The Dignity of Labour

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"The Dignity of Labour"

Single by The Human League
Released	April 1979
Format	12" plus flexi
Recorded	1978 Sheffield
Genre	Electronic
Length	14:45
Label	Fast Records VF-1
Writer(s)	Philip Oakey Martyn Ware Ian Craig Marsh
Producer(s)	Philip Oakey Martyn Ware Ian Craig Marsh
The Human League singles chronology
"Being Boiled" (1978)	"The Dignity of Labour" (1979)	"Empire State Human" (1979)

The Dignity Of Labour is an 12" vinyl record released in 1979. The tracks were written and performed by the The Human League with the line-up Ware, Marsh and Oakey. It was released as the follow-up to their earlier single ("Being Boiled" b/w "Circus of Death") on Fast Product Records, the label that the band released their early singles.

All four parts are instrumental pieces of electronic music, "The Dignity of Labour, Pts. 1-4". These are loosely tied together with a story depicting the construction and launch of pioneering Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space. The cover art depicts Gagarin, having just landed on earth, about to receive a medal of honor.

At the time of release, the record contained a free single on Flexidisc which featured a recording of the members of the band discussing what the Flexidisc should contain, in homage to the film, Dark Star.

[edit] Track listing

"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 1)" – (4:21) — This part depicts miners digging for diamonds, with its distinct synthesized clanging sound, meant to emulate the hammering of picks.
"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 2)" – (2:46) — This part represents engineers building parts for Gagarin's space shuttle.
"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 3)" – (3:49) — This part portrays the takeoff of the shuttle.
"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 4)" – (3:49) — The least melodic of the 4 parts, this part depicts Gagarin's journey through space as surreal, atonal sounds drift in and out.