Tensions were high between Russia and America as Cruise missiles arrived on UK soil, seat belts became mandatory for front seat passengers, the £1 coin was introduced, a pint of beer was 67 pence, and Howard Jones unleashed his first single, ‘New Song’, on the world. The year was 1983 and electronic music was all over the charts. The Human League, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, and Kajagoogoo, had all made a huge impact, as ‘Karma Chameleon’ by Culture Club became the UK top selling single. Emerging from the local music scene surrounding High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Jones soon found himself supporting the likes of China Crisis and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, but once his debut single and album were released… things could only get better.

Only weeks after the release of ‘New Song’, Howard Jones took to the stage of the iconic Marquee club in Wardour Street, London, accompanied by his companion Jed Hoile on “mime”, for a performance which not only acted as a springboard to future success but also delivered songs from his upcoming debut album in a much rawer state than the final polished collection represented on Human Lib. Launching the set with non-album track ‘Tao Te Ching’ which acts an instrumental introduction to the evenings entertainment before ‘Bounce Right Back’ throbs its way into the audiences ears. Despite its B-side status it displays perfectly Jones’s knack for mixing punchy pop with Roland synth grooves. Early favourite ‘What Can I Say?’ (1981), flip side to ‘New Song’, ‘Change The Man’, and deep cut ‘Dreams Of A Better Place’ which supplied the building blocks for ‘Dream Into Action’, all hold up well in a set revolving around the ever popular, Human Lib material, including the pulsating ‘Natural’, ‘Hunt The Self’ with its frantic texture, ‘Pearl In The Shell’ which would go on to be the fourth and final hit single (#7) from the album eight months later, the drum synthesiser cacophony of ‘Equality’, and crowd pleaser and unsurprising second single ‘What Is Love?’. All contribute to pumping up the capacity crowd. My personal favourite ‘Conditioning’ delivers heavier tones, alongside the upcoming album’s title track, ‘Human’s Lib’, which continues to power a set of chart topping electronica, and well written, deeply personal, would be album classics. The one minor misstep all night is the six minutes of preamble and piano tomfoolery, prior to the four minute closing track (‘Human Lib’) which even Howard admits is a “very long story”. The career launching ‘New Song’ takes pride of place in a prime spot within the set, with Howard announcing his imminent appearance on “Top Of The Pops” which sends the crowd into a rapturous response and prompts an audience sing-along… “Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!”. It even finds Howard throwing in a little honky-tonk piano for good measure proving he really is a rather exceptional pianist. Jones had a few years on many of his compatriots when he released Human Lib, in spite of still only being 28, and this is fully evident in the overall maturity of his writing throughout his debut album and beyond. He would perform fuller slicker takes of many of these tracks in later years, and there are a couple of very minor audio hiccups on this early recording, but he went stellar and achieve bigger and better things with 1985’s follow-up, the more ambitious Dream Into Action, so this is a perfect opportunity to experience what it sounded like as his career took off. Available on either CD or double yellow vinyl with an exclusive Cherry Red Records signed postcard (while stock lasts).

I wasn’t a fan of the 80’s new romantic/electronic movement, but Howard Jones (and Ultravox) hit the spot for me, and still does. 2025 saw Howard Jones celebrating the 40^th anniversary of his second, and biggest selling worldwide album, Dream Into Action, with a tour spanning the US, Europe, the UK and Ireland, on which many dates were sold out. After seventeen studio and eight official live albums, Live At The Marquee gives an insight into one of his earliest live headline performances. He would return to The Marquee before the year was out and I’m sure following the release of second single ‘What Is Love” the crowds were louder and prouder. What is (NOT TO) Love?

• Reviewed By Peter Brockwell.
• Live At The Marquee is released via Cherry Red Records on 30th January 2026.
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Track List:

1. Tao Te Ching

2. Bounce Right Back

3. What Can I Say?

4. Natural

5. Hunt The Self

6. Pearl In The Shell

7. Change The Man

8. Equality

9. What Is Love?

10. Dreams Of A Better Place

11. New Song

12. Conditioning

13. Human’s Lib