Workin' Overtime (song)

Last updated
"Workin' Overtime"
Workin' Overtime (song).jpg
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Workin' Overtime
ReleasedApril 24, 1989 (1989-04-24)
Genre
Length4:17
Label Motown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Nile Rodgers
Diana Ross singles chronology
"If We Hold on Together"
(1988)		"Workin' Overtime"
(1989)		"This House"
(1989)
Music video
"Workin' Overtime" on YouTube

"Workin' Overtime" is a song recorded by American singer Diana Ross for her seventeenth studio album of the same name (1989). The song was written by Christopher Max and Nile Rodgers and produced by Rodgers. It was released as the album's lead single on April 24, 1989, by Motown Records.

Contents

Background and release

In 1988, Ross left the RCA Records and returned to Motown, where she once started and which she left in the early 80s due to creative lack of freedom, now the singer has become a co-owner of the company. Ross decides to record a new album in the mainstream sound – new jack swing. Nile Rodgers was involved in the production, he also became the producer of the song "Workin' Overtime", as well as the author together with Christopher Max. [1]

Initially, the label planned the song "Bottom Line" as the first single from the new album, but Ross insisted that "Workin' Overtime" be released first. [2] It was released on April 24, 1989. In the United States, the song failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it became a huge hit on the Hot Black Singles chart, reaching the third position and remaining on the chart for 13 weeks. [3] The song showed the same good result on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, rising to 11th place. [4] A warmer reception in the pop charts for the singer was arranged in Ireland and the United Kingdom, where the single took 28th and 32nd places, respectively.

Music video

A music video was also shot to promote "Workin' Overtime". [5] The video got into the heavy rotation of the BET TV channel, however, the video was criticized for the fact that Diana Ross "is trying to look too young." [6]

Critical reception

Jerry Smith of Music Week said this "slick and sprightly dance track that could well get Ross back into the charts." [7]

Track listing

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Ross</span> American singer (born 1944)

Diana Ross is an American singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. They remain the best-charting female group in history, with a total of 12 number-one pop singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, including "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "You Keep Me Hangin' On," and "Love Child."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someday We'll Be Together</span> 1969 single by Diana Ross and the Supremes

"Someday We'll Be Together" is a song written by Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua. It was the last of twelve American number-one pop singles for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. Although it was released as the final Supremes song featuring Diana Ross, who left the group for a solo career in January 1970, it was recorded as Ross' first solo single and Supremes members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong do not sing on the recording. Both appear on the B-side, "He's My Sunny Boy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reflections (The Supremes song)</span> 1967 single by Diana Ross & the Supremes

"Reflections" is a 1967 song recorded by American soul music group The Supremes for the Motown label. The single release was the first Supremes record credited to "Diana Ross and the Supremes", and the song was one of the last Motown hits to be written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland before they left the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come See About Me</span> 1964 single by The Supremes

"Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label. The track opens with a fade-in, marking one of the first times the technique had been used on a studio recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Keep Me Hangin' On</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. American rock band Vanilla Fudge released a cover version in June the following year, which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Wilson Pickett recorded it in 1969. English singer Kim Wilde covered "You Keep Me Hangin' On" in 1986, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1987. In the first 32 years of the Billboard Hot 100 rock era, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" became one of the six songs to reach number one by two different musical acts. In 1996, American country singer Reba McEntire's version reached number two on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The BBC ranked the Supremes' original song at number 78 on The Top 100 Digital Motown Chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Supremes discography</span>

American girl group The Supremes have released 29 studio albums, four live albums, two soundtrack albums, 32 compilation albums, four box sets, 66 singles and three promotional singles. The Supremes are the most successful American group of all time, and the 26th greatest artist of all time on the US Billboard charts; with 12 number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and three number-one albums on the Billboard 200. The Supremes were the first artist to accumulate five consecutive number-one singles on the US Hot 100 and the first female group to top the Billboard 200 albums chart with The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966). In 2017, Billboard ranked The Supremes as the number-one girl group of all time, publishing, 'although there have been many girl group smashes in the decades since the Supremes ruled the Billboard charts, no collective has yet to challenge their, for lack of a better word, supremacy.' In 2019, the UK Official Charts Company placed 7 Supremes songs—"You Can't Hurry Love" (16), "Baby Love" (23), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (56), "Where Did Our Love Go?" (59), "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (78), "Come See About Me" (94) and "Stoned Love" (99)—on The Official Top 100 Motown songs of the Millennium chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)</span> 1965 single by the Four Tops

"I Can't Help Myself" is a 1965 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reach Out I'll Be There</span> 1966 song by the Four Tops

"Reach Out I'll Be There" (also formatted as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)") is a song recorded by American vocal quartet Four Tops from their fourth studio album, Reach Out (1967). Written and produced by Motown's main production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most widely-known Motown hits of the 1960s and is today considered the Four Tops' signature song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't No Mountain High Enough</span> 1966 song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and became a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross. The song became Ross's first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Hangover</span> 1976 single by Diana Ross

"Love Hangover" is a song by the Motown singer Diana Ross, recorded in 1975 and released as a single on March 16, 1976. It rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot-Selling Soul Singles. It also hit number one on the Record World disco charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upside Down (Diana Ross song)</span> 1980 single by Diana Ross

"Upside Down" is a song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. It was recorded by American singer Diana Ross and issued on June 18, 1980 from Motown as the lead single from her eleventh studio album, Diana (1980). The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 6, 1980 and stayed there for four weeks. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The single was released a full four weeks after the album was released.

