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Working Week: Working Nights
ByWorking Week was the brainchild of guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, who worked together in Booth's previous band, Weekend. Stabbins was also a leading light on the European improvised music scene. Julie (now Juliet) Roberts joined them for this album, adding her soul singer's power and sensibility. Stabbins and Booth wrote most of the songs, skillfully matching killer grooves and memorable melodies with lyrics that drew on political inspirations (Booth's "Venceremos" was dedicated to the Chilean singer and activist Victor Jara) as well as the familiar theme of loves lost.
The original vinyl release consisted of the first eight tracks on this reissue; a set of tunes that still sounds sharp and exciting almost 30 years after its release. The additional tracksa mix of alternative versions, live recordings and remixesare no mere fillers. The extensive list of guest musicians and singers is a veritable who's who of the best, most forward-looking, performers of the time, such as trumpeters Guy Barker and Harry Beckett, saxophonist Chris Biscoe, trombonist Annie Whitehead and drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo.
These players add a real spark to the music: Dave Bitelli's clarinet on "Venceremos" heightens the song's intensity; Whitehead's powerful, raw solo energizes "No Cure, No Pay"; while Beckett adds his own fiery solo to the same track. Stabbins is also an emphatic presence on the frontline, showing his technical and emotional range with a soprano sax solo on "Autumn Boy" and tenor solo on Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues."
The guest vocalists are also stellar. Tracey Thorn, of Everything But The Girl, and Robert Wyatt duet on all three versions of "Venceremos (We Will Win)," while Julie Tippetts leads on "Storm Of Light." These three voices have their own soulfulness, a contrast to Roberts' more raw-edged sound but still full of emotion and commitment. There's also a fluid, intense rap from The Last Poets' Jalal on "Stella Marina."
Working Week's central trio remains active: Booth, now under his original surname of Emmerson, formed the Afro-Celt Sound System and leads The Imagined Village; Roberts is one of the UK's best singers, working in the jazz and dance scenes; and Stabbins leads the excellent Stonephace. The superb Working Nights is a testament to their early talents.
Track Listing
CD1: Inner City Blues; Sweet Nothing; Who's Fooling Who; Thought I'd Never See You Again; Autumn Boy; Solo; Venceremos; No Cure No Pay; Stella Marina (Main Mix); Storm Of Light; Bottom End; Venceremos (We Will Win) Jazz Dance Special Edit. CD2: Venceremos (We Will Win) Jazz Dance Special 12”; Afoché; Murphy's Law; Pape's Samba; Inner City Blues (Urbane Guerrilla Mix); Storm Of Light (instrumental); Who's Fooling Who (dance version); Sweet Nothing (instrumental); Where's The Bridge (longer mix); Venceremos (We Will Win) 7” Bossa version; Stella Marina (full rap).
Personnel
Larry Stabbins: saxophone, flute; Simon Booth: guitars; Julie Roberts: vocals; Kim Burton: piano; Ernest Mothle: bass (CD1#2, CD1#5-6, CD1#8-9; CD2#11); Chucho Merchan: bass (CD1#1, CD1#3-4, CD1#7, CD1#12; CD1#2, CD2#10); Dawson Miller: percussion (CD1#2, CD1#5-9, CD1#12; CD2#10-11); Bosco D'Oliveira: percussion (CD1#2, CD1#5-9, CD1#12; CD2#10-11); Martin Ditcham: percussion (CD1#1, CD1#3-4); Roy Dodds: drums (CD1#2, CD1#5-6, CD1#8-9; CD2#11); Nic France: drums (CD1#1, CD1#3-4); Mark Taylor: drums (CD1#7, CD1#12; CD2#1, CD2#10); Louis Moholo: drums (CD1#9; CD2#11); Guy Barker: trumpet, flugelhorn (CD1#1, CD1#3-4; CD2#5, CD2#7); Harry Beckett: trumpet (CD1#2, CD1#5, CD1#9; CD2# 8, CD2#11); Stuart Brooke: trumpet (CD1#1; CD2#5); Paul Spong: trumpet (CD1#6, CD1#8); Paul Nieman: trombone (CD1#1; CD2#5); Malcolm Griffiths: trombone (CD1#3-5; CD2#7); Annie Whitehead: trombone (CD1#2, CD1#6, CD1#8-9; CD2#8, CD2#11); Dave Bitelli: clarinet, baritone saxophone (CD1#12; CD2#1, CD2#10); Chris Biscoe: alto saxophone (CD1#1, CD1#3; CD2#5, CD2#7), baritone saxophone (CD1#4); Ray Warleigh: baritone saxophone (CD1#1, CD1#3; CD2#5, CD2#7); Robin Millar: guitar (CD1#1, CD1#3, CD1#5); Tracey Thorn: vocals (CD1#12; CD2#1, CD2#10); Robert Wyatt: vocals (CD1#12; CD2#1, CD2#10); Julie Tippetts: vocals (CD1#9-10; CD2#11); Jalal: vocals (CD1#9; CD2#11); Claudia Figueroa: vocals (CD1#7, CD1#12; CD2#1, CD2#10); Leroy Osborne: backing vocals (CD1#2).
Album information
Title: Working Nights | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Cherry Red Records
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