"I've Been Working" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...

appearing on the album ''

His Band and the Street Choir ''His Band and the Street Choir'' (also referred to as ''Street Choir'') is the fourth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 15 November 1970 by Warner Bros. Records. Originally titled ''Virgo's Fool'' ...

'', released in 1970. The song was first an outtake from Morrison's well received album ''

Astral Weeks ''Astral Weeks'' is the second studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was recorded at Century Sound Studios in New York during September and October 1968, and released in November of the same year by Warner Bros. Rec ...

'' of 1968. Other versions of "I've Been Working" were recorded for Morrison's next album ''

Moondance ''Moondance'' is the third studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 27 January 1970 by Warner Bros. Records. After the commercial failure of his first Warner Bros. album ''Astral Weeks'' (1968), Morris ...

'', of which, three were released on the 2013 deluxe edition.

Releases and performances

*A live performance appeared on Morrison's 1974 live album, ''

It's Too Late to Stop Now ''It's Too Late to Stop Now'' is a 1974 live double album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It features performances that were recorded in concerts at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium ...

''. *The song appears on the 1981 video

Van Morrison in Ireland ''Van Morrison in Ireland'' is the first official video by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1981 of a concert Morrison recorded in Northern Ireland in 1979. It was directed by Michael Radford who later became a noted film ...

recorded in 1979. *"I've Been Working" also appears on the 1994 live album '' A Night in San Francisco''. *Morrison performed the song in April 1973 for the television program ''

Don Kirshner's Rock Concert ''Don Kirshner's Rock Concert'' is an American television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations, initially through Viacom Enterprises, and later ...

''.

Personnel on original release

– guitar, vocal *Keith Johnson – trumpet, organ *John Klingberg – bass guitar *

John Platania John Platania is a session musician, guitar player, and record producer. He was born in 1948 in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, in Ulster County, near Woodstock. Career Van Morrison Platania is best known for his work with Van Morrison, begin ...

– guitar *Jack Schroer – alto and baritone saxophones *Dahaud Shaar (David Shaw) – drums

Cover versions

* Bob Seger covered this song on his album ''

Back in '72 ''Back in '72'' is the sixth studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1973. It was the first new album on Seger's manager Punch Andrews' label, Palladium Records, to be released under their distribution deal with t ...

'', and later performed it on his successful live album ''

Live Bullet ''‘Live’ Bullet'' is a live album by American rock band Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, released in April 1976. It was recorded at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan, during the heyday of that arena's time as an important rock concert venue ...

'' in 1976. *

Bo Diddley Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inc ...

's 1974 album, ''Big Bad Bo'' had a cover by Diddley of "I've Been Working". *"Workin" covered by''Professor Louie & The Crowmatix'' 2023 release Rockin' Legacy Vol 1 EP original guitarist John Platania (original guitarist) playing guitar and singing lead''. ref woodstockrecords.com *"I've Been Working" was the final track on the 1974 album ''More Orphan Than Not'', by Orphan. *The song was also covered by Guitar Shorty in 2004, on his album '' Watch Your Back''. *

Gov't Mule Gov't Mule (pronounced "Government Mule") is an American Southern rock jam band, formed in 1994 as a side project of the Allman Brothers Band by guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody. Fans often refer to Gov't Mule simply as ''Mule'' ...

often works the song into its signature song "Mule" during live performances.

Notes

References

* Heylin, Clinton (2003). ''Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography'', Chicago Review Press * Hinton, Brian (2000). ''Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison'', Sanctuary, {{authority control Van Morrison songs 1970 songs Songs written by Van Morrison Bob Seger songs Song recordings produced by Van Morrison