Labour of Love (song)
Encyclopedia
"Labour of Love" was a hit single by Scottish
duo/brothers Greg and Pat Kane
, better known as Hue and Cry. Included on the album "Seduced and Abandoned
", it was released as their second single in 1987 after their first hit "I Refuse" had failed to make the UK top 75.
Showcasing a somewhat funky sound that was much different than their later ballad releases, this song remains their biggest hit to date, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart
and meriting inclusion on many hits compilations of the 1980s.
The song is written from the perspective of a disillusioned working-class Conservative
voter of the mid-1980s who has worked hard to believe in Margaret Thatcher
's story of a new proud, individualist Britain and who is now realising that there is less "gain" than "pain" in doing so.
The band had a lucky break with this single when they were asked to perform it on the BBC
music show Top Of The Pops
at short notice. American band Los Lobos
were booked to be on the show that week with their hit "La Bamba
" but due to a mix-up with their visa applications they were unable to perform. Hue and Cry were asked to fill the gap in the show and the exposure this generated help propel the single up the UK charts.
In 1993, this song was remixed by house music
producer/DJ Joey Negro
and released as a single that reached #25 in the UK charts.
The songs was featured in the soundtrack
for the video game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
duo/brothers Greg and Pat Kane
Pat Kane
Pat Kane is a Scottish musician, and half of the pop duo Hue and Cry with his younger brother Greg.Independently of Hue & Cry, lead singer Kane writes on politics and culture...
, better known as Hue and Cry. Included on the album "Seduced and Abandoned
Seduced and Abandoned (album)
Seduced and Abandoned is the debut album from the Scottish pop group Hue & Cry.-Track listing:# Strength To Strength# History City# Goodbye To Me# Human Touch# Labour of Love# I Refuse# Something Warmer# Alligator Man# Love Is The Master...
", it was released as their second single in 1987 after their first hit "I Refuse" had failed to make the UK top 75.
Showcasing a somewhat funky sound that was much different than their later ballad releases, this song remains their biggest hit to date, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and meriting inclusion on many hits compilations of the 1980s.
The song is written from the perspective of a disillusioned working-class Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
voter of the mid-1980s who has worked hard to believe in Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's story of a new proud, individualist Britain and who is now realising that there is less "gain" than "pain" in doing so.
The band had a lucky break with this single when they were asked to perform it on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
music show Top Of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
at short notice. American band Los Lobos
Los Lobos
Los Lobos are a multiple Grammy Award–winning American Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños.-History:The...
were booked to be on the show that week with their hit "La Bamba
La Bamba (song)
"La Bamba" is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs...
" but due to a mix-up with their visa applications they were unable to perform. Hue and Cry were asked to fill the gap in the show and the exposure this generated help propel the single up the UK charts.
In 1993, this song was remixed by house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
producer/DJ Joey Negro
Joey Negro
Dave Lee is a British DJ and house music producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta...
and released as a single that reached #25 in the UK charts.
The songs was featured in the soundtrack
Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack
The soundtrack to the game Grand Theft Auto IV, like the previous games in the series, is mostly made up of in-game radio stations. These radio stations can be listened to when driving various vehicles in the game, or at the start menu...
for the video game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City is a standalone compilation of the downloadable content episodes for the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Created by Rockstar North in the United Kingdom, it contains both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony on one disc...
.