Work That Body (song)

1982 single by Diana Ross

"Work That Body"

Single by Diana Ross
from the album  Why Do Fools Fall in Love
B-side| "Two Can Make It"
Released| March 19, 1982 (1982-03-19)
Recorded| 1981 (1981)
Studio| Power Station, New York
Genre|

* Dance-pop
* post-disco

Length| 4:57
Label|

* RCA (USA)
* Capitol (World)

Songwriter(s)|

* Diana Ross
* Paul Jabara
* Ray Chew

Producer(s)|

* Ray Chew
* Diana Ross

Diana Ross singles chronology
| "Mirror Mirror"
(1981)  | "Work That Body"
(1982)  | "It's Never Too Late"
(1982)

|
|

Music video
"Work That Body" on YouTube

"Work That Body" is a song by American singer Diana Ross recorded for her eleventh studio album Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981). The song was written by Ross (her first written song), and producers Paul Jabara and Ray Chew. The song was written during the popularity of aerobics classes.[1]

It was released as the third single from the album on March 19, 1982 by RCA Records with the song "Two Can Make It" on the flip side (words and music by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow). Immediately after its release, it rose to the 14th position of the Billboard's Dance chart (along with "Mirror Mirror"),[2] although it reached only the 44th position on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] it reached the 34th position on the Hot Black Singles; however, Cash Box magazine's R&B chart reflected a much higher popularity, peaking at #12.[4] In the UK, the song became a big hit, rising to 7th position.[5]

## Critical reception

[edit]

A reviewer of Record Mirror stated that this is a healthy, energetic product, ideal for Jane Fonda-style workouts.[6] Rolling Stone called the song "an exciting piece of artistic dance music", and Billboard praised "one of the grittiest vocals in [Ross'] career" and suggested that "listeners will probably be burning a hole in through the floor with their feet".[1]

## Track listing

[edit]

7" / 12" single
A. "Work That Body" – 4:57
B. "Two Can Make It" – 3:23

7" single
A. "Work That Body" – 3:29
B. "Two Can Make It" – 3:23

12" maxi-single
A. "Work That Body" (12" Mix) – 6:32
B. "Two Can Make It" – 3:23

12" single
A. "Work That Body" (Extended Remix) – 6:21
B. "Two Can Make It" – 3:23

## Personnel

[edit]

* Diana Ross – lead vocals, backing vocals
* Ray Chew – acoustic piano, arrangements
* Jeff Mironov – electric guitar
* Neil Jason – bass
* Yogi Horton – drums
* Ralph MacDonald – percussion
* Margaret Dorn – backing vocals
* Leata Galloway – backing vocals
* Millie Whiteside – backing vocals

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for "Work That Body"  Chart (1982)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 19
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] | 10
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 15
UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 7
US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 44
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[2] | 14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[4] | 34

## Cover versions

[edit]

* American artist RuPaul recorded a cover version of the song for his album Foxy Lady (1996).[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hoerburger, Rob (November 14, 1981). "Closeup: Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 45\. p. 112\. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022.
2. ^ a b "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
3. ^ a b "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
4. ^ a b "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
5. ^ a b "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
6. ^ Sunie (May 15, 1982). "Diana Ross – "Work That Body" review" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 15\. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2022.
7. ^ "Diana Ross – Work That Body" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
8. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Diana Ross". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 219. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
9. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Work That Body". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
11. ^ "Diana Ross – Work That Body" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
12. ^ "RuPaul – Foxy Lady (1996, CD)" at Discogs. Retrieved April 3, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* "Work That Body" at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Diana Ross

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Diana Ross (1970)
* Everything Is Everything (1970)
* Surrender (1971)
* Touch Me in the Morning (1973)
* Diana & Marvin (1973)
* Last Time I Saw Him (1973)
* Diana Ross (1976)
* Baby It's Me (1977)
* Ross (1978)
* The Boss (1979)
* Diana (1980)
* Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981)
* Silk Electric (1982)
* Ross (1983)
* Swept Away (1984)
* Eaten Alive (1985)
* Red Hot Rhythm & Blues (1987)
* Workin' Overtime (1989)
* The Force Behind the Power (1991)
* A Very Special Season (1994)
* Take Me Higher (1995)
* Every Day Is a New Day (1999)
* Blue (2006)
* I Love You (2006)
* Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz (rec. 1978, rel. 2015)
* Thank You (2021)

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits (1972)
* Diana Ross' Greatest Hits (1976)
* 20 Golden Greats (1979)
* To Love Again (1981)
* All the Great Hits (1981)
* Forever Diana: Musical Memoirs (1993)
* One Woman: The Ultimate Collection (1993)
* Diana Extended: The Remixes (1994)
* Voice of Love (1996)
* Love & Life: The Very Best of Diana Ross (2001)
* The Definitive Collection (2006)
* The Greatest (2011)
* Upside Down: The Collection (2012)
* Supertonic: Mixes (2020)

Live releases|

* Live at Caesars Palace (1974)
* An Evening with Diana Ross (1977)
* Greatest Hits Live (1989)
* Stolen Moments: The Lady Sings... Jazz and Blues (1993)
* Christmas in Vienna (1993)

Soundtrack albums|

* Diana! (1971)
* Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
* Mahogany (1975)
* The Wiz (1978)
* Endless Love (1981)

Video albums|

* Live in Central Park (2012)

Singles|

* "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
* "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
* "Remember Me"
* "Reach Out (I'll Be There)"
* "Surrender"
* "I'm Still Waiting"
* "Good Morning Heartache"
* "Touch Me in the Morning"
* "You're a Special Part of Me"
* "Last Time I Saw Him"
* "My Mistake (Was to Love You)"
* "You Are Everything"
* "Don't Knock My Love"
* "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)"
* "Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right"
* "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
* "I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)"
* "Love Hangover"
* "One Love in My Lifetime"
* "Gettin' Ready for Love"
* "Your Love Is So Good for Me"
* "You Got It"
* "Lovin', Livin' and Givin'"
* "Ease on Down the Road"
* "Pops, We Love You"
* "What You Gave Me"
* "The Boss"
* "No One Gets the Prize"
* "It's My House"
* "Upside Down"
* "I'm Coming Out"
* "My Old Piano"
* "It's My Turn"
* "One More Chance"
* "Cryin' My Heart Out for You"
* "Endless Love"
* "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
* "Mirror, Mirror"
* "Work That Body"
* "Muscles"
* "So Close"
* "Pieces of Ice"
* "All of You"
* "Swept Away"
* "Touch by Touch"
* "Missing You"
* "Eaten Alive"
* "Chain Reaction"
* "Experience"
* "Dirty Looks"
* "If We Hold On Together"
* "Workin' Overtime"
* "This House" / "Paradise"
* "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
* "Someday We'll Be Together"
* "Take Me Higher"
* "I Will Survive"
* "Not Over You Yet"
* "Goin' Back"
* "I've Got a Crush on You"
* "Thank You"
* "If the World Just Danced"
* "Turn Up the Sunshine"

Featured singles|

* "A Brand New Day"
* "We Are the World"

Tours and concerts|

* Super Bowl XXX halftime show (1996)
* Return to Love Tour (2000)
* I Love You Tour (2006–2008)
* More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour (2010–2012)
* In the Name of Love Tour (2013–2017)
* The Essential Diana Ross: Some Memories Never Fade (2015–2017)

Related topics|

* The Supremes
* Rhonda Ross Kendrick (daughter)
* Tracee Ellis Ross (daughter)
* Evan Ross (son)
* Arne Næss Jr. (second husband)
* Arthur "T-Boy" Ross (brother)
* Diana Ross Playground
* Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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