wanted]]" returned the Human League to the [[UK Singles Chart]] after a five-year absence peaking at number forty-seven.<ref name="UK charts"/> In 2003, after the collapse of Papillon Records, a follow-up single from ''Secrets'', "Love Me Madly?," was released privately by Michiel Van Bokhorst's Nukove Records, a company set up especially to release Human League records.<ref>[http://www.nukove-records.com/history.htm Van Bokhorst, Michiel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121052537/http://www.nukove-records.com/history.htm |date=21 November 2008 }}</ref> The album was reissued as a deluxe 2CD version in April 2018 by Edsel Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/human-league-secrets-2cd-deluxe/|title=Human League / Secrets 2CD deluxe - superdeluxeedition|website=www.superdeluxeedition.com}}</ref> As part of [[Record Store Day]] 2018, the album was issued for the first time as a three-sided double LP white vinyl.<ref>{{cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |title=This is the full list of Record Store Day 2018 releases |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/record-store-day-2018-releases-2255889 |publisher=NME |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=6 March 2018}}</ref>
+The album was released in the UK on August 06, 2001.<ref name="AllMusic"/> It opened on the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number 44,<ref name="UK charts"/> selling only 4,143 copies in its first week.<ref name="Music Week"/> It is their joint-lowest charting UK album, along with ''[[Credo (The Human League album)|Credo]]'' released a decade later in 2011.<ref name="UK charts"/> Commercial success was hampered due to the bankruptcy of Papillon (a division of [[Chrysalis Records]]) shortly after its release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Green |first=Thomas |title=theartsdesk Q&A: Pop Musicians The Human League |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/theartsdesk-qa-pop-musicians-human-league |website=The Arts Desk |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=3 April 2011}}</ref> On the poor charting, Oakey said in 2008: "That took us aback for a bit. We realized that we have to find different ways to get our music to people. And to be honest, listeners have grown older. They don't go out of their way to find music like they did when they were teens."<ref>{{cite news |last=Iwasaki |first=Scott |title=Musicians still in League |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700247154/Musicians-still-in-League.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527235900/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700247154/Musicians-still-in-League.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 May 2019 |work=Deseret News |date=1 August 2008}}</ref> As of March 2011, the album had total sales of 11,854 copies.<ref name="Music Week">{{cite journal |title=Key Releases - 26.03.11 |journal=Music Week |date=26 March 2011 |page=28}}</ref> ''Secrets'' was released in the United States on Ark21 Records November 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=New This Weekend; Pop Albums |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 November 2001 |page=F.5}}</ref> The first single "[[All I Ever Wanted (The Human League song)|All I Ever Wanted]]" returned the Human League to the [[UK Singles Chart]] after a five-year absence peaking at number forty-seven.<ref name="UK charts"/> In 2003, after the collapse of Papillon Records, a follow-up single from ''Secrets'', "Love Me Madly?," was released privately by Michiel Van Bokhorst's Nukove Records, a company set up especially to release Human League records.<ref>[http://www.nukove-records.com/history.htm Van Bokhorst, Michiel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121052537/http://www.nukove-records.com/history.htm |date=21 November 2008 }}</ref> The album was reissued as a deluxe 2CD version in April 2018 by Edsel Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/human-league-secrets-2cd-deluxe/|title=Human League / Secrets 2CD deluxe - superdeluxeedition|website=www.superdeluxeedition.com}}</ref> As part of [[Record Store Day]] 2018, the album was issued for the first time as a three-sided double LP white vinyl.<ref>{{cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |title=This is the full list of Record Store Day 2018 releases |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/record-store-day-2018-releases-2255889 |website=NME |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=6 March 2018}}</ref>
 ==Critical reception==
