"All I Ever Wanted" | ||||
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Single by the Human League | ||||
from the album Secrets | ||||
Released | 23 July 2001 | |||
Recorded | 2000 | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Papillon | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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The Human League singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
Music video | ||||
"All I Ever Wanted" on YouTube |
"All I Ever Wanted" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League. It is taken from the Secrets album of 2001 and was released as its first single. It is currently their most recent single released on a major label. It follows the standard Human League style of baritone lead vocals of Philip Oakey with choruses and incidentals jointly shared between female co-vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley (credited for the first time under her married name,Gayle,causing some erroneous comment that 'Susan Sulley' had been replaced). It was released in July 2001 and stalled at number 47 in the UK Singles Chart. [1]
The Human League had recently signed to Papillon Records,a subsidiary of the Chrysalis Group. Papillon were set up to capitalize on so called 'heritage acts' (bands with a large and established fan base) and the Human League were to become their headline band. [2] However the label was in financial difficulties as previous releases had failed to realize Papillon Records' investments and Chrysalis were unwilling to further invest. The band recorded the studio album Secrets,their first since Octopus in 1995. "All I Ever Wanted" was to be the first single from the album and with a professional promotional music video filmed the single was expected to enter high up the UK charts heralding another return to form for the Human League similar to Octopus six years previously. Although keenly anticipated, [2] Papillon dithered over the release date,with even Oakey stating he didn't know when the single would be eventually released. [3]
The uncertain release date for "All I Ever Wanted" prompted worries from some in the industry that Papillon Records may have been having problems and there was also little in the way of advance promotion for the single for the public,save a token advertisement in UK's tabloid Red Tops. [3]
To compound the problem in the UK,BBC Radio 1 and 2 did not playlist the single. Alex Jones-Donnely,head of music programming for BBC Radio 1 claimed that the audience would not be able to 'connect' with the Human League's new single adding that it was too 'retro'. It was also claimed that with Oakey in his late 40s and the girls (Susan Sulley and Joanne Catherall) both 39,the group didn't meet Radio 1's demographic target audience of teenagers and 20-somethings. Philip Oakey responded that "it was their station,they can play what they want". [3]
The single was finally released on 23 July 2001,but most stores in the UK didn't get the single on the first day of release and fans reported problems obtaining it. Despite this,midweek chart figures had the single down as a hit within the top 30 but as limited stocks sold out - the single dropped. The distribution chaos sealed the single's fate and the single scraped into the UK charts at number 47,it remained at the lower end of the charts for a further two weeks before disappearing. Philip Oakey defended Papillon Records against criticisms,responding that the label had spent much time,effort and money on the recording of Secrets, [3] but privately the band were devastated. [2]
Oakey spoke of his regret on the single,saying:"We're kicking ourselves for not working harder on that first single. We ended up going with a trendy promo agency whose only strategy was to get us on Radio 1. We got a really nice midweek chart position but didn't have the impact that we would have done if we'd followed up by doing Lorraine Kelly or This Morning after that,so it didn't come off." [4]
The music video was filmed on a moderate budget on a small studio set,made to resemble a science fiction film. In keeping with the promotional videos from the previous album,there is no storyline. Only Oakey,Sulley and Catherall appear,all dressed in black against a futuristic white set. As the band's age was a contentious issue,the standard filmmakers' technique of making the band appear younger by the use of bright lighting and high exposure is applied. This worked well for the darker features of Oakey and Catherall,but the lighter skin and blonde hair of Sulley made her appear over-exposed throughout the video. It appears on the Very Best of the Human League DVD.
The Times wrote:"Yep,They're back. And,yes,very little has changed,which is good news because there wasn't much wrong with the Human League's pop prototype in the first place. Metallic beats,burping electronica,simple melodies and the playful interplay between Phil Oakey's sonorous baritone and Joanne and Susanne's girly voices are present and correct." [5]
Two main versions of the song exist:
The Human League are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Initially an experimental electronic outfit,the group signed to Virgin Records in 1979 and later attained widespread commercial success with their third album Dare in 1981 after restructuring their lineup. The album contained four hit singles,including the UK/US number one hit "Don't You Want Me". The band received the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1982. Further hits followed throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s,including "Mirror Man","(Keep Feeling) Fascination","The Lebanon","Human" and "Tell Me When".
Crash is the fifth studio album by English synth-pop band the Human League,released on 8 September 1986 by Virgin Records. The album would provide the band with their second US number-one single,"Human",the same year. It was produced by the American production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,who also wrote several tracks.
Philip Oakey is an English singer,songwriter and record producer. He is the lead singer,songwriter,and co-founder of the synth-pop band the Human League. Aside from the Human League,Oakey has enjoyed an extensive solo music career and has collaborated with numerous other artists and producers.
Dare is the third studio album by English synth-pop band the Human League,first released in the United Kingdom in October 1981 then subsequently in the US in mid-1982. The album was recorded between March and September 1981 following the departure of founding members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh,and saw the band shift direction from their previous avant-garde electronic style toward a more pop-friendly,commercial sound led by frontman Philip Oakey.
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Joanne Catherall is an English singer who is one of two female vocalists in the English synth-pop band The Human League.
"Human" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League,released as the lead single from their fifth studio album,Crash (1986). The track,which deals with the subject of infidelity,was written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song topped the charts of the United States,becoming the band's second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 after their 1981 single "Don't You Want Me". It also went to number one in Canada while reaching number five in Germany and number eight in the band's native United Kingdom.
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.
Octopus is the seventh full-length studio album recorded by the British synthpop band The Human League. It was produced by the former Tears for Fears keyboard player Ian Stanley and released by EastWest Records in 1995. It was the first new album from The Human League in five years after the termination of their long-term contract with Virgin Records. Octopus was the first Human League album that presented the band as a trio consisting of the singers Philip Oakey,Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley. The former Human League member Jo Callis and keyboard player Neil Sutton also contributed to the writing of the album.
Susan Ann Sulley,formerly known as Susanne Sulley and Susan Ann Gayle,is an English singer who is one of the two female vocalists in the synth-pop band The Human League.
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