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Work to Do

{{Short description|1972 funk song by the Isley Brothers}}

{{About|the song|the album|Marc Cohn}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2010}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Work to Do

| cover = Work to Do.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| caption = Label of the 1972 US single

| type = single

| artist = The Isley Brothers

| album = Brother, Brother, Brother

| B-side = Beautiful

| released = {{Start date|1972|10|15}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=11}}

| label = T-Neck

| writer = The Isley Brothers

| producer = The Isley Brothers

| prev_title = Love the One You're With

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = That Lady

| next_year = 1973

}}

"Work to Do" is a 1972 funk song by the Isley Brothers, 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.{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4562/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=Billboard Singles|publisher=All Media Guide / Billboard |access-date=2010-03-01}}

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.

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"|Chart (1972)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{Cite magazine|title=Hot 100|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBcEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22isley%20brothers%22&pg=PA14 |via=Google Books|magazine=Billboard|date=August 11, 1962}}

|align="center"|51

scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|publisher=Record Research|year=2004|page=277|author-link=Joel Whitburn}}

|align="center"|11

Credits

Vanessa Williams version

{{Infobox song

| name = Work to Do

| cover =

| alt =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Vanessa Williams

| album = The Comfort Zone

| released = July 22, 1992

| recorded = 1991

| studio =

  • Blondahl Studios (Copenhagen, Denmark){{AllMusic|class=album|id=r21917|pure_url=yes}}
  • Creative Source Studios (Studio City, CA){{AllMusic|class=album|id=r21917|pure_url=yes}}
  • Westlake Audio (Los Angeles, CA){{AllMusic|class=album|id=r21917|pure_url=yes}}

| genre =

| length = 4:36

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = Just for Tonight

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Love Is

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vwtLGFTrwLE|"Vanessa Williams - Work To Do"}}}}

}}

Vanessa Williams recorded the song for her 1991 album The Comfort Zone. In 1992, her version became a Top 5 US Billboard R&B hit at No. 3 and Top 10 US Billboard Dance hit at No. 8. It was her fifth and final single from the album.

=Track listings=

  • US CD maxi-single{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/763419-Vanessa-Williams-Featuring-Black-Sheep-Work-To-Do|title=Vanessa Williams - Work to Do (1992, CD Single)|website=Discogs |date=22 July 1992 }}
  1. "Work to Do" (Radio Mix w/Rap) – 3:54
  2. "Work to Do" (Super Dope Remix w/Rap) – 4:52
  3. "Work to Do" (Ken Lou Radio Mix)" – 3:07
  4. "Work to Do" (Choice Club) – 6:02
  5. "Work to Do" (Choice Dub) – 2:30
  6. "Work to Do" (5-Oh Beats w/Rap) – 2:53
  • UK CD maxi-single{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14061804-Vanessa-Williams-Work-To-Do|title=Vanessa Williams - Work to Do (1992, UK CD)|website=Discogs |year=1992 }}
  1. "Work to Do" (7" Mix) – 3:54
  2. "Work to Do" (Ken Lou 7" Mix With Rap) – 3:54
  3. "Work to Do" (Choice Club)" – 6:02

Remixed by Kenny "Dope" Gonzales and "Little" Louie Vega

=Charts=

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable"

!align="center"|Chart (1992)

!align="center"|Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|52|artist=Vanessa Williams|accessdate=22 October 2018}}
{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|3|artist=Vanessa Williams|accessdate=22 October 2018}}
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|8|artist=Vanessa Williams|accessdate=22 October 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|4|artist=Vanessa Williams|accessdate=March 16, 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|24|artist=Vanessa Williams|accessdate=March 16, 2023}}

=Credits=

  • Lead vocals – Vanessa Williams
  • Guitar – Ira Siege
  • Backing Vocals – Táta Vega
  • Rap vocals – Dres
  • Piano – Jorgen Kaufma
  • Producer – Dr. Jam, Gerry Brown, Phase 5
  • Remix producer – Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, "Little" Louie Vega

Other cover versions

  • Average White Band in 1974 from their album AWB, the single peaked to No. 10 on US Billboard's Disco chart.

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Isley Brothers}}

{{Vanessa Williams}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Work To Do}}

Category:1972 singles

Category:1992 singles

Category:The Isley Brothers songs

Category:1972 songs

Category:T-Neck Records singles

Category:Vanessa Williams songs

{{1970s-single-stub}}