Workin' Overtime
Encyclopedia
Workin' Overtime is a 1989
album released by American
singer Diana Ross
, released on the Motown label. It was Ross' first Motown album since 1980's diana
after Ross left the label for a then record breaking $20 million deal with RCA
. Upon Ross' return to the label, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. had sold the label to MCA Records
and had positioned Jheryl Busby to the head of Motown. Ross was at first reluctant to return to her old label but Gordy promised her a lot in her return: not only would Ross return to Motown as a recording act, but she would be the label's part-owner. Ross reunited with collaborator Nile Rodgers
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.
Upon its release, the album failed to generate significant sales and—despite the #3 R&B hit with the title track—the album disappeared quickly, reaching only #116 on the Billboard 200
album chart (earning the dubious distinction of being the lowest charting studio album of Ross' entire solo career). It's final sales figures were slightly higher than 100,000 US copies. Additional singles "This House" and "Bottom Line" were issued, as well as a remix of "Paradise" remixed by Shep Pettibone
, but all failed to revive the project.
Side B
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
album released by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, released on the Motown label. It was Ross' first Motown album since 1980's diana
Diana (album)
diana is a 1980 album by American R&B and soul singer Diana Ross, released by Motown. Her 11th studio album, it was, and still is, the biggest-selling studio collection of Ross' career.-Conception:...
after Ross left the label for a then record breaking $20 million deal with RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. Upon Ross' return to the label, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. had sold the label to MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
and had positioned Jheryl Busby to the head of Motown. Ross was at first reluctant to return to her old label but Gordy promised her a lot in her return: not only would Ross return to Motown as a recording act, but she would be the label's part-owner. Ross reunited with collaborator Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
to make this album which was an attempt to gear her to a much younger audience bringing in new jack swing
New jack swing
New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle which became extremely popular from the late-1980s into the mid-1990s. Its influence, along with hip-hop, seeped into pop culture and was the definitive sound of the inventive Black New York club scene...
productions and house music.
Upon its release, the album failed to generate significant sales and—despite the #3 R&B hit with the title track—the album disappeared quickly, reaching only #116 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart (earning the dubious distinction of being the lowest charting studio album of Ross' entire solo career). It's final sales figures were slightly higher than 100,000 US copies. Additional singles "This House" and "Bottom Line" were issued, as well as a remix of "Paradise" remixed by Shep Pettibone
Shep Pettibone
Robert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...
, but all failed to revive the project.
Track listing
Side A- "Workin' Overtime" (Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
, Christopher Max) – 4:17 - "Say We Can" (Nile Rodgers, Cathy Block) – 4:20
- "Take the Bitter with the Sweet" (Preston Glass, Steven Ray, Steve Burch) – 3:51
- "Bottom Line" (Preston Glass) – 4:05
- "This House" (Nile Rodgers) – 5:34
Side B
- "Paradise" (Nile Rodgers, Greg Smith) – 3:54
- "Keep On (Dancin')" (Nile Rodgers, Greg Smith) – 4:33
- "What Can One Person Do" (Nile Rodgers, Greg Smith) – 3:18
- "Goin' Through the Motions" (Preston Glass, Steve Birch, Steven Ray) – 3:54
- "We Stand Together" (Nile Rodgers, Greg Smith) – 5:07