Hysteria is the fourth studio album by the English synth-pop band the Human League, released on 7 May 1984 by Virgin Records. Following the worldwide success of their previous studio album Dare (1981), the band struggled to make a successful follow-up and the sessions for Hysteria were fraught with problems. The album title itself is taken from the problematic recording period.The centre gatefold features a collage of the band sitting around in a large living room watching the Norman Wisdom 1965 film The Early Bird.Windle, Rob Record producers Martin Rushent and Chris Thomas both left the project which would eventually be finished by producer Hugh Padgham.
Hysteria attained relatively lacklustre success in comparison to its multi-platinum predecessor. Three singles from the album reached the top 20 of the UK singles chart, and "The Lebanon" was the only single to chart in the United States, peaking at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 100,000 copies.
In 2005, Hysteria was remastered and reissued with B-sides and extended mixes as bonus tracks.
The song "Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again and Again and Again (Six Times)" is a cover version of a 1973 song by Lyn Collins and James Brown. "I Love You Too Much" is a substantially remixed version from their extended play (EP) Fascination! (1983) and "Don't You Know I Want You" is a reworked version of the instrumental B-side "Total Panic!" that appeared on the "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" single in 1983.
Track listing Side one "I'm Coming Back" (Philip Oakey, Philip Adrian Wright) – 4:07 "I Love You Too Much" (Ian Burden, Jo Callis, Wright) – 3:26 "Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again and Again and Again (Six Times)" (Lee Austin, James Brown) – 3:32 "Louise" (Callis, Oakey, Wright) – 4:55 "The Lebanon" (Callis, Oakey) – 5:03 Side two "Betrayed" (Oakey, Wright) – 4:02 "The Sign" (Burden, Callis, Oakey) – 3:46 "So Hurt" (Burden, Oakey) – 3:53 "Life on Your Own" (Callis, Oakey, Wright) – 4:06 "Don't You Know I Want You" (Burden, Callis, Oakey) – 3:09 2005 CD bonus tracks "Thirteen" (from "The Lebanon" 12-inch single, and 7" B-side) "The World Tonight" (from "Life on Your Own" 12-inch single, and 7" B-side) "The Lebanon" (extended version) "Life on Your Own" (extended version) "The Sign" (extended version)
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Hysteria.
Musicians
Ian Burden – bass guitar, keyboards, guitar Jo Callis – guitar, keyboards, vocals Joanne Catherall – vocals Philip Oakey – vocals, programming, keyboards Susanne Sulley – vocals Philip Adrian Wright – occasional keyboards The Human League – percussion, programming Martin Rushent – drum programming Jim Russell – drum programming
Technical
Hugh Padgham – mixing, production, engineering Chris Thomas – production The Human League – production Bill Price – engineering Renate Blauel – engineering Gavin MacKillop – engineering Steve Jackson – engineering assistance David Motion – engineering assistance Jeremy Allom – engineering assistance Paul "Croydon" Cook – engineering assistance
Artwork Simon Fowler – photography Ken Ansell – layout
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Hysteria Chart (1984) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 18 European Albums (Music & Media) 16 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 26
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Hysteria Chart (1984) Position UK Albums (Gallup) 62
Certifications
Gallery
References
External links