The Human League "Octopus: Expanded Edition"

[anfunny2003]

The most surprising thing about this announcement was the lack of a green vinyl format, which I was sure they'd go for... and then I remembered. It's Record Store Day in April and once Rhino have taken your money for the black vinyl, they'll reveal an exclusive coloured version! Mark my words!

Speaking of Rhino, this will have come from them, rather than the band, and they will simply have participated/approved, I expect. Same as with 'Secrets'. I don't think they're jumping around with album re-issues. As I understand it, they have no desire to re-issue the Virgin catalogue and there are no plans to do so. I believe their manager has said they just don't want to do them. A great shame if it's true.

[omar]

But also decent remasters of their Virgin Catalogue are easily available be it digital or cd. How many times are we going to Dare reissued again? What would've better than all of these reissues is a cd singles boxset.

[negative1]

But also decent remasters of their Virgin Catalogue are easily available be it digital or cd. How many times are be going to Dare reissued again? What would've better than all of these reissues is a cd singles boxset.

I will continue to buy every single release of Dare, no matter what.
They still need a super deluxe boxset of this, maybe put all the singles in there,
a nice box, all the demos, etc, etc [don't care for surround mix], videos.

its their best album, so, i don't mind.

later
-1

[ZippY]

But also decent remasters of their Virgin Catalogue are easily available be it digital or cd. How many times are be going to Dare reissued again? What would've better than all of these reissues is a cd singles boxset.

I will continue to buy every single release of Dare, no matter what.
They still need a super deluxe boxset of this, maybe put all the singles in there,
a nice box, all the demos, etc, etc [don't care for surround mix], videos.

its their best album, so, i don't mind.

later
-1

Agree, but I can't forget how angry I was back in 2012 when they did that 'boxset' of Dare/Fascination (already had the Love & Dancing album of HLO). It was almost perfect, but it lacked the 12'' A-side of Hard Times/Love Action (I Believe In Love) (10:09 min.) version and the Fascination 7'' A-side single (3:39 min.). If they had done that (there was space enough for it) then it would have been a real Dare.

[BigManRestless]

But also decent remasters of their Virgin Catalogue are easily available be it digital or cd. How many times are we going to Dare reissued again? What would've better than all of these reissues is a cd singles boxset.

I'd lay money we'll get a 40th anniversary one next year.

[postpunkmonk]

I'd lay money we'll get a 40th anniversary one next year.

One would think, but I'm often wrong about this, myself. I'd welcome a great 40th anniv "Dare" box since I missed the 2006 edition and it's out of my price range.

[negative1]

I'd lay money we'll get a 40th anniversary one next year.

One would think, but I'm often wrong about this, myself. I'd welcome a great 40th anniv "Dare" box since I missed the 2006 edition and it's out of my price range.

There are so many remasters, I'm not sure which one you are referring to:
-----------
1988 Japanese CD reissue
1997 US CD reissue - 2 extra tracks
2001 UK/EUR SACD remaster
2004 Japanese remaster
2006 Japanese remaster
2015 Japanese reissue CD/SHM


Dare and Love and Dancing
------------
2002 UK/Eur Remaster of Both 2xCD
2003 US Remaster of Both 2xCD
2018 Japanese CD Mini LP sleeves

later
-1

[Aevion93]

Don't forget the 2012 one with Fascination!

[postpunkmonk]

Don't forget the 2012 one with Fascination!

That's the only boxed version that I was aware of. I ignored all of the earlier remasters of "Dare" that were hardly incentive to upgrade from my first gen US CD of "Dare" and the first gen. UK CD of "Love + Dancing."

https://www.discogs.com/The-Human-Leagu ... se/3530397

And I ended up ignoring this one as well because I didn't imagine that it would be out of my price range so quickly.

[Aevion93]

I have the 2002 one with Love And Dancing. Haven't felt the need to upgrade and probably won't until a proper comprehensive reissue is put out, if ever.

[dlgladwin]

My copy of the expanded Octopus arrived at the weekend, and I played some of the demos on Disc 2 this morning.

Immediately of interest is the lyrical difference in These Are the Days. On the 1995 album, it goes:

Now I'm not saying everything is really great
After sixteen years of legalised class hate.

Referring, of course, to the Conservative party's period in power, which had lasted since 1979. But on the demo, it's thirteen years of legalised class hate.

So presumably the demos date from as far back as 1992!

[WLR]

A quick question, which is the best remaster of "Dare"??

[Fred Taghon]

A quick question, which is the best remaster of "Dare"??

I have the USA Caroline Records reissue from 1997 which sounds nearly identical to the 2002 Virgin Remaster (though the 2002 does have a bit more bass "punch" to it. I bought the Dare/Fascination box set a few years ago which also sounds on par with the 2002 version. Any of these 3 are excellent in my opinion.

[BigManRestless]

I really like the selection of demos on the 2CD version.

I do think the packaging is a bit poor; the booklet is almost identical to the 1995 version, no sleeve notes, no extra photos. But the music is the main thing and that is as good as ever.

I think I'm right in saying the demo of Housefull Of Nothing is the same as on the Anthology, but Filling Up With Heaven is different?

[WLR]

A quick question, which is the best remaster of "Dare"??

I have the USA Caroline Records reissue from 1997 which sounds nearly identical to the 2002 Virgin Remaster (though the 2002 does have a bit more bass "punch" to it. I bought the Dare/Fascination box set a few years ago which also sounds on par with the 2002 version. Any of these 3 are excellent in my opinion.

Thanks for the info Fred