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 band members and Bob Last discussing what the Flexidisc should contain, in homage to the film, Dark Star.
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.
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