Tell Me When
Encyclopedia
"Tell Me When" is a song by the British synthpop
group The Human League
. Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey
and Paul C. Beckett, it was recorded at 'Human League Studios', Sheffield in 1994. The single and the Octopus
album were produced by Ian Stanley
(formerly of Tears for Fears
).
"Tell Me When" was the first Human League single to be released from Octopus and was issued in advance of the album. It was released on 27 December 1994 (but is considered a 1995 single). It became the Human League's most commercially successful single in nine years and reintroduced the band to many of the British general public. It peaked at number six in the UK Singles Chart
in early 1995 spending a total of nine weeks in the chart. It was also released in the U.S. peaking at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
in 1991, who instantly rejected it. It then became the first release by the band under their new label EastWest, who had signed the Human League after their dismissal by Virgin in 1992.
As it was the first commercial release in the UK by the band for four years it is often incorrectly described as a comeback as many people erroneously believed the band had disbanded in 1990. Band principal Philip Oakey takes issue with this description and will point out in interviews that the band has never stopped recording and performing since its formation in 1977 The band had collaborated with Japan's Yellow Magic Orchestra
prior to signing with EastWest.
shot entirely on location in Prague
, Czech Republic
. Unlike the Human League videos of the early 1980s this time there is no storyline. Instead Oakey, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall
are seen in a series of shots of them walking around various Prague landmarks. The other main scene is of Susan Sulley being driven around the Prague streets in a vintage Czech TATRA T2-603 car dressed in a white faux fur coat and hat. Scenes of Oakey were filmed in reverse so he appears to be walking forward with everyone else on the Prague streets walking backwards. At the time the video was described as having the best cinematography of any Human League video since "Don't You Want Me
" in 1981.
These versions (*) are identical to the UK mixes.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
. Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey is an English composer, singer, songwriter and producer.He is best known as the lead singer, frontman and co-founder of the famous English synthpop band The Human League. He has also had an extensive solo music career and collaborated with numerous other artists and producers...
and Paul C. Beckett, it was recorded at 'Human League Studios', Sheffield in 1994. The single and the Octopus
Octopus (Human League album)
Octopus is the seventh full-length studio album recorded by British synthpop band The Human League. It was produced by former Tears for Fears keyboardist 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...
album were produced by Ian Stanley
Ian Stanley
Ian Stanley is an English musician, songwriter and record producer...
(formerly of Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
).
"Tell Me When" was the first Human League single to be released from Octopus and was issued in advance of the album. It was released on 27 December 1994 (but is considered a 1995 single). It became the Human League's most commercially successful single in nine years and reintroduced the band to many of the British general public. It peaked at number six in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in early 1995 spending a total of nine weeks in the chart. It was also released in the U.S. peaking at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Background
The song was originally written and a demo version recorded for Virgin RecordsVirgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 1991, who instantly rejected it. It then became the first release by the band under their new label EastWest, who had signed the Human League after their dismissal by Virgin in 1992.
As it was the first commercial release in the UK by the band for four years it is often incorrectly described as a comeback as many people erroneously believed the band had disbanded in 1990. Band principal Philip Oakey takes issue with this description and will point out in interviews that the band has never stopped recording and performing since its formation in 1977 The band had collaborated with Japan's Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
prior to signing with EastWest.
Promotional video
EastWest Records wanted to showcase their new headline signing and they announced the release of Octopus in a high profile publicity campaign. Also for the band's first release under them, they financed a very elaborate and expensive promotional music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
shot entirely on location in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. Unlike the Human League videos of the early 1980s this time there is no storyline. Instead Oakey, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall is an English singer; best known as one of the two female vocalists of the veteran English synthpop band The Human League.Born and raised in Sheffield, England...
are seen in a series of shots of them walking around various Prague landmarks. The other main scene is of Susan Sulley being driven around the Prague streets in a vintage Czech TATRA T2-603 car dressed in a white faux fur coat and hat. Scenes of Oakey were filmed in reverse so he appears to be walking forward with everyone else on the Prague streets walking backwards. At the time the video was described as having the best cinematography of any Human League video since "Don't You Want Me
Don't You Want Me
"Don't You Want Me" is a single by British synthpop group Human League, released from their album: Dare on 27 November 1981.It is the band's best known and most commercially successful recording to date, and was the Christmas number one in the UK, in 1981, where it sold over 1,400,000 copies,...
" in 1981.
Track listing
- CD 1 1994, East West (YZ882CD1)
- Tell Me When (7" Edit) 4.42
- Tell Me When (Mix 1) 5.09
- Kimi Ni Mune Kyun (YMO Vs The Human League)YMO Versus The Human LeagueYMO Versus The Human League is an EP released in Japan and Asia in April 1993. It was released by Alfa Records and is a collaboration between Japanese electropop/synthpop band Yellow Magic Orchestra and British synthpop band The Human League....
4.55 - The Bus To Crookes 4.52
- CD 2 1994, East West (YZ882CD2)
- Tell Me When (Mix 2) 6.11
- Tell Me When (Red Jerry Remix) 7.36
- Tell Me When (Strictly Blind Dub) 5.51
- Tell Me When (Overworld Mix) 6.26
- Tell Me When (Mix 1) 5.09
- U.S. CD 1994, East West Records America (66147-2)
- Tell Me When (Utah Saints Mix 2*) 6.12
- Tell Me When (Red Jerry Mix) 7.36
- Tell Me When (Strictly Blind Dub) 5.51
- Tell Me When (Edit Version Overworld Mix) 5.25
- Tell Me When (Utah Saints Mix 1*) 5.09
These versions (*) are identical to the UK mixes.