WORKING WEEK : WORKING NIGHTS

 

  1. Inner City Blues
  2. Sweet Nothing
  3. Who's Fooling Who
  4. Thought I'd Never See You Again
  5. Autumn Boy
  6. Solo
  7. Venceremos
  8. No Cure No Pay

Label : Virgin Records

Release Year : 1985

Length : 45:14

Review (Wikipedia) : Working Week were a British jazz-dance musical ensemble, active in the 1980s and 1990s. Working Week were formed in 1983 by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, who were previously in post punk outfit Weekend. The duo released their debut single "Venceremos - We Will Win" the following year, a tribute to Chilean protest singer Victor Jara featuring vocal contributions from Robert Wyatt and Tracey Thorn from Everything but the Girl. It became the band's sole entry in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #64. Singer Julie Tippetts provided vocals for the follow-up "Storm of Light". A debut album Working Nights was released in April 1985, with vocalist Juliet Roberts added as a full time member of the band. She also sang on the 1986 album Companeros and Surrender, released in 1987, but left the band after that year's single "Knocking on Your Door". Julie Tippetts returned as vocalist (with other guest vocalists) for the 1989 album Fire in the Mountain, and Yvonne Waite was featured as solo vocalist for 1991's Black and Gold, the band's final studio album. They appeared on 9 February 1986 at the Royal Albert Hall, in a benefit concert for victims of the 1985 Armero tragedy in Colombia. The band also briefly featured future Swing Out Sister lead singer Corinne Drewery.

Review (Amazon) : This is simply the best jazz-latin album I have ever heard. I have never been able to find a similar fusion since. The album takes you on a roundabout, from the upbeat "InnerCityBlues", the sweeping "Sweet Nothing" to the delightfully happy "Who's fooling who". The powerful 'Thought I'd never see you again" is followed by the wonderfully arranged "Autumn boy". After this comes "Solo" with its exquisite solo's, followed by the Latin Venceremos, the not to exciting instrumental "No cure no pay", and the misfit of this album "Stella Marina". Once you have heard this album, all other bands since the 80's that tried to produce a latin-jazzy style make you weep. If you find this album somewhere, new or second hand, buy it and never let go!