"Work to Do" is a 1972
funk song by
the Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers ( ) are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decade ...
, released on their
T-Neck imprint. The song, written and produced by the group, was issued on their 1972 album, ''
Brother, Brother, Brother'', and charted at #51 pop and #11 R&B upon its initial charting.
Lyrically, the song explicates a troubled situation between a man and his girlfriend/wife, concerning the lack of quality time spent with each other. The man pleads that as much as he cannot wait to get home and spend time with her, he has a more pressing obligation/commitment to attend to work.
Notable cover versions
*
Average White Band
The Average White Band (also known as AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their album ...
in 1974 (''
AWB''), the single rose to number 10 on the US Disco chart.
*
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She resign ...
, who recorded the track for her 1991 album (''
The Comfort Zone''), and turned it into a Top 5 R&B hit in 1992. It was her fifth and final single from Williams' album.
Credits
*
Ronald Isley
Ronald Isley (; born May 21, 1941) is an American recording artist, songwriter, record producer, and occasional actor. Isley is the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.
Early life
Born in 1941 to Sally ...
: lead vocals
*
O'Kelly Isley, Jr. and
Rudolph Isley
Rudolph Bernard Isley (born April 1, 1939 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American singer-songwriter and is one of the founding members of The Isley Brothers.
Life and career
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rudy began singing in church at a youn ...
: background vocals
*
Ernie Isley
Ernest Isley (born March 7, 1952) is an American musician, best known as a member of the musical ensemble The Isley Brothers, and also the splinter group Isley-Jasper-Isley.
Biography
Ernie was born in Cincinnati, where his older brothers for ...
: guitars and percussion
*
Marvin Isley
Marvin Isley (August 18, 1953 – June 6, 2010)
– accessed June 2010
: bass, percussion
*
Chris Jasper
Christopher Howard Jasper (born December 30, 1951) Allmusic biography/ref> is an American singer, composer, and producer. Jasper is a former member of the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley and is responsible for writing and producing the ...
: piano, keyboards
*George Moreland: drums
*Karl Potter: congas
References
1972 singles
1992 singles
The Isley Brothers songs
1972 songs
T-Neck Records singles
Vanessa Williams songs
{{1970s-single-stub