Working Week (band)

Working Week was a British jazz-dance musical ensemble, active in the 1980s and 1990s.^[1]

Working Week was formed in 1983, by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, from the ashes of the proto new wave jazz-pop band Weekend, which ceased to exist when singer Alison Statton left to become a schoolteacher. Weekend also paved the way for other Brit jazz-pop bands that followed such as Everything But The Girl and Swing Out Sister. The duo released its debut single "Venceremos - We Will Win" the following year, a tribute to Chilean protest singer Víctor Jara featuring vocal contributions from Robert Wyatt and Tracey Thorn from Everything but the Girl. It became the band's sole entry in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #64.^[2] Singer Julie Tippetts provided vocals for the follow-up "Storm of Light".^[3]

A debut album, Working Nights was released in April 1985, with vocalist Juliet Roberts added as a full-time member of the band. Initial copies of the LP had a bonus 12" featuring (Jalaluddin) Jalal Mansur Nuriddin (also known as Lightnin' Rod, birth name Alafia Pudin) of The Last Poets. Roberts continued as singer on the 1986 album Companeros and Surrender, released in 1987, but left the band after that year's single "Knocking on Your Door". Julie Tippetts returned as vocalist (with other guest vocalists) for the 1989 album Fire in the Mountain, and Eyvon Waite was featured as solo vocalist for 1991's Black and Gold, the band's final studio album.

They appeared on 9 February 1986 at the Royal Albert Hall, in a benefit concert for victims of the 1985 Armero tragedy in Colombia.^[4]

The band also briefly featured future Swing Out Sister lead singer Corinne Drewery.

Discography

Albums

• Working Nights (Virgin Records V2343) - 1985 UK #23
• Compañeros (Virgin Records V2397) - 1986 - UK #72
• Surrender (Virgin Records V2468) - 1987
• Paycheck (compilation) (Venture VEGD 19) -1988
• Fire in the Mountain (10 Records DIX86) - 1989
• Black and Gold (10 Records DIX95) - 1991
• Payday (Best of Working Week) (compilation) - 1999^[2]

Singles

• "Venceremos (We Will Win)" - 1984 UK #64
• "Storm of Light" - 1984 UK #88
• "Inner City Blues" - 1985 UK #93
• "Sweet Nothing" - 1985 UK #83
• "Stella Marina" - 1985
• "I Thought I'd Never See You Again" - 1985 UK #80
• "Too Much Time" - 1986 UK #94
• "South Africa" - 1986
• "Rodrigo Bay" - 1986
• "Don't Touch My Friend" - 1986
• "Surrender" - 1987
• "Largo" - 1987
• "Knocking On Your Door" - 1988
• "Eldorado" - 1989
• "Blade" - 1989
• "Testify" - 1990
• "Positive" - 1991 UK #96
• "Holding On" - 1991

References

1. Ankeny, Jason. "Working Week – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 610. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. "Working Week – Discover music, videos, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
4. Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 415. CN 5585.