Working Man

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Working Man"
Song by Rush
from the album Rush
ReleasedMarch 1974 (1974-03)
Recorded1973
GenreHard rock
Length
  • 7:06
  • 7:10 (Remastered version)
  • 7:15 (Vault edition)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rush
Audio sample
"Working Man"

"Working Man" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush from their self-titled debut album. In an interview on the Rolling Stone YouTube channel, bassist and lead vocalist Geddy Lee said that "Working Man" is his favorite song to play live.[1] "Working Man" became a favourite among Rush fans;[2] the guitar solo appeared on Guitar World magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos list.[3]

Release and reception

Donna Halper, then a disc jockey and music director at WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio, is credited with getting Rush noticed in the United States by playing "Working Man" on the air. The song proved particularly popular in the working-class city. The response resulted in a record deal for the band, which gave her special thanks for her part in their early history and dedicated their first two albums to her.[4][5]

Two versions of the song are available as

Rock Band. One is a cover based on the original recording, while the other is a previously unreleased master track with an alternate guitar solo.[6] The alternate version proved so popular that the band released it on the iTunes Store
, under the title "Working Man (Vault Edition)".

Performances

Like all of the songs on the band's first album, the song features original drummer

Vapor Trails Tour. With the exception of the 2007-08 Snakes & Arrows Tour, the song appeared on every live setlist through the R40 Live Tour of 2015, the band's last. It was included on the live albums and videos of the tours in which it was used, except for Clockwork Angels Tour
; for R40 Live, it was played as part of a medley with "What You're Doing" and ended with a snippet of "Garden Road," a song from the band's early catalog.

Cultural references

The song is featured in episodes of the television series, "

Supernatural, and American Dad!, the 2011 film Goon, and a 2014 Walmart
television advertisement.

Major League Baseball player Pete Alonso of the New York Mets uses the song as his walk up song.

Personnel

Notable covers

  • Danielle Armstrong covered "Working Man" for the opening credits of Transporter: The Series. This version was arranged by Jamie Forsyth.[7]
  • Caleb Johnson
    performed this song during the Top 12 round, and was met with moderate reviews from the judges.

See also

References

  1. ^ Rush Answers Your Twitter and Facebook Questions, archived from the original on 2021-12-14, retrieved 2019-09-29
  2. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Rush Songs". Rolling Stone. 4 March 2015.
  3. ^ The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. Guitar World (accessed December 11, 2007).
  4. ^ Soeder, John (15 April 2011). "After Donna Halper gave 'Working Man' a spin on WMMS, Rush's career took off". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  5. ^ MacLean, Chuck (9 July 2008). "Quincy woman still promoting Rush 34 years after discovering band". The Patriot Ledger. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012.
  6. ^ DLC Week of July 8th. Rock Band Forum (accessed July 7, 2008).
  7. ^ Thierry Attard's Double Feature

External links