<i>Diana</i> (album) 1980 album by Diana Ross

Diana is the eleventh studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on May 22, 1980, by Motown Records. The album is the best-selling studio album of Ross's career, spawning three international hit singles, including the number-one hit "Upside Down".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is Here and Now You're Gone</span> 1967 single by the Supremes

"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" is a 1967 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Ross discography</span>

The discography of American rhythm and blues singer Diana Ross, the former lead singer of the Supremes, consists of 26 studio albums and 116 singles. Throughout her career, Ross has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Billboard ranked her as the 47th Greatest Artist of all time and the 11th Greatest Hot 100 Female Artist of all time. In 1993, Guinness World Records crowned Ross as the "most successful female artist in music history". Her 11th studio album "Diana" remains the best-selling album of her career, selling more than 10 million copies and album equivalent units around the world.

<i>Swept Away</i> (Diana Ross album) 1984 studio album by Diana Ross

Swept Away is the fifteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 13, 1984, by RCA Records in North America and by Capitol Records in Europe. It was Ross' fourth of six albums released by the label during the decade.

<i>Workin Overtime</i> 1989 studio album by Diana Ross

Workin' Overtime is the eighteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on June 6, 1989, by Motown Records. Her first Motown album with new material since To Love Again (1981) after a short stint with RCA Records, Ross reunited with frequent collaborator Nile Rodgers, chief producer of her most successful album to date Diana (1980), to make this album which was an attempt to gear her to a much younger audience bringing in new jack swing productions and house music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Some Things You Never Get Used To</span> 1968 single by Diana Ross & the Supremes

"Some Things You Never Get Used To" is a song released in 1968 by Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. The single stalled for three weeks at number 30 on the U.S. Billboard pop chart in July 1968. It became the lowest-charting Supremes single since 1963 and became the catalyst for Berry Gordy to revamp songwriting for The Supremes since the loss of Motown's premier production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, whom Gordy had assigned as the group's sole producers after the success of "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Close (Diana Ross song)</span> 1983 single by Diana Ross

"So Close" is a song by American singer Diana Ross from her thirteenth studio album Silk Electric (1983). The song was written by Bill Wray, Rob Mounsey and Diana Ross and produced by the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Experience (Diana Ross song)</span> 1986 single by Diana Ross

"Experience" is a song recorded by American singer Diana Ross for her fifteenth studio album Eaten Alive (1985). It was written by Barry, Maurice, Robin and Andy Gibb, while Barry produced the track along with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Work That Body (song)</span> 1982 single by Diana Ross

"Work That Body" is a song by American singer Diana Ross recorded for her eleventh studio album Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981). The song was written by Ross, Paul Jabara and Ray Chew. The song was written during the popularity of aerobics classes.

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Joe (August 13, 1989). "The Divas With the Die-Hard Fans". The Washington Post . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  2. ↑ Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2008). Diana Ross: An Unauthorized Biography. Pan Macmillan. p. 517. ISBN   9780330470148.
  3. 1 2 "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Diana Ross: Workin' Overtime (Music Video 1989)". Internet Movie Database . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  6. ↑ Adrahtas, Tom (2006). Diana Ross. The American Dream Girl: a Lifetime to Get Here. AuthorHouse. p. 232. ISBN   9781425971403.
  7. ↑ Smith, Jerry (May 6, 1989). "Diana Ross: Workin' Overtime" (PDF). Music Week . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 27. ISSN   0265-1548 . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Diana Ross – Workin' Overtime (1989, Vinyl)". Discogs . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Diana – Workin' Overtime (1989, Vinyl)". Discogs . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Diana – Workin' Overtime (1989, Pinckneyville Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Diana – Workin' Overtime (1989, CD)". Discogs . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Diana – Workin' Overtime (Dancin' Danny D Remix) (1989, Vinyl)". Discogs . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Diana Ross – Workin' Overtime (1989, Vinyl)". Discogs . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  15. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Diana Ross". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 219. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Workin' Overtime". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Top R&B Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. 52, no. 52. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. July 8, 1989. p. 15. ISSN   0008-7289 . Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Top Dance Sales 12-inch Singles" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 101, no. 51. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. December 12, 1989. p. Y-40. ISSN   0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Top Black Singles" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 101, no. 51. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. December 12, 1989. p. Y-28. ISSN   0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.