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[OPEN] Work Song

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:49 am
by penguin
I'm trying to remember who the artist is on the version of Work Song that **everyone** plays.

Any suggestions?

Re: [OPEN] Work Song

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 11:15 am
by lipi
Need more information. "Everyone" plays different things in different areas of the world.

Nina Simone and Oscar Brown Jr. both have been played a lot over the years. There's also a Sammy Davis Jr. one with Count Basie that's slightly slower.

Re: [OPEN] Work Song

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:27 pm
by penguin
It's an instrumental version, probably about 130 bpm, heavy on the horns. That's all I've got to go on from memory, aside from remembering it being very common in multiple locations.

Re: [OPEN] Work Song

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 8:51 pm
by lipi
There's always the original from Nat Adderley's "Work Song" album, but it's closer to 150 bpm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rmXbiD3Jog

Re: [OPEN] Work Song

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 6:39 pm
by JesseMiner
The versions I used to play most often when DJing regularly were:
- "Work Song" by Oscar Brown Jr. - Sin & Soul [140 BPM]
- "Work Song" by Ernie Andrews & Cannonball Adderly - Live Session [156 BPM]
- "Work Song" by Benny Golson - That's Funky [130 BPM]

The first two versions are great but vocal numbers. The Benny Golson recording is instrumental and horn-heavy but not super well-known, so I am not sure if that is the version for which you are search.

Slightly related: I am not sure why I didn't regularly spin Nina Simone's great version of "Work Song" [130 BPM] from Four Women: The Complete Nina Simone On Philips!

Also slightly related: do DJs even still play "Work Song" at dancers, or is this simply a walk down memory lane enjoying the nostalgia of the early-2000's "groove" years?

Jesse

Re: [OPEN] Work Song

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 6:45 pm
by lipi
JesseMiner wrote: Also slightly related: do DJs even still play "Work Song" at dancers, or is this simply a walk down memory lane enjoying the nostalgia of the early-2000's "groove" years?
I'm not sure I'm much of a representative sample, but I still play Nina's every now and then. It's been a while since I've played the Oscar Brown Jr. one.

The Ernie Andrews & Cannonball Adderley version I don't recall hearing before. (You know Cannonball's brother Nat wrote it, right? And Oscar Brown added the lyrics, I believe.)

Now that I've listened to the Benny Golson one, I've *definitely* heard it before, but it may have very well been back when you DJ'ed regularly in the area. :) Or maybe it wasn't even at a dance. Dunno. Anyway, it had completely slipped my mind.