Re: It's The Humans

Jon Harrison's recent post reminded me of another mystery. Maybe the fine people on this board can offer a solution.

I found a tape one day in '84 or '85. It was lying in a parking lot at school. If I had pulled into the parking space just six inches to the left, I would've pulverized the tape.

It turned out to be a mix tape someone had made. Side A was a poppish selection (Heaven 17, New Order, Boomtown Rats, Human League) and Side B was darker, more "goth" (Banshees, Bauhaus, Moev, Joy Division). Very enjoyable tape, with a few surprises that sent me searching.

There's one song on Side A that I've never identified. It opens with a clipped, Cars-ish guitar riff and the lines, "That's it / I quit / I'm pushin' but it just won't fit." The chorus goes, "Don't be afraid of the dark / It's nice at night / It's nice tonight, tonight."

Ring a bell for any of you out there?

It's The Humans' track "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" from their excellent 1981 album HAPPY HOUR. Powerpop with a very dark edge - great record!

Great! Thanks very much. Wish I could've found out a long time ago ... like, oh I don't know, say, back when The Humans' *Happy Hour* was still in print. But that's no one's fault but my own.

Funny, I just got a copy used (in great shape) for like 3 or 4 bucks at Amoeba in Hollywood only about a month ago or so. So there are copies floating around. Check your used shops. The album sounds years ahead of it's time - resembling more the sincere, personal (DON'T say "emo"!) alt-'80s sounds of, say, the Rplacements, or their Santa Cruz homies Camper Van Beethoven then the usual 1980 Devo-type weird punk I was expecting.