Hard Work

{{Infobox album

| name = Hard Work

| type = Studio

| artist = John Handy

| cover = John Handy - Hard Work.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1976

| recorded = January 1976

| studio = ABC (Los Angeles)

| venue =

| genre = Jazz

| length =

| label = ABC/Impulse
ASD 9314

| producer = Esmond Edwards

| chronology = John Handy

| prev_title = Karuna Supreme

| prev_year = 1975

| next_title = Carnival

| next_year = 1977

}}

Hard Work is an album by American jazz saxophonist John Handy which was recorded in 1976 and originally released on the ABC/Impulse label.[http://www.johnhandy.com/ John Handy discography], accessed November 10, 2015[http://www.jazzdisco.org/impulse-records/catalog-9300-series/#asd-9314 Impulse! Records Catalog: 9300 series], accessed November 11, 2015

Reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}

}}

The album reached number 4 on the Billboard jazz chart and number 43 on the Billboard 200.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r140188/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic charts] AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "Hard Work became a surprise hit, and overall, the set is open to the influence of R&B, although there are some strong moments from Handy on both alto and tenor".{{AllMusic|first=Scott |last=Yanow |class=album |id=mw0000875635 |title=Hard Work – Review |accessdate=November 11, 2015}} A single, "Hard Work", did reach the bubbling under positions of the UK Top 50 in September 1976.

Track listing

All compositions by John Handy

"Hard Work" – 6:56
"Blues for Louis Jordan" – 5:43
"Young Enough to Dream" – 7:10
"Love for Brother Jack" – 3:48
"Didn't I Tell You" – 4:35
"Afro Wiggle" – 4:44
"You Don't Know" – 3:18

Personnel

John Handy – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals
Hotep Cecil Barnard – keyboards
Mike Hoffmann – guitar
Chuck Rainey – electric bass
Zakir Hussain – tabla (tracks 3, 4 & 6)
James Gadson – drums
Eddie "Bongo" Brown – congas, percussion

References

Category:1976 albums

Category:John Handy albums

Category:Impulse! Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Esmond Edwards