# Human Racing

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Human_Racing.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Racing
> Source revision: 1351597792
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|1984 studio album by Nik Kershaw}}
{{about|the Nik Kershaw album|the title track|Human Racing (song)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Human Racing
| type       = [Studio album](/source/Studio_album)
| artist     = [Nik Kershaw](/source/Nik_Kershaw)
| cover      = Nik-Kershaw-Human-Racing.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|1984|02|27|df=y}}
| recorded   = Summer 1983
| studio     = * [Sarm East](/source/Sarm_East_Studios) ([London](/source/London))
* [Sarm West](/source/Sarm_West_Studios) (London)
* Marcus Music ([Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles))
* [Cherokee](/source/Cherokee_Studios) (Los Angeles){{sfn|Kershaw|2012|p=2–3}}
| genre      = * [Pop](/source/Pop_music)
* [new wave](/source/New_wave_music)
* [synth-pop](/source/synth-pop)
* [pop rock](/source/pop_rock)
| length     = {{Duration|m=39|s=39}}
| label      = [MCA](/source/MCA_Records)
| producer   = [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(record_producer))
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [The Riddle](/source/The_Riddle_(album))
| next_year  = 1984
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Human Racing
 | type        = [Studio album](/source/Studio_album)
 | single1     = [I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me](/source/I_Won't_Let_the_Sun_Go_Down_on_Me)
 | single1date = 9 September 1983
 | single2     = [Wouldn't It Be Good](/source/Wouldn't_It_Be_Good)
 | single2date = 20 January 1984
 | single3     = [Dancing Girls](/source/Dancing_Girls_(song))
 | single3date = 2 April 1984
 | single4     = [I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me](/source/I_Won't_Let_the_Sun_Go_Down_on_Me) (Re-release)
 | single4date = 4 June 1984
 | single5     = [Human Racing](/source/Human_Racing_(song))
 | single5date = 3 September 1984
}}}}
'''''Human Racing''''' is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter [Nik Kershaw](/source/Nik_Kershaw), released on 27 February 1984 by [MCA Records](/source/MCA_Records). Several songs like "Drum Talk" were based around improvisation; other songs, like "[I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me](/source/I_Won't_Let_the_Sun_Go_Down_on_Me)", had a political message.

Kershaw's most commercially successful solo album, it peaked at No. 5 on the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) and reached the top 10 in several other countries, including Germany, Finland, and Norway. The album spawned four charting singles in the United Kingdom. "[Wouldn't It Be Good](/source/Wouldn't_It_Be_Good)" peaked at No. 4 on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart); "[Dancing Girls](/source/Dancing_Girls_(song))" peaked at No. 13; "[I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me](/source/I_Won't_Let_the_Sun_Go_Down_on_Me)" at No. 2; "[Human Racing](/source/Human_Racing_(song))" at No. 19. ''Human Racing'' was the 22nd best-selling album of 1984 in the UK and received a nomination for Best British Album at the [Brit Awards 1985](/source/Brit_Awards_1985).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1985|title=Shows|publisher=Brits.co.uk|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221109/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1985|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album has been certified platinum by the [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry) (BPI).

The album was re-released on 27 February 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisnotretro.com/nik-kershaw-to-release-expanded-edition-of-human-racing|title=Nik Kershaw To Release Expanded Reissue Of 'Human Racing'|publisher=thisisnotretro.com|date=15 February 2012|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> on Universal's new Re-presents imprint featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a 2-CD set with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; the bonus content consists of associated 12" mixes and [B-sides](/source/A-side_and_B-side) including a previously unreleased version of "Bogart", a special brass mix of "Shame on You" and a live version of "Cloak and Dagger" recorded at the [Hammersmith Odeon](/source/Hammersmith_Apollo).

== Critical reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Bultman |first=Scott |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/human-racing-mw0000765461 |title=Human Racing – Nik Kershaw |website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))''
| rev2score = Favourable<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) | title=Reviews: albums | date=21 April 1984 | page=60}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)''
| rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hills|first=Simon|date=3 March 1984|title=Albums|magazine=[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)}}</ref>
| rev4      = ''[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)''
| rev4score = {{Rating|1|10}}<ref name="smash">{{cite magazine |last= Cranna|first= Ian|title= Album Reviews|magazine= [Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)|volume= 6|issue= 5|page=37|date=1 March 1984}}</ref>
}}
''[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)'' magazine gave the album a highly negative review, awarding it 1 out of 10, and calling it "Competent but relentlessly dull synthesised meanderings of no importance to anyone but Mr Kershaw himself (and even ''he'' doesn't sound that interested)."<ref name="smash"/> Reviewing retrospectively for [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic), critic Scott Bultman wrote of the album: "His debut, although rough around the edges, showed talent and promise."<ref name="allmusic"/>

== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| headline     = Side one
| all_writing  = [Nik Kershaw](/source/Nik_Kershaw)
| title1       = [Dancing Girls](/source/Dancing_Girls_(song))
| length1      = 3:46
| title2       = [Wouldn't It Be Good](/source/Wouldn't_It_Be_Good)
| length2      = 4:32
| title3       = Drum Talk
| length3      = 3:10
| title4       = Bogart
| length4      = 4:38
| title5       = Gone to Pieces
| length5      = 3:11
}}
{{Track listing
| headline     = Side two
| total_length = 39:39
| title6       = Shame on You
| length6      = 3:33
| title7       = Cloak and Dagger
| length7      = 4:55
| title8       = [Faces](/source/Faces_(Nik_Kershaw_song))
| length8      = 4:05
| title9       = [I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me](/source/I_Won't_Let_the_Sun_Go_Down_on_Me)
| length9      = 3:23
| title10      = [Human Racing](/source/Human_Racing_(song))
| length10     = 4:26
}}
'''Additional tracks'''
{| class="collapsible collapsed" border="0" style="margin-right:20.45em"
! style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | Bonus tracks on 2012 release
! |
|-
| colspan="2" |
{{Track listing
| title1       = Dancing Girls
| note1        = extended 12" remix
| length1      = 8:05
| title2       = Bogart
| note2        = extended 12" remix
| length2      = 4:29
| title3       = Monkey Business
| length3      = 3:30
| title4       = Shame on You
| note4        = additional brass mix
| length4      = 3:40
| title5       = Drum Talk
| note5        = extended 12" remix
| length5      = 5:00
| title6       = Faces
| note6        = extended 12" remix
| length6      = 4:40
| title7       = Dark Glasses
| length7      = 4:16
| title8       = Wouldn't It Be Good
| note8        = extended 12" remix
| length8      = 6:52
| title9       = Human Racing
| note9        = extended 12" remix
| length9      = 5:24
| title10      = She Cries
| length10     = 3:48
| title11      = I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
| note11       = extended 12" remix
| length11     = 6:33
| title12      = Cloak and Dagger
| note12       = live at Hammersmith Odeon 1984
| length12     = 5:07
}}
|}
{| class="collapsible collapsed" border="0" style="margin-right:20.45em"
! style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | Original track listing
! |
|-
| colspan="2" |
The master tapes for ''Human Racing'' are shown in the booklet that accompanies the 2012 re-release. They show the original track listing of the album was:{{sfn|Kershaw|2012|p=14-15}}

'''Side 1'''
# "Drum Talk"
# "Wouldn't It Be Good"
# "Bring on the Dancing Girls"
# "Bogart"
# "Gone to Pieces"

'''Side 2'''
# "Shame on You"
# "Cloak and Dagger"
# "Faces"
# "[Wide Boy](/source/Wide_Boy_(song))"
# "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down"
# "Human Racing"

"Wide Boy" was dropped before the album's official release, but was later released on Kershaw's next studio album, ''[The Riddle](/source/The_Riddle_(album))'' (1984).

The master tapes also show that the album was completed in November 1983. The master tapes were later [baked](/source/Tape_baking) for preservation purposes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/interview/nik-kershaw-talks-80s-pop-and-human-racing-28-years-on/ |title=Nik Kershaw talks 80s pop and Human Racing 28 years on |publisher=Superdeluxeedition.com |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref> Side 1 was baked on 15 September 2011, and Side 2 on 23 February 2005.
|}

== Personnel ==
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="booklet">{{cite book|title=Human Racing ''liner notes''|year=1984|publisher=[MCA Records](/source/MCA_Records)}}</ref>

