| "Working in the Coalmine" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Devo | ||||
| B-side | "Planet Earth" | |||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Synthpop | |||
| Length | 2:47 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros., Asylum | |||
| Writer(s) | Allen Toussaint | |||
| Producer | Robert Margouleff | |||
| Devo singles chronology | ||||
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"Working in the Coal Mine" is a song with music and lyrics by Allen Toussaint.
After Toussaint returned to New Orleans from the Army (from 1963–65), he formed a production company, Sansu, with partner Marshall Sehorn. A number of singles, performed by Lee Dorsey, followed in 1965-66, including "Working in the Coal Mine".[1]
It was a hit for Lee Dorsey, released on Amy Records (catalog no. 958), and entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on July 23, 1966, eventually peaking at #8, while reaching #5 on the Billboard R&B chart. Dorsey's version was also used in a Blaupunkt car stereo commercial in the early 1990s.
In 1981 Devo cover version was included as a bonus 7 inch single packaged with their album New Traditionalists. This version was later included in the sound tracks for the films Heavy Metal[2] and Employee of the Month.[3] It peaked on the Hot 100 at #43 and was a top 10 single in New Zealand.
In 2006 it was performed by the cast of The Wedding Weekend and included on the movie's soundtrack.[4]
The song has been adapted for Walmart TV commercials, changing the lyrics to "Working on the rollbacks, prices going down down."
Contents |
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 43 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 30 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 53 |
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