Very Best Of The Human League CD

Not to be confused with the 2005 Caroline compilation of the same name, 1998's THE VERY BEST OF HUMAN LEAGUE (released on the Ark 21 label) offers a non-chronological overview of the refined British synth-pop act, ranging from 1978's moody "Being Boiled" to '95's sunny "One Man in My Heart." In between, of course, are the ensemble's biggest '80s hits, including the buoyant "Don't You Want Me" and the playful "(Keep Feeling) Fascination," which showcase the deep croon of singer Philip Oakey and the vibrant backing vocals of Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall. The disc also includes one of Oakey's mid-'80s songs with disco guru Giorgio Moroder, the surging "Together in Electric Dreams," which was recorded while the group was on hiatus. Although the later Caroline collection does feature more tracks (including many presented here), this anthology is ideal for those seeking a concise introduction to Human League or fans wanting to bypass the band's post-'90s material.

THE VERY BEST OF THE HUMAN LEAGUE is an excellent and rather generous compilation. In addition to featuring the group's biggest singles, it also provides a broad overview of the Human League's career, reaching as far back as 1978's "Being Boiled," the band's very first single. While the Human League occasionally misstep (their singles from the '90s, for example, do not hold up to their '80s work), at their best, they were sophisticated, intelligent, and humorous, with an undeniable knack for crafting immaculate pop hooks.

The League's patented blend of synthesizers and electronic beats, highlighted by lead singer Philip Oakey's rich baritone and Joanne Catherall and Susanne Sulley's sweet backing vocals, is evident here on their monster hits--"Don't You Want Me," "(Keep Feeling) Fascination," "Love Action (I Believe in Love)"--and on lesser known gems like "Mirror Man" and "The Lebanon." While completists will want the original albums (DARE, in particular, is a quintessential New Wave document), this compact and comprehensive overview underscores why the Human League's marriage of electronic music and classic pop songwriting makes them one of the more innovative, successful, and enduring of England's synth-pop acts.

Human League: Philip Oakey, Susanne Sulley, Joanne Catherall.

Personnel: Pete Davis (programming).

Rolling Stone (p.83) - 3 stars out of 5 - "VERY BEST proves that the pop purism of early gems such as 'The Sound of the Crowd' and 'Love Action' will never be outmoded."