A report on Working in the Coal Mine

Original vinyl release

Song with music and lyrics by the American musician and record producer Allen Toussaint.

- Working in the Coal Mine
Original vinyl release

13 related topics with Alpha

Overall

Toussaint at the Freret Street Festival,
New Orleans, 2009

Allen Toussaint

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American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer, who was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, described as "one of popular music's great backroom figures".

American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer, who was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, described as "one of popular music's great backroom figures".

Toussaint at the Freret Street Festival,
New Orleans, 2009
Toussaint performing in Stockholm in 2009
Allen Toussaint receiving the National Medal of Arts in 2013

Many musicians recorded Toussaint's compositions, including "Whipped Cream", "Java", "Mother-in-Law", "I Like It Like That", "Fortune Teller", "Ride Your Pony", "Get Out of My Life, Woman", "Working in the Coal Mine", "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky", "Freedom For the Stallion", "Here Come the Girls", "Yes We Can Can", "Play Something Sweet", and "Southern Nights".

Lee Dorsey

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American pop and R&B singer during the 1960s.

American pop and R&B singer during the 1960s.

His biggest hits were "Ya Ya" (1961) and "Working in the Coal Mine" (1966).

Devo performing live at the Forecastle Festival, in Louisville, Kentucky, 2010
Left to right: Gerald Casale (bass), Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals; keyboards), Bob Casale (keyboards; guitar), and Bob Mothersbaugh (guitar)

Devo

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American rock band from Akron, Ohio, formed in 1973.

American rock band from Akron, Ohio, formed in 1973.

Devo performing live at the Forecastle Festival, in Louisville, Kentucky, 2010
Left to right: Gerald Casale (bass), Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals; keyboards), Bob Casale (keyboards; guitar), and Bob Mothersbaugh (guitar)
Front and back covers of Devo's first release, the 45 rpm single "Mongoloid" backed with "Jocko Homo" (1977), released on the band's Booji Boy Records
Live performance in Atlanta, Georgia, 1978: Bob Casale and Gerald Casale
Mark Mothersbaugh performing live with Devo at the Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, 2007
Devo performing live at Festival Hall, in Melbourne, Australia, 2008: Casale and Mothersbaugh.

In 1981, Devo contributed a cover of "Working in the Coal Mine", recorded during the Freedom of Choice sessions, to the film Heavy Metal.

Marshall Sehorn

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American A&R man, songwriter, music publisher and entrepreneur who played an important role in the development of R&B and popular music in New Orleans between the 1950s and 1970s, particularly as the business partner of record producer Allen Toussaint.

American A&R man, songwriter, music publisher and entrepreneur who played an important role in the development of R&B and popular music in New Orleans between the 1950s and 1970s, particularly as the business partner of record producer Allen Toussaint.

He persuaded Toussaint to write new material for Lee Dorsey, which included "Ride Your Pony" and "Working in the Coal Mine", both of which became international hits.

New Traditionalists

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Fourth studio album by the American new wave band Devo.

Fourth studio album by the American new wave band Devo.

New Traditionalists was originally packaged with a bonus 7-inch single of the band's cover of "Working in the Coal Mine".

Theatrical release poster

Heavy Metal (film)

2 links

1981 Canadian adult animated science fantasy anthology film directed by Gerald Potterton, produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine, which was the basis for the film.

1981 Canadian adult animated science fantasy anthology film directed by Gerald Potterton, produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine, which was the basis for the film.

Theatrical release poster

"Working in the Coal Mine" by Devo

American DVD cover

Make It Funky (film)

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2005 American documentary film directed, written and co-produced by Michael Murphy.

2005 American documentary film directed, written and co-produced by Michael Murphy.

American DVD cover

Allen Toussaint, performing a medley of his compositions "Fortune Teller", "Working in the Coal Mine", and "A Certain Girl"

DJ copy of Kinetic Energy 1969 Amy 45

Amy Records

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Record label formed in 1960 as a subsidiary of Bell Records.

Record label formed in 1960 as a subsidiary of Bell Records.

DJ copy of Kinetic Energy 1969 Amy 45

Lee Dorsey hit with "Ride Your Pony" in 1965 (Amy 927 charted #28) and "Working in the Coal Mine" in 1966 (Amy 958 charted #8).

Walter Payton in 2008.

Walter Payton (musician)

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American jazz bassist and sousaphonist.

American jazz bassist and sousaphonist.

Walter Payton in 2008.

His recording credits include Lee Dorsey's "Working in the Coal Mine", and Payton variously worked with Aaron Neville, Harry Connick Jr., Champion Jack Dupree and Chuck Carbo.

June Gardner

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American R&B and jazz drummer and bandleader from New Orleans whose professional music career spanned six decades.

American R&B and jazz drummer and bandleader from New Orleans whose professional music career spanned six decades.

He played on Allen Toussaint’s production of Lee Dorsey’s “Working in the Coal Mine”.