I resisted the hurricane/storm theme because by now I’m sure we’re all temporarily sick of Like a Hurricane, Rock You Like a Hurricane, Shelter from the Storm and of course, The Tide is High. So here’s a few tunes about us working stiffs to kick off the Labor Day Weekend.
One of my all-time favorite tunes is Rush’s Working Man which showcases the Canadian power trio at their most powerful. The Clash’s Magnificent Seven may not be a obvious choice by title alone but from it’s opening RING, RING IT’S 7AM lyrics till its final note it is a depressing look at a day in the life of a working man who has to spend his dough keeping his woman happy. Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm and the Dead’s take on Big Boss Man are a natural back-to-back pairing.
The Kinks, one of the bands that seems most closely associated with the British Working Class, offer a comical take on life in the music business with the carnival-like Money-go round. BTO’s Taking Care of Business is played after every New York Mets home win. Hasn’t been heard much around Citi Field the last two years so I’m including it here for me and all the other Mets fans out there. It also always reminds me of Homer Simpson’s classic “Get to the ‘working overtime’ demand from a classic episode. The final track really has nothing to do wit working, although being a Heavy Metal Drummer is probably a pretty cool gig. It’s just a kick ass summer tune that is a great way to close out a summer mix.
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Here are some others that might fit:
Working Men Are Pissed – Minutemen
Workin’ Man Blues – Merle Haggard
Nice Work if You Can Get it – Thelonious Monk
Workin’ on a Building (various)
Finest Worksong – REM
Working for MCA – Skynyrd
Take this Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck
Goddamn Job – Replacements
The LEgend of John Henry’s Hammer (various)
If I Were a Carpenter – Johnny Cash/June Carter