[5] Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey and keyboard player Ian Burden, the song was recorded at Genetic Sound Studios, Reading, in March 1981.

Originally released as a stand-alone single in April 1981, it was subsequently remixed and incorporated into the studio album Dare, later in the year.

"The Sound of the Crowd" was the first Human League song to feature female vocals, from new band members Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, interacting with Philip Oakey's lead.

", the song contains some more obscure lyrics such as "Make a shroud pulling combs through a backwash frame" and "Stroke a pocket with a print of a laughing sound".

Discussing the song in a 2009 interview Ian Burden said: On "The Sound of the Crowd" I scribbled down some stream-of-consciousness words so that I could demonstrate the vocal parts to him (Oakey) without having to do the naff la-la-la-hum-hum-hum type of explanation.

[11] No promotional video was made for the song, although recordings of TV performances from Top of the Pops (30 April 1981) and Later... with Jools Holland (25 November 1995) are included on the bonus DVD issued with The Very Best of The Human League.