Out of Work (song)

"Out of Work"
Single by Gary U.S. Bonds
from the album On the Line
B-side"Bring Her Back"
ReleasedJune 1982
Length2:53
LabelEMI America
Songwriter(s)Bruce Springsteen
Producer(s)Bruce Springsteen
Gary U.S. Bonds singles chronology
"It's Only Love"
(1981) 		"Out of Work"
(1982) 		"Soul Deep"
(1982)

"Out of Work" is a 1982 song by American singer Gary U.S. Bonds, from his album On the Line. The song was written by Bruce Springsteen[1] and became a moderate hit in the United States.

In 2020, Bonds released an online version of the song tailored to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]

Chart performance

"Out of Work" reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1982.[4] It also reached No. 10 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart and No. 82 on the R&B chart.[5] In Canada, the song reached #22.[6]

Reception

Writing in The Boston Phoenix, Sally Cragin said that "Out of Work harkens most conventionally to early protest song history. With a spitited lift-your-burdens R&B beat, the song has an admirable plainspokedness. -- Bonds isn't angry so much as energized."[7]

References

  1. ^ "Gary U.S. Bonds Songs". Music VF. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Gary U.S. Bonds updates 'Out of Work' for age of coronavirus". 31 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Out of Work (the home edition)". YouTube.
  4. ^ "Gary "U.S." Bonds - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Gary U.S. Bonds Songs". Music VF. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  6. ^ RPM Top Singles, August 21, 1982
  7. ^ Cragin, Sally (31 August 1982). "Flashing the Message: Pop under Reagan". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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