40-Hour Week is the ninth studio album from American country music band Alabama. Released in 1985, the album included three songs that topped the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart and continued the band's dominance during the 1980s. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart and number 28 on the Billboard 200.
Two of the No. 1 tracks — "There's No Way" and the title track — became milestones in Alabama's recording career during 1985. When it reached the top of the chart on May 4, "There's No Way" became Alabama's 16th consecutive No. 1 single (excepting for the 1982 Christmas single "Christmas in Dixie"). The feat allowed Alabama to tie Sonny James' 14-year-old record for most No. 1 songs in as many consecutive single releases. Then, on August 3, "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" topped the chart, becoming Alabama's 17th-straight chart topper and allowing them to surpass James' record.
Among the album tracks, several of them praising the South, 40 Hour Week also features the ballad "I Want To Know You Before We Make Love", which became a major hit for Conway Twitty in 1987.
This was Alabama's only album from which all the singles had accompanying music videos.
Critical reception
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Singles
Certifications
Personnel
as listed in liner notes
Alabama
Jeff Cook – electric guitar, background vocals, lead vocals on "(She Won't Have a Thing to Do With) Nobody But Me" Teddy Gentry – bass guitar, background vocals, lead vocals on "As Right Now" Mark Herndon – drums Randy Owen – lead vocals, electric guitar
Additional musicians
Eddie Bayers – drums
Kenneth Bell – acoustic guitar
David Briggs – keyboards
Costo Davis – Kurzweil Synthesizer
Jack Eubanks – acoustic guitar
Gregg Galbraith – electric guitar
Roger Hawkins – drums
George (Leo) Jackson – acoustic guitar
Fred Newell – electric guitar
Larry Paxton – bass guitar
Willie Rainsford – keyboards
Brent Rowan – electric guitar
Ronnie Scaife – electric guitar
Milton Sledge – drums
Strings by the "A" Strings, arranged by Kristin Wilkinson.