People can do the work / So that machines have time to think
August 2, 2011 1:03 AM   Subscribe

The B(if)tek song Machines Work has a of sample of someone saying "machines can do the work, so that people have time to think" and "to make reality of imagination". The first sample is also recut to "people can do the work, so that machines have time to think". Does anyone know the source of these samples?

I'm assuming it's not recorded specifically for that track - "people can do the work" has odd intonation that matches the parts of the "machines can do the work" version.
posted by russm to Media & Arts (6 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: From the comments of the linked video, it is from the Henson Company/Raymond Scott's 1967 "Paperwork Explosion". Check this video at around 4:00.

Also thank you for reminding me of these ladies!
posted by lrobertjones at 1:28 AM on August 2, 2011


Response by poster: damnit! OK, so I didn't think to check that... thanks...
posted by russm at 1:34 AM on August 2, 2011


Response by poster: Paperwork Explosion doesn't include the "to make reality of imagination" part, but that's from Raymond Scott's promo for the Bendix Corporation... I'm sure I've googled those same terms before...
posted by russm at 1:49 AM on August 2, 2011 [1 favorite]


Yeah, that's the guy!

See also.
posted by pompomtom at 1:53 AM on August 2, 2011


Response by poster: ah, he's the guy that did Powerhouse! it all comes together...
posted by russm at 1:55 AM on August 2, 2011


The "Machines should do the work" thing was also used by The Kleptones in A Night at the Hip-Hopera, a Queen/hip-hop/lots of crazy sound bytes mashup album. Probably the track called "Work", but I can't check it now.

Thanks for posting this question, I've often wondered where that came from.
posted by owtytrof at 8:27 AM on August 2, 2011


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