Working Week (band)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Working Week

| image =

| background = group_or_band

| origin = London, England

| genre = Smooth jazz

| years_active = 1983–1991

| label = Paladin, Virgin, 10 Records

| associated_acts = Weekend

| past_members =

• Larry Stabbins
• Simon Booth
• Juliet Roberts

}}

Working Week were a British jazz-dance band active in the 1980s and 1990s.{{cite web|first=Jason |last=Ankeny |title=Working Week|website=AllMusic |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/working-week-mn0000576148 |access-date=28 April 2016}}

Working Week was formed in 1983 by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins from the band Weekend,{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=439}} which ended when singer Alison Statton left to become a schoolteacher. Initially a floating ensemble of nine players including trombonist Annie Whitehead, vocalist Julie Tippett, pianist Keith Tippett and percussionist Bosco D'Oliveira, Working Week released their debut single "Venceremos (We Will Win)" during the following year.{{cite web|url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/working-world/11151 |title=Working World: Working Week |author=Reed, Tony |date=October 1986 |publisher=International Musician & Recording World }}

The song was a tribute to Chilean protest singer Víctor Jara, with vocals by Robert Wyatt and Tracey Thorn (the latter from the band Everything but the Girl). It became the band's highest placing in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. 64.{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=David|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|year=2006|isbn=1-904994-10-5|edition=19th|location=London|page=610}}

Booth and Stabbins then recruited Juliet Roberts as permanent vocalist and started working on an album. The debut album Working Nights was released on Virgin Records in April 1985. Produced by Robin Millar and mixing many styles such as soul, jazz and latin music, the album was a success with 150 000 UK and overseas sales.

Roberts continued as singer on the 1986 album Compañeros and Surrender, released in 1987, but left the band after that year's single, "Knocking on Your Door". Julie Tippett returned as vocalist for the 1989 album Fire in the Mountain, and Eyvon Waite was solo vocalist for Black and Gold (1991), the band's final studio album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Working-Week-Black-Gold/release/5218842|title=Working Week – Black & Gold (1991, Vinyl)|access-date=3 August 2021|website=Discogs.com}}

Working Week appeared on 9 February 1986 at the Royal Albert Hall in a benefit concert for victims of the 1985 Armero tragedy in Colombia.{{cite book| first=John| last=Tobler| year=1992| title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years| edition=1st| publisher=Reed International Books| location=London| page=415| id=CN 5585}} The same year they contributed to the Absolute Beginners film soundtrack.