The Human League ~ Don't You Want Me 1981 New Wave Xtension

I dedicate this song to Suzanne P, I remember the instant where you turned the radio up and told me to listen.

The first time I heard the Human League was through their song "Hard Times" on Ultra Weekend out of Montreal with Alain Montpetit. I worked a sous chef at a restaurant a stone's throw away from Quebec City's magnificent Chateau Frontenac Hotel. It was either Friday or Saturday night at the resto pub in the 1981 winter into spring of 1982.

It was as funky as electronic music could be, and the vocals were kept to a minumum like Donna Summer's "I Feel Love". This new wave funk tune had me hungering for more from them and soon after I heard "Don't You Want Me" on the radio and my friend Suzanne excitedly told me it was the new wave group The Human League.

The group formed in Sheffield, England in 1977 with Ian Craig-Marsh, Martyn Ware and Phil Oakey. The band split with Craig-Marsh & Ware forming Heaven 17 (Let Me Go) leaving Oakey to add Philip Adrian Wright, Ian Burden, Jo Callis, Joanne Catherall and Susanne Sulley to the Human League roster.

Admittedly, the band was quite amateurish and it took a while to get the music recorded. Virgin Records signed them and they released their first LP "Dare", which gave them two UK Top 10 hits, "Love Action(I Believe In Love) and "Open Your Heart". The third single, "Don't You Want Me" went straight to #1 in the UK for five weeks in December of 1981.

"Don't You Want Me" was inspired by the film "A Star Is Born" and the band tried hard to suppress the release of the song as a single, citing it was too commercial. Undaunted, Virgin released the song and its popularity kickstarted the New Romantic movement that allowed other bands like Culture Club, Eurythmics and Dexy's Midnight Runners who all had #1 hits in the US, creating a mini British Invasion.

[andrewclowes]

No record collection is complete without this song.

[styner]

1981...my first apartment, many parties, 39 years ago this month...damn.

[joemontemurro]

Truly the greatest Extended Dance Mix of all time and The Human League is so worthy of it. Thank you for a Lifetime of Joy that your Music has given me. ❤️

[sedisarepartiments]

The human League... Pioneers and legends of synth-pop... Good 'ol times... Great mix!

[sandraelena]

I love this song... Icon of the 80s!!💜 💜 💜 ✌️ 😉

[jeromemanoharan]

Human League, Haven’t heard this track for ages. Great days. Good decade. Brings back my youth. I used to play this quite often. 😉😊🙏

[UHL]

The 80's...great years in music...Always been my favorite of them...love this extended version, thanks!❤❤🎵🎶🎤🎹

[AmyLSacks]

One of those buy-jewelry-by-phone channels used to have a station-break riff which sounded almost exactly like the opening bars of this song. Once I pointed this out to my husband, we'd always start singing, "Don't you want some jewelry?" whenever we tuned into the channel. :D

[gregsouthorn]

Omg I was in the Marine corps when this came out. Overseas in Okinawa. Roller skating and loving this song!!! Thank you for the trip back!!!

[dyanabartley]

This song was one of those songs you couldn't get away from, they played it in heavy rotation, not to mention just about every DJ had this song in their arsenal. I heard this being played at the many block parties attended back in the day. Once again, DiscoCat, you never cease to amaze me with your brilliant remixes, I am adding this one to my DiscoCat collection. Thank you so much for this, I love it!!!

[karelphillips]

The music in 80s will always be the best.

[walomota]

Keep hitting the 80's Cat, well done!

[FaiLee]

An iconic tune of the 80s and a great dance mix of it.

[unclesalty]

My GIRL! 8/24.81 I asked you out while this song was hot and heavy on the air waves you was 16 i was 19 your 55 I"m 58 what a happy grow up trip we took together! till my last breath! I'll Always want you baby!

[theturkeyhead]

Another of my “go-to” songs that kept em on the dance floor in the early 80’s! Wow, wish I had THIS remix back then! It was basically vocal to instrumental track, and back! Thanks for a GREAT mix! ...as usual!!! 👍🏽✔️😎

[Capricorni]

¡Excelente canción de los años 80"s aún la sigo escuchando desde que salió en la radio en aquella hasta el

[stevenferruzza]

The extended version was worth waiting for.
Extended to dance on and on. The 1980's music. Original new wave electronic plays forever. Thank you dj discocat

[EduardoHernandez-nmqv]

Excelente Rola, de mi Decada de los 80, s cuando lo único qué podía yo hacer era escuchar las transmisiones atraves de las RadioDifusoras Radio Capital en AM, Radio 590 La Pantera, igual Frecuencia AM, Sonomil 101 en la Frecuencia de FM y KosmoEstereo 103 el punto de Encuentro!
Gracias por publicar

[AndyGGLA]

RA5: Another timeless classic given the Cat’s touch.

[fcruz]

Duuuude…remember being a kid jamming out to this tune!