Don't You Want Me

Don't You Want Me is the title of a song recorded and released by British group The Human League in 1981. Originally featuring on the group's third studio album Dare, released in October, it was released at the end of November as the fourth single from the album and quickly went to the top of the charts in the UK, becoming the Christmas no.1 single that year.

In the space of just one month Don't You Want Me also became the biggest selling single of 1981.

Written by band members Callis, Oakey and Wright, and produced by Martin Rushent and the group, the song was originally intended as a joke song to give some light relief to the Dare album, and was thus tagged on to the end as the final track. It has however gone on to become the group's best known song, also going to no.1 in the US in 1982, opening up the 'second British invasion'. In line with the group's manifesto, it was also recorded using electronic instruments only and is therefore also considered a milestone of the 'synth-pop' genre, which had exploded during 1981.

The story of a broken man/woman relationship, Don't You Want Me also features a solo vocal by Susan Sulley, one of the two teenage female vocalists who had joined the group just a year previously.

Release
The single was released on 27 November 1981 and entered the UK charts at no.9 at the beginning of the following week. It then went to no.1 the week after (also following the premiere of the promo video on Top of the Pops on 03 December) and remained at the top for five weeks, technically becoming the first no.1 of 1982 for one week. It was eventually ousted from the top by Bucks Fizz's Land of Make Believe which had been released a week before Don't You Want Me.

Sales were also boosted by the 12" version which featured a ground-breaking 'extended dance mix'. A free poster was also given away with initial copies of the 7" record.

The single also went to no.1 in the US, reaching the top on 03 July 1982, replacing Paul McCartney And Stevie Wonder with Ebony and Ivory.

Tracklisting
7" Virgin VS 466


 * A. Don't You Want Me
 * B. Seconds

12" Virgin VS 466-12


 * A. Don't You Want me / Seconds
 * B. Don't You Want Me (extended dance mix)

Promo video
Don't You Want me is also known for its promo video which features all band members in a behind-the-scenes film-making scenario, with Oakey and Sulley singing their lead vocals straight into camera. The video ends with all members viewing a rush of the film, with some also working in the cutting room.

The video was first shown on Top of the Pops on 03 December 1981 when the single was already at no.9, and again on 10 and 17 December when it was at no.1. The group performed the song themselves on the show on Christmas Eve and on 07 January 1982.

Don't You Want Me was one of the three Human League promo videos to feature on the ground-breaking 'Video Single' released on 14 February 1983 on VHS cassette.

Remixes and re-releases
Aside from the original extended dance mix, which also featured on the Love and Dancing album released in 1982 under the name of League Unlimited Orchestra, Don't You Want Me has been remixed and re-released on various occiasions, most notably:


 * 1995: remixes by Red Jerry and Snap, released around the same time as the group's second Greatest Hits album (remix single reached no.16 in October 1995)
 * 2003: Majik J Original Booty vocal mix, included on The Very Best of The Human League (2003, bonus remix CD)
 * 2021: remixes by Purple Disco Machine, released to mark the 40th anniversary of the original release.

The 12" version also appears on Original Remixes & Rarities (2005) and Dare/Fascination! (2012).