Robert Owens - Gotta Work

Review by pierre du plessis

Album Review: Robert Owens – Gotta Work Released in 1992, Robert Owens’ Gotta Work is a deep dive into the soulful side of electronic music. Rooted in the UK’s vibrant house scene, this album floats effortlessly between Deep House and House styles, leaving listeners with a mix of raw energy and introspective vibes. Backed by Freetown Inc., the project feels like a labor of love, with Owens wearing multiple hats—vocalist, writer, and even producer on some tracks. It’s not just an album; it’s a vibe, a mood, and occasionally, a bit of a head-scratcher. The standout track for me is “Gotta Work (Hidden Magic Mix)”. It kicks things off with that signature Owens touch—a smooth vocal delivery layered over a hypnotic beat. The production here is tight but not overly polished, letting the groove breathe. You can tell Owens isn’t trying too hard to impress; he’s just doing what he does best. What makes this version unforgettable is its subtlety. It doesn’t scream for attention—it earns it. Those understated keyboard stabs? Genius. The way the bassline locks you in? Pure magic. This is one of those tracks that sneaks up on you after a few listens, sticking in your mind long after the needle lifts. Another gem is “Gotta Work (Carls Renaissance Dub)”. If you’re a fan of instrumental mixes, this one’s a treat. Stripped-down yet rich, it lets the rhythm take center stage while sprinkling in just enough melodic elements to keep things interesting. Carl—whoever he is—clearly had a vision, and it pays off. The dub echoes feel like they’re pulling you into another dimension, somewhere between a smoky club and a quiet late-night drive. Honestly, I didn’t expect to connect with this track as much as I did. It’s proof that sometimes less really is more. What strikes me most about Gotta Work is how timeless it feels. Even though it dropped in ’92, it doesn’t sound dated. Maybe it’s because house music never truly goes out of style, or maybe it’s because Owens nailed the formula so perfectly. Either way, this album holds up. Sure, there are moments where the production leans a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm. It’s human, you know? Oddly enough, listening to this record made me think about sandwiches. Stay with me here—house music, like a good sandwich, works best when it’s balanced. Too much bread (or bass) and it falls apart. Too little filling (or melody), and it’s forgettable. Gotta Work strikes that perfect balance, delivering something satisfying without being overstuffed. Who knew house music could be so… edible?

Artist: Robert Owens
Album: Gotta Work

Electronic

1992

Rating: 4.17

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: robert-owens-gotta-work.zip

MP3 size: 31 mb
FLAC size: 519 mb

Download

Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Gotta Work (Hidden Magic Mix)	8:36
Gotta Work (Edit Block)	3:56
Gotta Work (Do's Dub Instrumental Mix)	4:38
Gotta Work (Final Take)	6:11
Gotta Work (Uncut Mix)	6:43
Gotta Work (Dub It Up Jazz Mix)	5:24
Gotta Work (7" Radio Edit)	3:36
Gotta Work (R's And R's Original Feelings Mix)	6:17
Gotta Work (Carls Renaissance Dub)	6:43
Gotta Work (Carls Renaissance Mix)	6:52

Video

Robert Owens - Gotta Work (Final Take)

Robert Owens - Gotta Work (Carl's Renaissance Dub)

Images

last ned album Robert Owens - Gotta Work

descargar álbum Robert Owens - Gotta Work

télécharger l'album Robert Owens - Gotta Work

Album herunterladen Robert Owens - Gotta Work

Catalog Numbers

FTI 10 CD
FTI 010T
fti 10 CD
FTI 10 R
fti10t

Labels

Freetown Inc
Freetown Inc.

Listen online

lyssna på nätet
écouter en ligne
online luisteren
ascolta in linea
kuunnella verkossa
escuchar en línea
online anhören
lytte på nettet
ouvir online

Formats

CD
Single
Vinyl
12"
Promo
33 ⅓ RPM
White Label

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Freetown Inc
Copyright (c)	Freetown Inc
Published By	Musical Directions
Pressed By	Damont
Mastered At	The Exchange

Credits

Role	Credit
Engineer	Ian Tregoning
Written-By	Musical Directions
Backing Vocals	Musical Directions
Producer	David Ruberto (tracks: 2, 3), Patrick Duvoisin (tracks: 2, 3), Ricky Montanari (tracks: 2, 3), Robert Owens (tracks: 1, 4 to 6)
Written-by	Robert Owens

Notes

On labels reads the caption: 'DJ PROMO. NOT FOR SALE.'
Published by Musical Directions / Freetown Music.
(P) & (C) 1992 Freetown Inc.
Track durations and BPM are not provided on the record.
BPM:
A1: 122 | A2: 122
AA1: 123 | AA2: 122

Barcodes

Barcode: 5019273001022
Barcode: 5019273000117
Barcode: 5 019273 001022
Barcode (String): 5019273001022
Barcode (Text): 5 019273 000117
Barcode (Scanned): 5019273000117
Matrix / Runout (Side A etched): FTI 10T A1 I-I DAMONT THE EXCHANGE
Matrix / Runout (Side B etched): FTI 10T AA3 I-I DAMONT

About Robert Owens

ladda ner album Robert Owens - Gotta Work

Owns the label Though electronica has always been a producer's medium (and the few vocalists keeping their head above water are usually women), Robert Owens became one of the figures most associated with the late-'80s golden era of Chicago house. Born in Ohio in 1961, he grew up singing in the church, but was working as a DJ when he met pioneering Chicago producer Larry Heard in 1985. The pair formed Fingers Inc. with Ron Wilson, and released a few excellent singles ("A Path

Real Name

Robert James Owens

Name Vars

Owens
Owens, Robert
R Owens
R. Owens
R.Owens
Rob Owens
Robert
Robert J. Owens
Robert James Owens
Robert Owen

Aliases

Tayus
Kheral
Musical Directions

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: Robert Owens’ *Gotta Work* album, released in 1992, is a deep dive into the UK’s house music scene. What makes it stand out? The track "Gotta Work" got remixed into *ten different versions*! From dub mixes to radio edits, each one brings its own vibe. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure for house music fans. Plus, Robert Owens didn’t just sing—he wrote and produced most of it too. Not bad for an album that’s over 30 years old!

Comments

thelukecostello

2025-03-15

pure deep house!

sisfar

2025-03-15

Serious tuneage @ 4:10 when the synths drop

irenescs

2025-03-14

This is INSANE!

mahoganydane

2025-03-13

lekker grooooove

gajdosmaintenancelondon

2025-03-13

? ✌

prihartonos

2025-03-12

Love the vocoder vocals in this mix.

simplicityxtrust

2025-03-12

Oyes Oyes!!

stefanbrogrenb783f6c64b

2025-03-12

Raw flavour groovy classic.

kendramikuta

2025-03-11

♫

anishbob

2025-03-11

We need more house...

emmarussellward

2025-03-11

これ！！
病的にリピートしまくったこの曲ｗｗｗ

edinakolozsi

2025-03-10

Proper!

zcrlossebastian

2025-03-09

BAD ASS HOUSE

jesshyndman

2025-03-08

1 of the best tracks iv ever heard amazing

fjurt

2025-03-07

This has to be that special mix of this sublime piece of house music ,,pitch it down a tad ,, so it's all in the waistline down ,, smooth groove ,, one of my Owens finest moments ,,,, inside the top 10 Owens tracks for me ....