| Going Left Right | |
| Cover: | Going Left Right Department S.jpeg |
| Caption: | 7" UK release |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Department S |
| A-Side: | Going Left Right |
| B-Side: | She's Expecting You |
| Released: | 19 June 1981 |
| Genre: | Post-punk |
| Label: | Stiff Records |
| Producer: | David Tickle |
| Chronology: | Department S |
| Prev Title: | Is Vic There? |
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | I Want |
| Next Year: | 1981 |
"Going Left Right" is the second single by post-punk band Department S, released on 19 June 1981 on Stiff Records.[1] [2] It was their second single, following "Is Vic There?", and was produced by David Tickle.[1] [3]
The song reached No. 55 on the UK Singles Chart[4] despite considerable airplay.[5] Guitarist Mike Herbage later described the song as "an aggressive, trance and beat driven track"[5] but expressed surprise at the fact that it charted at all, calling its placing "probably higher than it had any right to, really". Vocalist Vaughn Toulouse was a bit more positive, saying, "I think 'I Want' and 'Going Left Right' are ... really representative of the band".[5] In a later interview, Herbage admitted that "Going Left Right" and third single "I Want" were both "very strong tracks" and added, "we worked so hard on '[Going Left Right]'"[5]
Retrospective reviews for the song were universally positive. Paolo Hewitt of Melody Maker said that it and "I Want" were "far superior" to "Is Vic There?",[5] Mimi von Tussle of Sputnikmusic called it "always a crowd-pleaser" and "sublime",[6] while Leonard's Lair said that it "matched 'Is Vic There?' for swagger and military precision".[7] Dave Thompson of AllMusic said that it "stands among the finest songs of the entire post-punk early '80s".[8]