Locomotion (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)

"Locomotion" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their 1984 album, Junk Culture. It was one of the band's biggest European hits, charting within the Top 5 in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, while also peaking at No. 14 in Germany.

"Locomotion"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Junk Culture
B-side
  • "Her Body in My Soul"
  • "The Avenue"
Released2 April 1984 (1984-04-02)
RecordedAir Studios, Montserrat
ICP Studios, Brussels
Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum
GenreNew wave
Length3:53
5:22 (Extended Mix)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey, Gordian Troeller
Producer(s)Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Brian Tench
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"Telegraph"
(1983)		 "Locomotion"
(1984)		 "Talking Loud and Clear"
(1984)
Shaped picture disc
7" picture disc

"Locomotion" has been included on every OMD singles and greatest hits compilation album.

Background

"Locomotion" was recorded during the last week of sessions at Montserrat before the drums were overdubbed at ICP Studios in Brussels. The original song was combined with a steel drum rhythm that Paul Humphreys had written the previous week and a bass line and piano that Gordian Troeller (the band's manager) contributed. The track was mixed and the brass added at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands; the brass arrangements were made by Tony Visconti. The song marries downcast lyrics with upbeat melodies.[1]

Live recordings of "Locomotion" have been issued on the 12" releases of the singles "La Femme Accident" (1985) "If You Leave" (1986) and the second CD single of "Everyday" (1993), as well as on the Architecture & Morality & More and Live in Berlin albums.[2]

Reception

"Locomotion", which marked a move toward more pop-oriented material for OMD, faced initial criticism – notably on BBC Radio 1's Round Table show.[3] Conversely, Tom Hibbert of Smash Hits felt the single was a return to form after the commercially unsuccessful Dazzle Ships. He wrote: "Having failed to impress the world with songs about robots in Czechoslovakia, OMD return in a lighter vein [...] with no references whatsoever to genetic engineering. Pleasant."[4]

Critic Dave Thompson praised "Locomotion" in a retrospective review for AllMusic, writing: "[E]verything about this number spells lightness: the breezy melody, the tootling synths, the giddy keyboards, and — best of all — the band's effervescent harmonies."[1] Louder Than War journalist Paul Scott-Bates remarked: "In terms of a pop song, it borders classic – instantly recognisable from the first few seconds, a chorus that everyone knows and verses that were as memorable as choruses."[5]

B-sides

All formats featured "Her Body in My Soul" on the B-side. There is an additional track on the 12" vinyl and 3" CD singles, "The Avenue". Both songs can be found on the B-sides compilation album, Navigation: The OMD B-Sides (2001). "The Avenue" was the first song recorded at Montserrat and deals with the repetition of mistakes that people have made before you. The sample used in the song is taken from the Andrei Tarkovsky film Stalker, released in 1979.[6]

Track listings

7" vinyl
  • UK: Virgin / VS 660, VSS 660 (shaped picture disc)
  • West Germany: Virgin / 106 377
  • USA: Virgin / AM-2671
  • France:Virgin / 90115
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Locomotion"3:53
Side B
No.TitleLength
2."Her Body in My Soul"4:40

12" vinyl
  • UK: Virgin / VS 660-12
  • France: Virgin / 80092
  • USA: A&M Records / SP-12108
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Locomotion" (12" Version)5:22
Side B
No.TitleLength
2."Her Body in My Soul"4:44
3."The Avenue"4:14
  • Canada: Virgin / VDJ02 (promo)
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Locomotion"3:54
Side B
No.TitleLength
2."Tesla Girls"3:49
3."Talking Loud and Clear"4:18

3" CD

Released 25 July 1988 (1988-07-25), Virgin / CDT 12.[7]

No.TitleLength
1."Locomotion" (12" Version)5:22
2."Her Body in My Soul"4:44
3."The Avenue"4:14

Charts

References
  1. "Locomotion" review at AllMusic
  2. "Song "Locomotion"". musicbrainz.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike. Messages. Sidgwick & Jackson. 1987. ISBN 0-283-99234-4. p. 131.
  4. ""Like Punk Never Happened - a Smash Hits archive", Smash Hits, April 12, 1984 - p.21". flickr.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  5. "Junk Culture Deluxe Edition – album review". Louder Than War. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  6. "Official OMD Website - Discography - Locomotion 12". Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  7. "Official OMD Website - Discography - Locomotion CD Single". Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 224. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Ultratop.be – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Locomotion" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  10. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1 no. 7. 14 May 1984. p. 8. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Locomotion". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Locomotion" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  14. "Charts.nz – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Locomotion". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  15. "Swisscharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Locomotion". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  16. "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  17. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Locomotion". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  19. "Jaaroverzichten 1984 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  20. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  21. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
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