40-Hour Week
Encyclopedia
40-Hour Week is the ninth studio album
from country music
band Alabama
. Released in 1985
, the album included three songs that topped the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart and continued the band's dominance during the 1980s.
Two of the No. 1 tracks — "There's No Way
" and the title track
— became milestones in Alabama's recording career during 1985. When it reached the top of the chart on May 4, "There's No Way" became Alabama's 16th consecutive No. 1 single (excepting for the 1982 Christmas single "Christmas in Dixie
"). The feat allowed Alabama to tie Sonny James
' 14-year-old record for most No. 1 songs in as many consecutive single releases. Then, on August 3, "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" topped the chart, becoming Alabama's 17th-straight chart topper and allowing them to surpass James' record.
Among the album tracks, several of them praising the South, 40 Hour Week also features the ballad "I Want To Know You Before We Make Love", which became a major hit for Conway Twitty
in 1987.
This was Alabama's only album from which all the singles had accompanying music videos.
Strings by the "A" Strings, arranged by Kristin Wilkinson.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
from country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
. Released in 1985
1985 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1985.-No dates:* A story published in the New York Times declares that country music is "dead." However, a number of new acts – Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam among them – are working behind the scenes to change the...
, the album included three songs that topped the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart and continued the band's dominance during the 1980s.
Two of the No. 1 tracks — "There's No Way
There's No Way
"There's No Way" is the title of a song written by John Jarrard, Lisa Palas and Will Robinson, and recorded by American country music band Alabama...
" and the title track
40 Hour Week (For a Livin')
"40 Hour Week " is the title of a song written by Dave Loggins, Don Schlitz and Lisa Silver, and recorded the American country music band Alabama. Originally released as a single in April 1985, the song was the title track to Alabama's sixth album....
— became milestones in Alabama's recording career during 1985. When it reached the top of the chart on May 4, "There's No Way" became Alabama's 16th consecutive No. 1 single (excepting for the 1982 Christmas single "Christmas in Dixie
Christmas in Dixie
"Christmas in Dixie" is a Christmas song made famous by the country music band Alabama. Originally released in 1982, the song was included on Alabama's 1985 Christmas album , and has since been included on many Christmas compilations in both the country and all-genre fields.-Content:The song is a...
"). The feat allowed Alabama to tie Sonny James
Sonny James
James Loden , known professionally as Sonny James, is an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the Southern Gentleman, James had 72 country and pop chart hits from 1953 to 1983, including a five-year streak of 16 straight among his 23 No. 1...
' 14-year-old record for most No. 1 songs in as many consecutive single releases. Then, on August 3, "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" topped the chart, becoming Alabama's 17th-straight chart topper and allowing them to surpass James' record.
Among the album tracks, several of them praising the South, 40 Hour Week also features the ballad "I Want To Know You Before We Make Love", which became a major hit for Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
in 1987.
This was Alabama's only album from which all the singles had accompanying music videos.
Critical Reception
Track listing
Album
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 28 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 69 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
||
| 1985 | "There's No Way" | 1 | 2 |
| "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" | 1 | 1 | |
| "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" | 1 | 1 |
Alabama
- Jeff Cook – electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals, lead vocals on "(She Won't Have a Thing to Do With) Nobody But Me" - Teddy Gentry – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, lead vocals on "As Right Now" - Mark Herndon – drums
- Randy OwenRandy OwenRandy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
– lead vocals, electric guitar
Additional musicians
- Eddie Bayers – drums
- Kenneth Bell – acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
- David BriggsDavid Briggs (American musician)David Briggs is an American keyboardist, record producer, arranger, composer and studio owner....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Costo Davis – Kurzweil Synthesizer
- Jack Eubanks – acoustic guitar
- Gregg Galbraith – electric guitar
- Roger HawkinsRoger HawkinsRoger G Hawkins , is an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of Alabama...
– drums - George (Leo) Jackson – acoustic guitar
- Fred Newell – electric guitar
- Larry Paxton – bass guitar
- Willie Rainsford – keyboards
- Brent Rowan – electric guitar
- Ronnie Scaife – electric guitar
- Milton Sledge – drums
Strings by the "A" Strings, arranged by Kristin Wilkinson.