| "The Loco-Motion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 A-side of U.S. vinyl release | ||||
| Single byLittle Eva | ||||
| from the album Llllloco-Motion | ||||
| B-side | "He Is the Boy" | |||
| Released | June 1962 | |||
| Recorded | 1961 | |||
| Genre | Pop,rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:27 | |||
| Label | Dimension 1000 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Goffin,Carole King | |||
| Producer(s) | Gerry Goffin | |||
| Little Eva singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio video | ||||
| "The Loco-Motion" onYouTube | ||||
"The Loco-Motion" (or "Locomotion") is apop song written by American songwritersGerry Goffin andCarole King. "The Loco-Motion" was originally written for R&B singerDee Dee Sharp, but Sharp turned the song down.[1]
The song is especially notable for making three appearances in the American top 3, each in a different decade: in 1962 byLittle Eva (U.S. No. 1);[2] in 1974 byGrand Funk Railroad (also U.S. No. 1);[3] and in 1988 byKylie Minogue (U.S. No. 3).[4]
The song is an enduring example of thedance-song genre; much of the lyric is devoted to a description of the dance itself, usually performed as a type ofline dance. However, the song pre-dates the dance.
"The Loco-Motion" was also the second song to reach No. 1 by two different musical acts in America. The earlier song to do this was "Go Away Little Girl", also written by Goffin and King. It is one of only nine songs to achieve this feat.
King and Goffin wrote "The Loco-Motion" in hopes to have it recorded byDee Dee Sharp, who had a hit with "Mashed Potato Time". Sharp passed on the song, leaving the opportunity open for Eva Boyd, who had recorded the demo.[1] Boyd's version was released, and her name was changed toLittle Eva. Boyd was Carole King's babysitter, having been introduced to King and King's husband Gerry Goffin byThe Cookies, a local girl group who would also record for the songwriters.
"The Loco-Motion" was the first release by the newDimension Records company, whose releases were mostly penned and produced by Goffin and King. There are two common versions of the song in circulation: one includes handclaps during the verses; the other has no handclaps. King performed the backup vocals in the recording.
In the United States, "The Loco-Motion" was the seventh most successful single of 1962, according toBillboard. It was also the third most successful single of 1962 in South Africa.[5]
In March 1965, Little Eva sang the song on theABC-TV seriesShindig!, and this is the only known video of her singing this song. Acover version of the song was recorded quickly by British girl groupThe Vernons Girls and scored the chart the same week as the Little Eva version. The Vernons Girls' version stalled at No. 47 in the UK, while the Little Eva version reached No. 2 on the UK charts. It re-entered the chart some 10 years later and almost became a top 10 hit again, peaking at No. 11. The Little Eva version of the song was later featured in theDavid Lynch filmInland Empire (2006). "The Loco-Motion" is ranked No. 359 onRolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". In 2016, the 1962Little Eva version of "The Loco-Motion" onDimension Records was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Fame.[6]
The widely believed story of how the song "The Loco-Motion" came to be is thatCarole King was playing music at home and Eva Boyd was doing some chores and started dancing to it, and that was The Loco-Motion dance. However, this is not true. Eva Boyd was introduced to Goffin and King and they liked her singing voice, so they had her record "The Loco-Motion". King stated this during an interview on National Public Radio (NPR) shortly after Little Eva died.[7]
As the song came before the dance, there was no dance when the song was originally written. When the song became a smash hit, Eva Boyd ended up creating a dance to go along with the song. King stated this in her "One to One" concert video. In live performances of the song, Little Eva can be seen doing her version of the dance.
Another bit of the conventional lore is that Boyd received only $50 for "The Loco-Motion". However, although she never owned the rights to her recordings, it seems $50 was actually her weekly salary during the years she was making records (an increase of $15 from what Goffin and King had been paying her as nanny). In 1971, she moved to North Carolina and lived in obscurity on menial jobs and welfare until being rediscovered in 1987.[8] She died of cervical cancer in 2003.
