Working Day and Night explained

Working Day and Night
Type:song
Artist:Michael Jackson
Album:Off the Wall
A-Side:Rock with You
Recorded:December 1978 – April 1979
Genre:
  • Disco
  • funk
Length:5:12
Label:Epic
Producer:

"Working Day and Night" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It is the third track from his fifth studio album, Off the Wall (1979). The song was written by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, with Jackson in the role of co-producer. Despite not being released as a single, Jackson performed the song live for his first two solo tours. It is also featured on the video game . The song has been sampled by several artists. It was remixed and released on the remix/soundtrack album, Immortal, in 2011. In 2014, producer Timbaland sampled percussion and breaths from the song in the duet version of "Love Never Felt So Good" (with Justin Timberlake); the duet was released as a single from Xscape.

Background

"Working Day and Night" was written by Michael Jackson and recorded for his studio album Off the Wall issued in August 1979.[1] The song was not released as a single, but as the B-side for "Rock with You" in the US, and B-side for "Off the Wall" in the UK.[2] The song has a tempo of 128 beats per minute, making it one of Jackson's fastest songs.[3] It is in the key of E Minor.

Live performances

"Working Day and Night" was performed by the Jacksons on the Triumph Tour in 1981 and Victory Tour in 1984. The song was performed live on Jackson's Bad World Tour during 1987–1989, and the first two legs of the Dangerous World Tour in 1992. The song was rehearsed for the third leg of the tour in 1993, but was ultimately removed from the setlist.

A live version, recorded at one of the Jacksons' 1981 Madison Square Garden concerts, was included on live album, The Jacksons Live!, later edited and released as the album's second single in November 1981.[4] Record World said that "An energetic bass riff transports the exciting vocal interaction, while horn spice gives added radio appeal."[5] In 2001, the original demo recording of the song was released as a bonus track on the expanded, special edition of Off the Wall. The live performance video at Jackson's Dangerous World Tour in Bucharest, Romania on October 1, 1992, was featured on the DVD in his box set The Ultimate Collection in 2004, and a live concert DVD, , in 2005. In 2012, a live audio and video version of the song performed during the Bad World Tour was released on the deluxe edition of Bad 25 and the concert DVD Live at Wembley July 16, 1988. The song was remixed and released on the soundtrack to Cirque du Soleil's , Immortal, in 2011.[6] The song has also been used for the production.

Personnel

Official versions

Covers and samples

Notes and References

  1. Off the Wall (Special Edition). Michael Jackson. 2001. Epic Records. Liner notes.
  2. Book: Halstead . Craig . Cadman . Chris . Michael Jackson: For The Record . limited . Authors OnLine Ltd . Bedfordshire . 2007 . 366–367 . 978-0-7552-0267-6 .
  3. The Complete Michael Jackson, International Music Publications Ltd, 1997,, p103
  4. Book: Jacksons . The . The Jacksons: Legacy . Bronson . Fred . 2017-10-24 . Running Press . 978-0-316-47374-3 . en.
  5. Record World. February 27, 1982. 1. 2023-03-02. Hits of the Week.
  6. Web site: Immortal: Michael Jackson. Amazon.co.uk. 2012-02-14.
  7. Web site: Richie Rich's Salsa House sample of Michael Jackson's Workin' Day and Night. WhoSampled. 2012-02-14.
  8. Web site: Will Smith feat. Eve's Can You Feel Me? sample of Michael Jackson's Workin' Day and Night. WhoSampled. 2012-02-14.
  9. Web site: Richie Rich's Salsa House sample of Michael Jackson's Working' Day and Night. WhoSampled. 2012-02-14.