After a break in 1988 for a multi-platinum selling greatest hits album, the group returned with Romantic? which was yet another move forward with their sound, the hit single “Heart Like A Wheel” saw the band reunite with Dare producer Martin Rushent. However, after a dozen years with the label, it was to be their last album for Virgin. The band continue to record, have hits and tour the world to this day……but that’s a story for another boxset. Easlea, Daryl (June 2012). "Dare/Fascination | The Human League". Record Collector. No.402. London. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 . Retrieved 27 July 2016. To prepare for the album's release (set for the end of October 1981), "Open Your Heart" was released - it went to number six in the UK. It was accompanied by a high-end promotional video. When the album was released, it was condemned by the Musicians' Union, who believed the new technology employed by the Human League was making traditional musicians redundant among other concerns; they would begin a "Keep It Live" campaign believing that bands like the Human League would be able to perform concerts at the touch of a button. [9] Two years later, the band would experiment even further by mostly recording the album Crash with the production team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The gamble paid off, and it returned The Human League to the top of the US charts with the song “Human”.

Oasis album voted greatest of all time". The Times. London. 1 June 2006. Archived from the original on 8 April 2007 . Retrieved 4 November 2020. a b Roberts, David, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7. Jaaroverzichten – Album 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 . Retrieved 16 April 2020.Christgau, Robert (13 April 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015 . Retrieved 3 June 2016. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020 . Retrieved 6 April 2020. Hepworth, David (15–28 October 1981). "The Human League: Dare". Smash Hits. Vol.3, no.21. London. p.25. Dare (album sleeve). The Human League. Virgin Records. 1981. V2192. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) I like it because the Mekons used to have a song called "Dan Dare". In fact, it was ripped off from a cover of Vogue about two and a half years ago. They had a whole series of covers which featured just one word like "Success", "Red" and "Dare". I shouldn't say that, should I? [10]

According to the book Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, renowned music critic Lester Bangs died of an accidental drug overdose while listening to Dare. [19] Awards [ edit ] Platinum and Gold Singles 1982". Kent Music Report. No.453. 28 February 1983 . Retrieved 10 November 2021– via Imgur. New Zealand album certifications – The Human League – Dare". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 16 November 2019. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Dare (and the 30th anniversary of the formation of the band), the modern-day Human League (Oakey, Sulley and Catherall from the original 1981 band line up) conducted a special Dare 2007 tour of the UK and Europe playing the original album live in full during November and December 2007. An updated version of the album's cover artwork, now with recent photographs of Sulley, Oakey and Catherall in the style of the original artwork, accompanied the advertising for the tour. [42] Top Selling Albums of 1982". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017 . Retrieved 23 February 2017.a b c d e Windle, Robert (2010) [2001]. "The Human League Biography Part 2: 'Our music beats the best...' ". Electronically Yours. Opium Visuals. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007 . Retrieved 8 August 2007. Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian) . Retrieved 29 May 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Human League" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca". Dutch album certifications – The Human League – Dare" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 16 July 2022. Enter Dare in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1982 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

The album was a massive commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart in its second week of release. The album's release was expected to be the climax of an enormously successful year for the band, but Virgin Record's Simon Draper decided he wanted an additional single from the album before the end of the year. [9] By Christmas 1981, Dare had gone platinum in the UK, and the Human League had a number-one album and number-one single concurrently on the UK charts. Dare would eventually remain on the UK Albums Chart for 71 weeks. [11] A remix album, called Love and Dancing, was released in July 1982.

Matrix / Runout (B side runout - variant 18): V-219(3 scratched out)2 B-3 [unknown stamp] TOWN HOUSE Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Albums". Chart File Volume 2. London: Virgin Books. pp.82–83. ISBN 0-907080-73-1. Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (2018). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-1-78840-080-0.

The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012 . Retrieved 4 November 2020. Top 100 Albums 82". RPM. Vol.37, no.19. 25 December 1982. p.19. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada. Jones, Alan; Lazell, Barry; Rees, Dafydd (1982). "The Top 200 Albums (UK)". Chart File 1982. London: Virgin Books. pp.78–81. ISBN 0-907080-49-9. Mulholland, Garry (May 2012). "The Human League: Dare Deluxe Edition". Uncut. No.180. London. p.92. British album certifications – Human League – Dare". British Phonographic Industry. 26 April 1985 . Retrieved 30 June 2021.a b c " Dare". Acclaimed Music. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021 . Retrieved 22 October 2021. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dare! – The Human League". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021 . Retrieved 26 January 2005. American album certifications – Human League – Dare". Recording Industry Association of America. 14 July 1982. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1982). "The Top 200 LPs: January–December 1981". BPI Year Book 1982 (5thed.). London: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp.50–53. ISBN 0-906154-03-0. Bell, Nigel (November 2002). "Human League – Dare (21st Anniversary)". BBCi. Archived from the original on 20 February 2003 . Retrieved 22 September 2022.