Top-40 DJ Dan Ingram has been quoted as saying that he believes the original "The Loco-Motion" was recorded by King herself. ProducerPete Waterman has also stated he believes it is King singing on the recording.[9]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| "Le Loco-motion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single bySylvie Vartan | ||||
| from the albumSylvie | ||||
| Language | French | |||
| B-side | "Comme l'été dernier" | |||
| Released | October 1962 | |||
| Recorded | Summer–Fall 1962 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:15 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Goffin,Carole King,Georges Aber | |||
| Sylvie Vartan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Le Loco-motion" (live) onYouTube | ||||
In 1962, the French singerSylvie Vartan recorded a cover of "The Loco-Motion" in French, called "Le Loco-motion". Vartan's version went to number 1 in France on October 13, 1962, and remained there for one week.[27]
7-inch EP: "Le Loco-motion" / "Aussi loin que j'irai" / "Oui c'est lui" / "Comme l'été dernier" RCA Victor 76.593, 86.593 (1962, France)
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[29] | 6 |
| France[27] | 1 |
| "The Loco-Motion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US vinyl single, whose artwork was also used for French and German releases | ||||
| Single byGrand Funk Railroad | ||||
| from the albumShinin' On | ||||
| B-side | "Destitute and Losin'" | |||
| Released | February 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock[30] | |||
| Length | 2:46 | |||
| Label | Capitol 3840 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Goffin,Carole King | |||
| Producer(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Grand Funk Railroad singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Americanrock bandGrand Funk Railroad recorded a cover version of the song in 1974, produced byTodd Rundgren. The decision to play the song came about after guitaristMark Farner was heard singing the song in the studio. The Grand Funk version of the song featured guitars, several layers of harmony, and heavy drums.
During the 2000s, this version of the song was featured in advertisements for the Japanese technology and communications companySoftBank, featuring the pop groupSMAP. SMAP also used the song on their television variety showSMAP×SMAP for a music video, singing along to the original Grand Funk recording rather than covering it.
The song is available as downloadable content forRock Band 3.
"The Loco-Motion" appeared on Grand Funk Railroad's albumShinin' On and was released as a single in February 1974, eventually peaking at No. 1 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in May 1974. It also reached number 5 in Australia, peaked at number 1 in Canada, and reached number 11 in West Germany.
John Lennon, during a 1974 interview discussing recent hit songs, said "I like "Loco-Motion," thought that was a great record."[31]
In the 2004 edition ofThe Rolling Stone Album Guide,Village Voice Media music critic Nick Catucci called the cover "embarrassing".[32]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| "Locomotion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ritz | ||||
| from the album Puttin' On The Ritz | ||||
| B-side | "Lazy Love" | |||
| Released | June 15, 1979 | |||
| Genre | Pop,disco | |||
| Length | 3:45 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Goffin,Carole King | |||
| Producer(s) | Ken Gold | |||
| Ritz singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Disco group Ritz covered this song in 1979. Their version peaked at number one in New Zealand for seven non-consecutive weeks in 1980,[41] becoming the most successful record of the year there.[42] The Ritz version was also a top-20 hit in Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland.[43][44] The live arrangement thatKylie Minogue performed on herGolden Tour andSummer 2019 Tour is based upon this recording.
| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[43] | 12 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[41] | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] | 18 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] | 6 |
| Chart (1980) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[46] | 49 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[42] | 1 |
| "Locomotion" | |
|---|---|
| Song byCarole King | |
| from the albumPearls: Songs of Goffin and King | |
| Released | June 1980 |
| Recorded | January 1980 |
| Studio | Pecan Street Studios, Austin, Texas, US |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 2:30 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Goffin,Carole King |
| Producer(s) | Carole King,Mark Hallman |
Carole King recorded a version of the song under the title "Locomotion" for her 1980 studio albumPearls: Songs of Goffin and King. The album peaked at No. 44 and spawned King's last top 40 hit to-date, "One Fine Day", which would reach No. 12 on the charts. King also sings the song on her live albumThe Living Room Tour, released in 2005. The album peaked at No. 17 on the US album chart on July 30, 2005.[47]
| "The Locomotion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byDave Stewart andBarbara Gaskin | ||||
| B-side | "Make Me Promises" | |||
| Released | May 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | Broken | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Goffin,Carole King | |||
| Producer(s) | Dave Stewart | |||
| Dave Stewart andBarbara Gaskin singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In May 1986,Dave Stewart andBarbara Gaskin released a cover version of the song as a single. The duo had scored a UK No. 1 hit back in 1981 with their cover of "It's My Party" but had achieved little success since. For this 1986 single, they embarked on a big promotional push in an attempt to gain a second significant hit. The single, however, stalled at No. 70 on the UK charts in June that year.[48]
| "Locomotion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) Artwork for Australian single | ||||
| Single byKylie Minogue | ||||
| from the albumKylie | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | July 13, 1987 (1987-07-13)[49] | |||
| Recorded | ||||
| Genre | Dance-pop | |||
| Length | 3:13 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Kylie Minogue singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
_single_cover.jpg) Single sleeve for most international editions, featuring still frames from the music video | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "The Loco-motion" onYouTube | ||||
Australianpop singerKylie Minogue released a cover version of the song in July 1987 as her debut single, under the title "Locomotion". After an impromptu performance of the song at anAustralian rules football charity event with the cast of the Australiansoap operaNeighbours, Minogue signed a record deal withMushroom Records to release the song as a single. Initially recorded in abig band style, the project was radically reoriented by producer Mike Duffy, who was on loan to Mushroom fromPete Waterman's UK companyPWL.[50] Duffy recorded a whole new backing track, inspired by thehi-NRG pop ofDead or Alive, but retained Minogue's original vocal.[50] This version was released on July 13, 1987, in Australia,[49] where it became one of the biggest selling Australian records of the 1980s.[50] It was later released the same year in New Zealand, Italy, and Sweden.
The success of the song in her home country resulted in Minogue's signing a record deal withPWL Records inLondon and to working with the successful teamStock Aitken & Waterman (SAW).[51] The producers decided to totally re-record Minogue's version of the song, withPete Waterman slating her original Australian recording, which he claimed was poorly produced.[52] Original producer Mike Duffy instead blamed the decision to re-record on Waterman's alleged wish to claim the prestige and royalties that looked set to roll in from the track's looming placement of the soundtrack of the 1988 filmArthur 2: On the Rocks, starringDudley Moore andLiza Minnelli.[52] On July 28, 1988, the re-recorded version produced by SAW was released worldwide with the title "The Loco-Motion". This release, also a major success, reached the top five in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This version of the track substitutes the Australian termrailway for the American termrailroad in the song's lyrics.
The 1987 "Locomotion" release was a huge hit in Minogue's native Australia, reaching number one on theKent Music Report singles chart and remaining there for seven weeks.[53] The 1988 release of the song in the United Kingdom debuted and peaked at number two on theUK Singles Chart — the highest entry on the UK charts by a female artist. It remained in the number two position for four weeks before falling to number three. With sales of 440,000 it was the eleventh best selling single of the year.[54] The song became Minogue's third top five single in the UK and remains one of her most successful single releases to date.
During late 1988, Minogue traveled to the United States to promote "The Loco-Motion", where she did many interviews and performances on American television. The song was used in the comedy filmArthur 2: On the Rocks. "The Loco-Motion" debuted at number 80 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number three for two weeks. The song was Minogue's second single to chart in the U.S., but her first to reach the top ten. To this day, the song remains as her highest-charting single in the United States; however, her second overall and most recent song to reach the top ten, 2002's "Can't Get You Out of My Head", ended up outselling "The Loco-Motion". In Canada, the song also reached the top five in the pop sales chart. In 2023, Robert Moran of Australian daily tabloid newspaperThe Sydney Morning Herald ranked the song as Minogue's 17th best song (out of 183), describing it "a surprisingly gritty sex track built on chugging synths and girl-group harmonies".[55] The Song reached number one in South Africa, and remained in that position for a staggering 11 weeks.'[54]
Themusic video for "Locomotion" was directed by Chris Langman and filmed atEssendon Airport and theABC studios inMelbourne, Australia. ChoreographerTania Lacy conceived the video's dance sequences around locomotive movements.[52] For the international release of "The Loco-Motion", footage from the Australian music video was re-edited twice; one version for the US market and another for the European market. Near the end of 1988, the song was nominated for 'Best International Single' at the Canadian Music Industry Awards.
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "The Loco-motion".
Weekly charts[edit]
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Certifications and sales[edit]
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France (SNEP) Gold 250.000
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Kylie.com - Accessed November 22, 2008