 The album was generally well-received by critics in the UK.<ref name="Exclaim"/> ''[[The Times]]'' gave a positive review. [[David Stubbs]] wrote: "Secrets is a pleasing mixture of old style Human League and state-of-the-art techno pop. Songs such as All I Ever Wanted and Liar are splendidly melodramatic, with Phil Oakey's voice the perfect antidote to the sub-Mariah [Carey] vocal aerobics peddled by today's pop groups."<ref name="The Times"/> ''[[The Guardian]]'''s Betty Clarke was also favourable. She wrote: "Philip Oakey still writes catchy yet ambiguous pop songs, and his voice manages to be both severe and tender... This isn't just a return to form: it stands alone as completely brilliant."<ref name="Guardian"/> Steven Clark of ''[[The List (magazine)|The List]]'' was very favourable, and called it a "return to the trademark Human League sound... to say it's their best album since ''Dare'' is faint praise." He concluded, saying: "[S]o the fact that in 2001 they are actually valid and making excellent pop music puts the Human League back to the top of the league."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Clark |first=Steven |title=Electronica/Pop - Human League |journal=The List |date=29 November 2001 |issue=429 |page=52 |url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/2001-11-29/54/ |accessdate=25 April 2019}}</ref>
-Some critics were more mixed and felt the music lacked the [[hook (music)|hook]]s of their early hits. [[Wayne Hoffman (author)|Wayne Hoffman]] of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote: "Seven instrumental interludes offer some respite from uninspired lyrics. But there's little new ground broken here. And one key ingredient of Human League's recipe is lacking: irresistible hooks that drove such hits as "[[(Keep Feeling) Fascination]]" and "[[Human (The Human League song)|Human]]."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hoffman |first=Wayne |title=Reviews & Previews |journal=Billboard |date=3 November 2001 |volume=113 |issue=44 |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hEEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA7&pg=PA41 |accessdate=25 May 2019 |authorlink=Wayne Hoffman (author)}}</ref> Likewise, Andy Gill of ''The Independent'' felt the band had made little progress from their "''[[Dare (album)|Dare]]'' heyday". While he named some tracks on the album to be admired, he felt that "the hooks here aren't anywhere near as adhesive as '[[Love Action]]' and '[[Don't You Want Me]]'."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gill |first=Andy |title=Albums: The Human League |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/albums-the-human-league-9131464.html |newspaper=The Independent |accessdate=19 March 2019 |date=26 July 2001}}</ref> The BBC's Tim Masters however, disagreed with this stance, saying: "After some disappointing albums in the late 80s and early 90s, the Human League have achieved that rarest of feats: a record with more hooks than a fisherman's kit bag. The opening track 'All I Ever Wanted' is like the last two decades never happened."<ref>{{cite web |last=Masters |first=Tim |title=Secrets is top of the League |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1469011.stm |publisher=BBC |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=3 August 2001}}</ref>
+Some critics were more mixed and felt the music lacked the [[hook (music)|hook]]s of their early hits. [[Wayne Hoffman (author)|Wayne Hoffman]] of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote: "Seven instrumental interludes offer some respite from uninspired lyrics. But there's little new ground broken here. And one key ingredient of Human League's recipe is lacking: irresistible hooks that drove such hits as "[[(Keep Feeling) Fascination]]" and "[[Human (The Human League song)|Human]]."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hoffman |first=Wayne |title=Reviews & Previews |journal=Billboard |date=3 November 2001 |volume=113 |issue=44 |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41 |accessdate=25 May 2019 |author-link=Wayne Hoffman (author)}}</ref> Likewise, Andy Gill of ''The Independent'' felt the band had made little progress from their "''[[Dare (album)|Dare]]'' heyday". While he named some tracks on the album to be admired, he felt that "the hooks here aren't anywhere near as adhesive as '[[Love Action]]' and '[[Don't You Want Me]]'."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gill |first=Andy |title=Albums: The Human League |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/albums-the-human-league-9131464.html |newspaper=The Independent |accessdate=19 March 2019 |date=26 July 2001}}</ref> The BBC's Tim Masters however, disagreed with this stance, saying: "After some disappointing albums in the late 80s and early 90s, the Human League have achieved that rarest of feats: a record with more hooks than a fisherman's kit bag. The opening track 'All I Ever Wanted' is like the last two decades never happened."<ref>{{cite web |last=Masters |first=Tim |title=Secrets is top of the League |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1469011.stm |publisher=BBC |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=3 August 2001}}</ref>
 ==Track listing==
+{{Track listing
-# "[[All I Ever Wanted (The Human League song)|All I Ever Wanted]]" (Philip Oakey, Neil Sutton)
+| title1 = All I Ever Wanted
-# "Nervous" (Oakey, Sutton, Toy) +
+| length1 = 3:32
-# "Love Me Madly?" (Oakey, Sutton)
-# "Shameless" (Oakey, Sutton)
+| writer1 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
+| title2 = Nervous
-# "122.3 BPM" (Oakey, Sutton, Toy) +
+| note2 = transitional track
-# "Never Give Your Heart" (Oakey, Sutton)
+| length2 = 2:05
-# "Ran" (Oakey, Sutton) +
-# "The Snake" (Oakey, Sutton)
+| writer2 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton, Toy
+| title3 = Love Me Madly?
