Howard Jones - Human's Lib (Deluxe Remastered & Expanded Edition) (2018) [Hi-Res]

It’s funny to think that despite signing him originally and enjoying the fruits of his hit albums in the 1980s, Warners have never issued a deluxe edition of a Howard Jones album. Perhaps frustrated by the inaction, Jones took matters into his own hands about seven years ago and licensed his music from Warners and put out a series of box sets on his own dtox label. Last year the major sold Howard Jones’ catalogue to Cherry Red and the latter have finally announced what we all knew was coming: some very extensive reissues of the first two albums Human’s Lib (1984) and Dream Into Action (1985).

Two six-disc super deluxe editions of both long-players steal the headlines and these are very extensive indeed. They include remastered albums, all the remixes, unreleased rough mixes and demos, two DVDs, picture disc vinyl and in the case of the debut a “white tape replica pre-contract demo cassette containing remastered versions of four original demo tracks”. There are no 5.1 surround mixes which might be a disappointment, but more than enough extra/new material to make a purchase worthwhile. There was no video content at all on Howard’s own reissues but an abundance here, with TV appearances, promo videos and the like. The ‘Live In Japan’ concert is on DVD for the first time as part of the Human’s Lib super deluxe.