Customer Reviews

Working Class Dog

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You can't get more pop than this, & that's what I love. Rick rocks! Simple, strong music, catchy lyrics, & earnest feelings all make it work & stick in your head. Every music library needs a copy of this one.

1981's Working Class Dog made Rick Springfield an overnight sensation even though he had been making music for over a decade. Spurred on by the success he had on General Hospital, the album rose to the top ten. Mr. Springfield is often dismissed as a lightweight popster, but he crafted some great pop-rock tunes. The number one hit, "Jesse's Girl" is a brilliant piece of power pop that still stands up almost a quarter of a century after its release. Mr. Springfield's version of Sammy Hagar's "I've Done Everything For You" completely surpasses the clunky original and became the album's second top ten hit. Other strong songs include "Love Is Alright Tonite", "Carry Me Away" and "Everybody's Girl".

This album will always go down for me as one of the best of the 80s. I still hum the tunes in my head every now and then. Remeber all the joy we had with our friends as we sang along to the songs. The music is alive and upbeat. This album should be a part of everyones collection!

What a great way to start the decade off! This 1980 album threw Rick into the spotlight for all to see. With the energy of "Love is Alright Tonite" and "I've Done Everything for You," it was quite apparent that this musician was not going to be a one-time wonder. Both songs worked quite well as they were the typical sound of the early 80s soft-rock genre. Their upbeat pop sound was danceable and the lyrics were easily-digestible for both radio disc-jockeys and Rick's pre-teen fans. But flip to the "B" side and you'll hear some Rick flavor that didn't get any air play until years later with the album "Living In Oz". The song "Red, Hot and Blue Love" is bluesy with suggestive lyrics like: (Whatcha doin' baby, come on over tonite...we'll have a joint, we'll be doin' it all nite.) "Everybody's Girl," about an "easy" woman who breaks Rick's heart. "Inside Sylvia," is appropriately titled, as that is what the song is literally about. There's even an extended version of "I've Done Everything For You," which includes the verse: "when I first met you, you didn't know how to love a man...," which for some unknown reason was cut out for the single. All in all, the album is great! For all who thought that Rick couldn't surprise his listeners with soulful and sexy lyrics until "Living In Oz," you're wrong. Pick up this earlier piece, and hear for yourself that the man's been rockin' all along. By the way, the album also includes an okay song entitled "Jessie's Girl."

With his good looks and rock and roll personality, Rick Springfield was a teen idol back in the day. In 1980-81, his "Working Class Dog" album put him on the music map with a nice solid lineup of fun, intense, sensual rock songs. The album spawned three hits and the Australian-born Springfield was on his way to fame. The songs exhibit intense melodic harmonies, Springfield's searing electric guitar melodies and some peppy, atmospheric keyboarding as well. It's an enjoyable listen, even though it isn't one of my favorite albums. But it's still a must-own for rock fans and 80's fans alike.

"Love Is Alright Tonight" - One of his hits from the album, this fast-paced, peppy number will have you rocking and rolling just as intensely as Rick's vocals.

"Jesse's Girl" - My favorite song. This hard rocker hit the Billboard the top 10 in 1981. Very radio-friendly, sing-along harmonic vocals and very catchy guitar chords. I love how the song starts quiet and then charges up. The song is basically about a guy who would love to have his friend's girlfriend for himself.

"Hole In My Heart" - One of Rick's poppier, slow-paced rock tunes, but nevertheless intense and soulful. The harmonies cut right through you.

"Carry Me Away" - He's in love with you and what can he do? Carry him away already! He demands it amongst the swirling intensity of the keyboards and driving melodic force of the guitar. The music begs with him.

"I've Done Everything For You" - This is a fun song to sing to, or it could be a fun breakup song too. This is Springfield's third hit from the album; probably because it speaks of what so many people have gone through; doing everything for someone and getting nothing in return. I use the word intense again for this song because he is utterly trying to get the point across.

"The Light Of Love" - Rick sings about how this light is "always on" and "keeping the night watch." It's a nice feel-good melodic song and I love the harmonies.

"Everybody's Girl" - Starting with a slow funky beat, this cut shows Springfield singing about a certain girl who's been around, before exploding into a faster paced rocking, "There goes everybody's girl.......everybody's girl......" One of Rick's more unique tunes.

"Daddy's Pearl" - Springfield sings an easy-going rock number here about his good "daddy's girl." A fun song with a driven intensity.

"Red Hot & Blue Love" - I love this song; another unique number from Rick. Led by a funky rock shuffle, this song is a true danceable number and is very groovy and enjoyable

"Inside Silvia" - I guess this an appropriate ending to a rock-filled album. Rick closes the album with this a cappella piece that features mostly keyboards and vocals. This is a rather atmospheric, dreamy, hypnotic, sexy and sensual number that just kind of floats through your system.

Haha, who can resist that Spudz MaKenzie look-alike dog on the cover wearing the workers shirt and tie with a picture of Rick Springfield attached to it? Then of course on the flip side is a rather sexy looking Rick Springfield wearing a white tank top looking right into your soul with those eyes! Good for all us ladies. I was lucky enough to see Rick Springfield in concert near my hometown and he's just as electrifying on stage as he is on this album. Get some of the early 80's defining rock with "Working Class Dog."

Just received this cd and listened to songs I haven't heard in 25 years. It contains the (slightly) longer version of Love is Alright Tonight along with Jessie's Girl, I've Done Everything For You, and the totally forgotten about minor hit song Inside Silvia. Red Hot & Blue Love has a surprising blues/jazz feel to it with tempo changes, a nice touch. Cd needs a remastering, other than that it rocks.

I only recently discovered Rick Springfield. Born in 1985, my generation grew up with the late 1990s/early 2000s bubblegum teen pop as our music. I'd heard "Jessie's Girl" occasionally on radio and really enjoyed it. This CD is 1980s power pop to a t; the aforementioned "Jessie's Girl" is brilliant and Springfield has a brilliant knack for a catchy medody as he is sole songwriter for most of the tunes here. Overall, 4/5.

This album was the staer of something really big for Rick with this CLASSIC album... You have the hit Jessie's Girl as well as "Daddy's Pearl." My All time favorite though is "Inside Sylvia." I saw him in concert at the Ohio State Fair and he stood on my wheelchair and sang it right to me.. The songs has a special meaning to me.. There are other songs on that album that SHOULD have been hits. But Rick will always be the #1 singer in my house!

Being a teenage male of the 80's I thought rick springfield was the best male singer of the early-mid 80's. He sang and represented the time very well. I still love to listen to working class dog and hard to hold. Both very good albums.

This is the one Rick Springfield album you MUST own. It features the song "Jessie's Girl" for which Rick Springfield is well known. The album has rockin' guitar, melodious keyboard, and strong vocal tracks. This album is one everyone can relate to.