Reproduction

Reproduction is the first studio album by The Human League. It was released in October 1979 on the Virgin label.

Although the album met with limited success on its original release, it fared better after the group became successful in 1981, and has since been hailed as a milestone in the development of popular electronic music.

History

Reproduction brings together a collection of tracks previously written and performed by the band since their formation in 1978. The opening track 'Almost Medieval' had initially been written and recorded as the group's early manifestation The Future. Other songs had also previously been performed live by the group over 1978 and 1979, including a live session for John Peel recorded in August 1978, which included Blind Youth, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, and The Word Before Last under an early title of 'No Time'. A new version of the group's debut single on Fast Product 'Being Boiled' was also recorded for the session but the song was not included on the album. The version of Circus of Death on Reproduction is a new recording of the song originally released with the Being Boiled single.

The album was recorded at Workshop Studio in Sheffield and mixed and over-dubbed at Red Bus Studios, London. It was co-produced by the band and Colin Thurston.

Band personnel

• Philip Oakey - vocals and synthesiser
• Martyn Ware - vocals and synthesiser
• Ian Marsh - vocals and synthesiser
• Philip Adrian Wright - slides and films

Track listing

Original album release

Virgin V2133

Side one

1. Almost Medieval
2. Circus of Death
3. The Path of Least Resistance
4. Blind Youth
5. The Word Before Last
6. Empire State Human

Side two

1. Morale...You've Lost That Loving Feeling*
2. Austerity/Girl One (medley)
3. Zero As A Limit

all tracks Marsh/Oakey/Ware, except * Spector/Mann/Weil

CD re-issue (1989) and remastered CD release (2003) 

Virgin CDVR2133

1. Almost Medieval
2. Circus of Death
3. The Path of Least Resistance
4. Blind Youth
5. The Word Before Last
6. Empire State Human
7. Morale...You've Lost That Loving Feeling
8. Austerity/Girl One (medley)
9. Zero As A Limit
10. Introducing
11. The Dignity of Labour (Part 1)
12. The Dignity of Labour (Part 2)
13. The Dignity of Labour (Part 3)
14. The Dignity of Labour (Part 4)
15. Flexi disc
16. Being Boiled (Fast Version)
17. Circus of Death (Fast Version)

Re-issues

1980: vinyl reprint, with plain paper inner sleeve

1989: first CD issue with 17 tracks (see above) 

2003: remastered CD (see above)

2016: 180 gr vinyl