Workin' Overtime

Album: Workin' Overtime (1989)
Charted: 32
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Diana Ross moved deftly into the disco era with the hits "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out." Those songs were both written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic.

    "Workin' Overtime" is the title track to her 1989 album, which Nile Rodgers returned to produce. By this time, the new jack swing sound was all the rage, and the song presses all those buttons. Rodgers and Ross didn't do nearly as well in this milieu - the song and album both flopped.
  • Workin' Overtime was the first album Diana Ross released after returning to Motown Records in 1988 after seven years with RCA. They gave it a big promotional push and commissioned a music video, but dance music at the time was dominated by young artists, and Ross couldn't break through.
  • Nile Rodgers wrote this song with Christopher Max, a singer who might be best known for singing the Soul Glo jingle, which Rodgers wrote, in the movie Coming To America.
  • When Ross promoted this song, she explained that it was for her fans. "I'm working overtime for you," she explained.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?