-# "Ringinglow" (Oakey, Sutton, Toy) +
+| length3 = 4:08
-# "Liar" (Oakey, Sutton)
+| writer3 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
-# "Lament" (Sutton) +
+| title4 = Shameless
-# "Reflections" (Steve Fellowes, Oakey)
+| length4 = 3:56
-# "Brute" (Oakey) +
+| writer4 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
-# "Sin City" (Oakey)
+| title5 = 122.3 BPM
-# "Release" (Sutton) +
+| note5 = transitional track
-# "You'll Be Sorry" (Oakey, Sutton)
+| length5 = 1:39
+| writer5 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton, Toy
-+ indicates instrumental transitional track
+| title6 = Never Give Your Heart
+| length6 = 3:48
+| writer6 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
+| title7 = Ran
+| note7 = transitional track
+| length7 = 0:49
+| writer7 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
+| title8 = The Snake
+| length8 = 4:25
+| writer8 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
+| title9 = Ringinglow
+| note9 = transitional track
+| length9 = 3:23
+| writer9 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton, Toy
+| title10 = Liar
+| length10 = 3:21
+| writer10 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
+| title11 = Lament
+| note11 = transitional track
+| length11 = 1:12
+| writer11 = Neil Sutton
+| title12 = Reflections (Demons of the Mind)
+| length12 = 6:38
+| writer12 = Steve Fellowes, Philip Oakley
+| title13 = Brute
+| note13 = transitional track
+| length13 = 2:27
+| writer13 = Philip Oakley
+| title14 = Sin City
+| length14 = 4:24
+| writer14 = Philip Oakley
+| title15 = Release
+| note15 = transitional track
+| length15 = 1:58
+| writer15 = Neil Sutton
+| title16 = You'Il Be Sorry
+| length16 = 4:01
+| writer16 = Philip Oakley, Neil Sutton
+| total_length = 51:46
+}}
 ==Chart performance==
@@ Line 97: / Line 137: @@
 !Peak<br>position
 |-
-|align="left"|German Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=The+Human+League&title=Secrets&cat=a&country=de |title=charts.de |publisher=charts.de |date=2001-07-27 |accessdate=2012-06-23}}</ref>
+|align="left"|German Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=The+Human+League&title=Secrets&cat=a&country=de |title=charts.de |publisher=charts.de |date=2001-07-27 |accessdate=2012-06-23}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|64
 |-
-|align="left"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="UK charts">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18435/the-human-league/|title=HUMAN LEAGUE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>
+|align="left"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="UK charts">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18435/the-human-league/ |title=The Human League |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|44
 |}
@@ Line 108: / Line 148: @@
 {{Human League}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:2001 albums]]

v t e The Human League
Philip Oakey Joanne Catherall Susan Ann Sulley Ian Craig Marsh Martyn Ware Philip Adrian Wright Ian Burden Jo Callis
Albums	Reproduction Travelogue Dare Love and Dancing Hysteria Crash Romantic? Octopus Secrets Credo
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Soundtrack to a Generation The Very Best of The Human League (1998) The Golden Hour of the Future The Very Best of The Human League (2003) Live at the Dome Original Remixes & Rarities
EPs	The Dignity of Labour Holiday '80 The Sound of the Crowd Fascination! Dance Like a Star
Singles	"Being Boiled" "I Don't Depend on You" (The Men) "Empire State Human" "Only After Dark" "Boys and Girls" "The Sound of the Crowd" "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" "Open Your Heart" "Don't You Want Me" "Mirror Man" "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" "The Lebanon" "Life on Your Own" "Louise" "Human" "I Need Your Loving" "Love Is All That Matters" "Heart Like a Wheel" "Soundtrack to a Generation" "Tell Me When" "One Man in My Heart" "Filling Up with Heaven" "Stay with Me Tonight" "All I Ever Wanted" "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" "Night People"
Video and DVDs	Video Single (1983) The Human League Greatest Hits The Very Best of The Human League Live at the Dome
Related articles	Discography Heaven 17 British Electric Foundation Reproductions Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder YMO Versus The Human League