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Human Racing 1984
Album · by Nik Kershaw ↗ View artist

Human Racing

The album Human Racing, released on February 27, 1984, by MCA Records, marks the debut of Nik Kershaw as a solo artist. This work is characterized by a blend of pop, new wave, and synth-pop, with a sound that captures the essence of the era. What makes this record interesting is how Kershaw incorporates improvisation in several of his songs, such as in Drum Talk, while others, like I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, tackle deeper themes with a political message. This diverse approach to composition gives it a uniqueness that resonates with listeners.

Year
1984
Songs
10
Duration
39 min 46 seg
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About the album

Human Racing, according to DoReSol

Among the most notable singles, Wouldn't It Be Good reached the fourth spot on the UK Singles Chart, while I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me climbed to second place. The album peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and was recognized as the 22nd best-selling album of 1984 in the country. Despite receiving mixed reviews, including a negative critique from Smash Hits magazine that gave it a score of 1 out of 10, it has also been retrospectively praised by critics like Scott Bultman of AllMusic, who highlighted Kershaw’s talent and promise in this early work.

The recording of Human Racing took place in the summer of 1983 across multiple studios, including Sarm East and Sarm West in London, as well as Marcus Music and Cherokee in Los Angeles. Producer Peter Collins played a key role in shaping the album. In 2012, the record was reissued with additional content, including 12" mixes and a live version of Cloak and Dagger, allowing new listeners to further explore Kershaw’s music.