The Loco-Motion
"The Loco-Motion" (or "Locomotion") is a 1962 pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King. "The Loco-Motion" was originally written for R&B singer Dee Dee Sharp, but Sharp turned the song down.[1]
"The Locomotion" redirects here. For other uses, see Locomotion."The Loco-Motion"
"He Is the Boy"
June 1962
1961
2:27
Gerry Goffin
The song is especially notable for making three appearances in the American Top 3, each in a different decade: in 1962 by Little Eva (U.S. No. 1);[2] in 1974 by Grand Funk Railroad (also U.S. No. 1);[3] and in 1988 by Kylie Minogue (U.S. No. 3).[4]
The song is an enduring example of the dance-song genre; much of the lyric is devoted to a description of the dance itself, usually performed as a type of line 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.
Little Eva version[edit]
Background[edit]
King and Goffin wrote "The Loco-Motion" in hopes to have it recorded by Dee 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 to Little Eva. Boyd was Carole King's babysitter, having been introduced to King and King's husband Gerry Goffin by The Cookies, a local girl group who would also record for the songwriters.
"The Loco-Motion" was the first release by the new Dimension 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.
"Le Loco-motion"
Carole King version[edit]
Carole King recorded a version of the song under the title "Locomotion" for her 1980 studio album Pearls: 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 album The Living Room Tour, released in 2005. The album peaked at No. 17 on the US album chart on July 30, 2005.[41]
Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin version[edit]
In May 1986, Dave Stewart and Barbara 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.[42]
"Locomotion"
- 1987 version:
- 1988 version:
- "Getting Closer"
- "Glad to Be Alive"
- "I'll Still Be Loving You"
July 13, 1987 (Australia)[43]
3:13
- Mike Duffy (1987 version)
- Stock Aitken Waterman (1988 version)
Other versions[edit]
German female disco group Ebony recorded a version that was released in 1979. It was released on Aladin 006-45 564 in 1979.[91] It was a hit in Europe on the disco charts.[92]
The Yugoslav New Wave group Električni Orgazam recorded a version that was released in 1983 on their album Les Chansones Populaires.[93]
British progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Powell included a reworked instrumental cover of the song on their eponymous debut (and only) album in 1986.
In 1991, Joanie Bartels covered the song from the album Dancin' Magic,[94] which was released as a single. It also appeared in the video, The Extra-Special Substitute Teacher.[95]
In 2000, Atomic Kitten sang a cover version at the end credits of Thomas and the Magic Railroad,[96] included as the B-side on the UK limed edition release of Whole Again[97] and the compilation Access All Areas.[98]
Dutch popgroup Djumbo recorded a Dutch language cover for the 2008 album Magic.[99]