Workin' It Back Explained
Workin' It Back is a studio album by the American R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1985.[2] [3] It was his second record for Asylum Records. The album didn't do nearly as well on the Billboard 200 as his last record, peaking at #96.[4] It did reach US R&B #6, only two spots lower than his previous album. The album spawned two singles, "Love 4/2" (#6 R&B) and "Let Me Be Closer" (#67 R&B), though none made the Billboard Hot 100. The album has been certified gold.[5]
Production
Pendergrass cowrote and coproduced two of the album's songs.[6]
Critical reception
The Globe and Mail wrote that "the spasmodic anguish of the final cut, 'Love Emergency', is the most innovative song on the album, with the backup male chorus growling a chant over the groove as the background to Pendergrass's vocal flights."[7] The Gazette thought that "even the Womacks can't raise a head of steam from the one-time Sound of Philadelphia."[8]
Track listing
- "Love 4/2" (Pendergrass, James Carter, Nathaniel Lee)
- "One of Us Fell in Love" (Adrian Baker, Eddie Seago)
- "Never Felt Like Dancin'" (Dennis Matkosky, Monty Seward)
- "Let Me Be Closer" (Pendergrass, Linda Creed, Dennis Matkosky, Bill Neale)
- "Lonely Color Blue" (Cecil Womack, Linda Womack)
- "Want You Back in My Life" (Glen Ballard, Clif Magness)
- "Workin' It Back" (Clif Magness, Ellen Schwartz, Roger Bruno)
- "Love Emergency" (Cecil Womack, Linda Womack)
Personnel
- Teddy Pendergrass - vocals
- Ron Jennings, Paul Jackson Jr., Bill Neale, Cecil Womack, Clif Magness - guitar
- Neil Stubenhaus, Doug Grigsby, Cecil Womack - bass
- Dennis Matkosky - keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming
- Monty Seward - synthesized guitar
- Larry Williams - bass synthesizer
- Randy Kerber - acoustic and electric piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer
- Alan Pasqua, Eddie "Gip" Noble, Linda Womack - keyboards
- John Robinson, Raymond Pounds, James Gadson - drums
- Michael Mason - drum overdubs
- Paulinho da Costa - percussion
- Joel Peskin - saxophone
- Tenita Jordan, Lynn Davis, Shirley Jones, Stephanie Reach, Monty Seward, Tammie Taylor, Clydene Jackson, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Vanessa Townsell, The Womack Congregation - backing vocals
Charts
Year-end charts
Notes and References
- Web site: Jet's Top 20 Albums. Jet. March 3, 1986. Johnson Publishing Company. Google Books.
- Web site: Teddy Pendergrass, R&B Soul Singer, Dies at 59. Jon. Pareles. January 14, 2010. NYTimes.com.
- Web site: Teddy Pendergrass | Biography & History. AllMusic.
- Teddy Pendergrass. Billboard.
- Web site: RIP Teddy Pendergrass, 1950-2010 | Exclaim!. exclaim.ca.
- Web site: Teddy Pendergrass Says, 'Don't Feel Sorry For Me; Listen To My Songs'. Jet. June 23, 1986. Johnson Publishing Company. Google Books.
- News: Lacey . Liam . INSIDE THE SLEEVE POP Workin' It Back Teddy Pendergrass . The Globe and Mail . 2 Jan 1986 . C5.
- News: Griffin . John . Teddy Pendergrass - Workin' It Back (Asylum) . The Gazette . 21 Nov 1985 . D3.
- Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1986. Billboard. July 13, 2021.
