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==Release==
==Release==
The album was released 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 |publisher=The Arts Desk |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=3 April 2011}}</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"/>
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 |publisher=The Arts Desk |accessdate=25 April 2019 |date=3 April 2011}}</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|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>
In 2003, after the collapse of Papillon Records, a follow-up single from ''Secrets'', "[[Love Me Madly?]]," was released privately by [[Michiel Van Bokhorst|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>

Revision as of 10:58, 25 April 2019

Secrets
Studio album by
The Human League
Released6 August 2001
Recorded2000-2001
GenrePop, electronic
Length51:46
LabelPapillon Records
BTFLYCD0019
ProducerToy (Dave Clayton and Kerry Hopwood)
The Human League chronology
Octopus
(1995) 		Secrets
(2001) 		Credo
(2011)
Singles from Secrets
  1. "All I Ever Wanted"
    Released: 23 July 2001
  2. "Love Me Madly?"
    Released: 2003
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Dotmusic8/10[2]
Edmonton Journal[3]
The Guardian[4]
The Independent[5]
Montreal Gazette[6]
Q[7]
The Times[8]
Uncut[9]
Vancouver Sun[10]

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.

Background

As with their 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 later drop professionally in October 2007), although band member Neil Sutton also contributed songwriting and keyboard parts. Following the band's short stint with East West Records for their successful top-ten 1995 album Octopus, they signed to Papillon Records in May 2000 and began recording new tracks for the album with production team TOY, made up of former ABC member Dave Clayton, Q and Kerry Hopwood, at the act's studio in Sheffield.[11] In a Guardian interview to promote the record, Oakey spoke of the personal difficulties that he and Sulley had experienced during the nineties. At times both had medicated with Prozac to cope. He said: Secrets has "the overall feeling of mental illness about it."[12] The album contains sixteen tracks, seven of which are short, instrumental transitional compositions.

Release

The album was released in the UK 6 August 2001.[1] It opened on the UK Albums Chart at number 44,[13] selling only 4,143 copies in its first week.[14] It is their joint-lowest charting UK album along with Credo released a decade later in 2011.[13] Commercial success was hampered due to the bankruptcy of Papillon (a division of Chrysalis Records) shortly after its release.[15] As of March 2011, the album had total sales of 11,854 copies.[14] Secrets was released in the United States on Ark21 Records November 2001.[16] 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.[13]

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.[17] The album was reissued as a deluxe 2CD version in April 2018 by Edsel Records.[18] As part of Record Store Day 2018, the album was issued for the first time as a three-sided double LP white vinyl.[19]

Critical reception

The album was generally well-received by critics in the UK. 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."[8] 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."[4] Steven Clark of The List was very favourable, and called it a "return to the trademark Human League sound." He added: "to say it's their best album since Dare is faint praise."[20]

Other critics were more mixed and commented on the poor lyrics and a lack of hooks. 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."[21] Likewise, Andy Gill of The Independent felt the band had made little progress from their "Dare heyday", and called the band's noted synth-pop style as "commonplace" compared to that era. 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'."[22] 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."[23]

Track listing

  1. "All I Ever Wanted" (Philip Oakey, Neil Sutton)
  2. "Nervous" (Oakey, Sutton, Toy) +
  3. "Love Me Madly?" (Oakey, Sutton)
  4. "Shameless" (Oakey, Sutton)
  5. "122.3 BPM" (Oakey, Sutton, Toy) +
  6. "Never Give Your Heart" (Oakey, Sutton)
  7. "Ran" (Oakey, Sutton) +
  8. "The Snake" (Oakey, Sutton)
  9. "Ringinglow" (Oakey, Sutton, Toy) +
  10. "Liar" (Oakey, Sutton)
  11. "Lament" (Sutton) +
  12. "Reflections" (Steve Fellowes, Oakey)
  13. "Brute" (Oakey) +
  14. "Sin City" (Oakey)
  15. "Release" (Sutton) +
  16. "You'll Be Sorry" (Oakey, Sutton)

+ indicates instrumental transitional track

Chart performance

Chart (2001) Peak
position
German Albums Chart[24] 64
UK Albums Chart[13] 44

References

  1. ^ a b Allmusic review
  2. ^ Wade, Ian (3 August 2001). "Human League - Secrets (Papillon)". Dotmusic. Retrieved 1 April 2019. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Sperounes, Sandra (30 March 2002). "New releases". Edmonton Journal. p. E3.
  4. ^ a b Clarke, Betty (3 August 2001). "Friday Review". The Guardian. p. 14.
  5. ^ Price, Simon (29 July 2001). "DISCS ETC: Music CDs". The Independent. p. 14.
  6. ^ Lepage, Mark (25 April 2002). "Power ballads from a pro". Montreal Gazette. p. 37.
  7. ^ Kane, Peter (August 2001). "Synthpop Doyens Return Winningly After 6 Years. Daft Who?". Q (179).
  8. ^ a b Stubbs, David (4 August 2001). "Pop albums". The Times. p. 13.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Simon (September 2001). "The Human League - Secrets". Uncut: 100.
  10. ^ Gold, Kerry (20 April 2002). "CD reviews". Vancouver Sun. p. 57.
  11. ^ "Papillon inks deal with Human League". Music Week: 8. 20 May 2000.
  12. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b c d "HUMAN LEAGUE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  14. ^ a b "Key Releases - 26.03.11". Music Week: 28. 26 March 2011.
  15. ^ Green, Thomas (3 April 2011). "theartsdesk Q&A: Pop Musicians The Human League". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  16. ^ "New This Weekend; Pop Albums". Los Angeles Times. 1 November 2001. p. F.5.
  17. ^ Van Bokhorst, Michiel Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Human League / Secrets 2CD deluxe - superdeluxeedition". www.superdeluxeedition.com.
  19. ^ Trendell, Andrew (6 March 2018). "This is the full list of Record Store Day 2018 releases". NME. Retrieved 25 April 2019. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Clark, Steven (29 November 2001). "Electronica/Pop - Human League". The List (429): 52. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  21. ^ Hoffman, Wayne (3 November 2001). "Time has stood still for the Human League—and that's both an asset and a liability". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  22. ^ Gill, Andy (26 July 2001). "Albums: The Human League". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2019. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Masters, Tim (3 August 2001). "Secrets is top of the League". BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  24. ^ "charts.de". charts.de. 27 July 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
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