'''Musicians'''
* [Nik Kershaw](/source/Nik_Kershaw)&nbsp;– [lead](/source/Singing) and background vocals; vocal percussion and effects; [guitar](/source/guitar); [bass guitar](/source/bass_guitar); [keyboards](/source/Electronic_keyboard); [percussion](/source/Percussion_instrument)
* [Paul "Wix" Wickens](/source/Wix_Wickens)&nbsp;– keyboards; [Fairlight CMI](/source/Fairlight_CMI)
* [Charlie Morgan](/source/Charlie_Morgan_(musician))&nbsp;– [drums](/source/Drum_kit)
* [Reg Webb](/source/Reg_Webb)&nbsp;– keyboards
* [Nick Glennie-Smith](/source/Nick_Glennie-Smith)&nbsp;– keyboards
* [Don Snow](/source/Don_Snow)&nbsp;– keyboards
* [Paul Westwood](/source/Paul_Westwood)&nbsp;– additional bass guitar on "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
* [Martin Ditcham](/source/Martin_Ditcham)&nbsp;– percussion
* [Jerry Hey](/source/Jerry_Hey)&nbsp;– [horns](/source/Horn_(instrument))
* Gary Grant&nbsp;– horns
* [Larry Williams](/source/Larry_Williams_(jazz_musician))&nbsp;– horns
* [Bill Reichenbach](/source/Bill_Reichenbach_Jr.)&nbsp;– horns
* Kim Hutchcroft&nbsp;– horns
* [Sheri Kershaw](/source/Sheri_Kershaw)&nbsp;– [backing vocals](/source/Backing_vocalist) on "Faces"
* Lynda Hayes&nbsp;– voice-over on "Bogart"

'''Production and artwork'''
* [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(record_producer))&nbsp;– [producer](/source/Record_producer)
* [Julian Mendelsohn](/source/Julian_Mendelsohn)&nbsp;– [engineer](/source/audio_engineer); [mixer](/source/Audio_mixing_(recorded_music))
* [Stuart Bruce](/source/Stuart_Bruce_(engineer))&nbsp;– assistant engineer
* Keith Finney&nbsp;– assistant engineer
* [Bob Kraushaar](/source/Bob_Kraushaar)&nbsp;– assistant engineer
* Roger Howorth&nbsp;– assistant engineer
* Nick Campey&nbsp;– assistant engineer

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''Human Racing''
! scope="col"| Chart (1984)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([Kent Music Report](/source/Kent_Music_Report))<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|page=165|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| 35
|-
{{album chart|Canada|19|chartid=6785a|rowheader=true|access-date=25 May 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|13|artist=Nik Kershaw|album=Human Racing|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2015}}
|-
! scope="row"| [European Albums](/source/European_Top_100_Albums) (''[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-08-13-OCR-Page-0004.pdf |title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=[Eurotipsheet](/source/Music_%26_Media) |volume=1 |issue=19/20 |date=13 August 1984 |page=12 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 14
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([Suomen virallinen lista](/source/The_Official_Finnish_Charts))<ref>{{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language=fi |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |publisher=[Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava](/source/Otava_(publisher)) |year=2006 |isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}</ref>
| 8
|-
{{album chart|Germany|8|id=105|artist=Nik Kershaw|album=Human Racing|rowheader=true|access-date=25 May 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|32|artist=Nik Kershaw|album=Human Racing|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|7|artist=Nik Kershaw|album=Human Racing|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|38|artist=Nik Kershaw|album=Human Racing|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|12|artist=Nik Kershaw|album=Human Racing|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|5|date=19840708|rowheader=true|access-date=25 May 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|70|artist=Nik Kershaw|rowheader=true|access-date=25 May 2022}}
|}
{{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for ''Human Racing''
! scope="col"| Chart (1984)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9642&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9642.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9642 |title=Top 100 Albums of 1984 |magazine=RPM |volume=41 |issue=17 |date=5 January 1985 |page=8 |issn=0033-7064 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
| 64
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1984&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1984 |language=nl |publisher=[Dutch Charts](/source/Dutch_Charts) |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref>
| 44
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1984 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1984 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref>
| 22
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums ([Gallup](/source/Gallup_(company)))<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1985/Music-Week-1985-01-26-I-IDX-62.pdf |title=Top 100 Albums (January 3–December 29, 1984) |magazine=[Music Week](/source/Music_Week) |date=26 January 1985 |page=42 |issn=0265-1548 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 22
|}
{{col-end}}

== Certifications ==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Human Racing''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Nik Kershaw|title=Human Racing|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|date=1 August 1984|access-date=26 May 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Nik Kershaw|title=Human Racing|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|id=3042-3151-2|date=8 October 1984|access-date=26 May 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite AV media notes
| title     = Human Racing (2CD Expanded Edition)
| others    = [Nik Kershaw](/source/Nik_Kershaw)
| year      = 2012
| last      = Kershaw
| first     = Nik
| type      = CD booklet
| publisher = [Universal](/source/Universal_Music_Group)/[Island Records](/source/Island_Records) Ltd.
| id        = UMCREP2013
}}

== External links ==
* {{discogs master|86810}}

{{Nik Kershaw}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Racing}}
Category:1984 debut albums
Category:Albums produced by Peter Collins (record producer)
Category:MCA Records albums
Category:Nik Kershaw albums

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Human Racing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Racing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Racing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.