Work to Do

"Work to Do" is a 1972 funk song by The Isley Brothers, released on their T-Neck imprint. The song, written and produced by the group, was issued on their 1972 album, Brother, Brother, Brother, and charted at #51 pop and #11 R&B upon its initial charting. Lyrically, the song explicates a troubled situation between a man and his girlfriend/wife, concerning the lack of quality time spent with each other. The man pleads that as much as he cannot wait to get home and spend time with her, he has a more pressing obligation/commitment to attend to work.

Cover versions

Over the years, the song has got more success courtesy to various cover versions

• The Main Ingredient in 1973 (Afrodisiac)
• Average White Band in 1974 (AWB)
• R&B singer Zan (aka William Aquart) recorded a version for his self-titled album in 1989.
• Vanessa L. Williams, who recorded the track in 1991 (The Comfort Zone), and turned it into a Top 5 R&B hit in 1992.
• Mayer Hawthorne covered the song on his Impressions - The Covers EP in 2011.
• Emily King performed this song at Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA in 2012.

Credits

• Ronald Isley: lead vocals
• O'Kelly Isley, Jr. and Rudolph Isley: background vocals
• Ernie Isley: guitars and percussion
• Marvin Isley: bass, percussion
• Chris Jasper: piano, keyboards
• George Moreland: drums
• Karl Potter: congas