Reproduction

“Reproduction” is the debut album released by British synthpop band “The Human League”. The album was released in October 1979, through Virgin Records Ltd.

“Reproduction” contains nine tracks of electronic music/synthpop and was recorded during six weeks at The Human League’s studio in Sheffield. The recordings were produced by Colin Thurston, who had previously worked on some key new wave recordings such as Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life” and the first “Magazine” album, and would go on to produce numerous hit albums of the 1980s, most notably for “Duran Duran”.

The album sold steadily upon release and received some good reviews, but it failed to chart well in the UK (until it was re-released in 1981, and reached number 34 in the UK and was certified Gold).

The album has a decidedly experimental feel to it, and most of the songs have dark aspects to the lyrics, which are sometimes hard to comprehend.

The only single released from the album was “Empire State Human” in late 1979. It reached number 62 on the UK Singles Chart, but was still not enough to break the group into the mainstream, despite being a likeable, dancy tune. Their debut single, “Being Boiled”, was not included on the original album but was added as an extra track on all CD issues from the late 1980s onwards; a re-recorded version of that single’s B-side, “Circus of Death”, was however included on the album.

The album also features The Human League’s cover version of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”, a hit single back in 1965 for “The Righteous Brothers.

The album was composed and engineered by The Human League (Oakey/Ware/Marsh) and Bob Last for Virgin Records Ltd.