NIK KERSHAW - HUMAN RACING - REISSUE REVIEW

Format: Double CD

My first memory of Nik Kershaw was a cartoon image of him lying underneath a jelly baby sweet that had been thrown by someone in the crowd. A double-gag suggesting his audience were mostly children, along with a dig at his height, or lack of.

However, Human Racing is quite a grown-up album. A lush Peter Collins production of Nik playing every instrument he can get his hands on. Tales of Dancing Girl’s, Humphrey Bogart, Government Conspiracy and Nuclear War sit within perfectly poppy, radio friendly tunes.

Breakthrough single Wouldn’t It Be Good is here plus the 12” version. The first (and 3rd) single I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me too, along with the 12” (allowing the ear access to the rather splendid Bass playing, not by Nik, but by Paul Westwood (who literally wrote the Bass Bible)).

Other highlights include live favourite Drum Talk as an extended version, the East-End-accented Shame On You and the LinnDrum-laden ballad, Human Racing.

The second disc of 12”s and extras include the superb b-sides Dark Glasses and She Cries (later recorded by Bucks Fizz) and an unreleased version of Bogart.

Human Racing deserves a dusting off and playing again, for whilst it’s roots are well bedded in the 80s, this album has tracks that can still reach out and remind you why Nik is more than just ‘the one and only’.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

© 2025 Guy James