Don't you want me - Human League

The lyric of 'Don't you want me' was, according to lead singer Phil Oakey from the Human League, inspired by a story in "a trashy tabloid". Musicians Jo Callis and Philip Adrian Wright created a synthesizer score to accompany the lyrics which was much harsher than the version that was actually released. Oakey disliked the remixed and remodelled version of the song so much that it was relegated to the last track on the album 'Dare'.

Having already released three hit singles from 'Dare', Virgin's Simon Draper decided to issue one more single, and it was 'Don't you want me'. This resulted in a row with Oakey who hated the decision to choose 'the poor quality filler track'. He finally agreed on the condition that a large colour poster accompany the 7" single, because he felt fans would "feel ripped off" by the 'substandard' single alone. The rest, of course, is history: the single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart. The sleeve features the number '100'. This was a reference to a restaurant/bar in Sheffield.

My collection: 7" single no. 3066
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Don't you want me' / 'Seconds'