# Willie Dishmon – Work On It
Willie Dishmon's 1981 single "Work On It" represents a compelling snapshot of early eighties funk and soul music released on the independent Jamila Records label. Though details about Dishmon's broader career remain limited in the historical record, this seven-inch release showcases an artist operating within the vibrant landscape of funk and disco that dominated the era.
Released during a transitional period for dance music, "Work On It" bridges the gap between the disco sound of the late seventies and the emerging funk innovations of the new decade. The single's A-side delivers a vocal performance set against a propulsive funk arrangement, clocking in at three minutes and forty-five seconds of rhythmic grooves and soulful delivery. The track's infectious energy suggests Dishmon understood the dance floor's demands, crafting music designed to move bodies as much as touch hearts.
The instrumental B-side, nearly matching the vocal version's length at three minutes and fifty seconds, reveals the compositional strengths underlying the production. This version strips away the vocals to highlight the intricate instrumental foundation, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the musicianship at work. The instrumental take remains equally dynamic, demonstrating that the arrangement itself carries substantial merit beyond serving as mere accompaniment.
As a seven-inch single on a smaller independent label, "Work On It" exemplifies the grassroots funk and soul production that thrived outside major label structures during this period. For collectors interested in underground funk and disco, this release offers authentic period flavor and musicianship representative of the era's creative vitality.
