Locomotion (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song) explained

Locomotion
Cover:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Locomotion single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Album:Junk Culture
Genre:
Length:3:53
5:22 (Extended Mix)
Label:Virgin
Producer:
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
  • Brian Tench
Prev Title:Telegraph
Prev Year:1983
Next Title:Talking Loud and Clear
Next Year:1984

"Locomotion" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 2 April 1984 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Junk Culture (1984). It was one of the band's biggest European hits, charting within the Top 5 in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, while also peaking at No. 14 in Germany.

"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 Fairlight CMI sampler was used to create the song's bass line, which according to bassist Andy McCluskey, "...was sampled and sequenced all in one go on the Fairlight."[2] 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.

Jean-Pierre Berckmans shot the official video. Taking advantage of where they were living at the time, the band filmed this video in Ostend and Brussels, Belgium.. Frontman Andy McCluskey recalled, "Funniest part of it was trying to look like we were on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of Ostend harbour at 2 in the morning on that sailing ship and you can see the hot air coming out as breath when I'm singing!"[3] The Belgian model Anne Beyens appears in the video.

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.[4]

Critical 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.[5] Debbi Voller of Number One wrote, "OMD have... travelled Second Class. This sounds like a chugging steam train because it never picks up speed. The only thing it's got going for it is a steel band playing on board."[6] In Music Week, Jerry Smith referred to a "pretty uninteresting, unambitious and unexciting single".[7]

Conversely, Tom Hibbert of Smash Hits saw "Locomotion" as a return to form after the commercially unsuccessful Dazzle Ships, observing a "swingy dance number that contains sharp horns, sparkling steel drums and no references whatsoever to genetic engineering. Pleasant."[8] The North Wales Weekly News called the single "[OMD's] best since 'Enola Gay'."[9] KROQ ranked it the 31st-greatest song of 1984.[10]

Critic Dave Thompson praised "Locomotion" in a retrospective review for AllMusic, writing, "Everything about this number spells lightness: the breezy melody, the tootling synths, the giddy keyboards, and — best of all — the band's effervescent harmonies."[11] 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."[12]

New Order co-founder Peter Hook – a longtime fan of OMD[13] – disapproved of the track, calling it a "dreadful offering".[14] On the other hand, Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart contemplated "Locomotion" as his favourite OMD song, describing it as "darn good".[15]

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, (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 (1979).[16]

"The Avenue" was placed at no. 5 in Classic Pops "Top 20 B-sides of the 80s".[17]

Track listings

7" vinyl

12" vinyl

3" CD

Released, Virgin / CDT 12.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1984)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 30
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[20] 7
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[21] 61

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 37
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 64
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 77

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Scapelliti, Christopher . Gary. Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark . . Detroit . 842–843.
  2. Junk Culture (EMM Jun 1984) . Electronics & Music Maker . June 1984 . Jun 1984 . 28–30 . Goldstein . Dan .
  3. Web site: Locomotion. Messages. 11 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Song "Locomotion" . musicbrainz.com. 2016-05-17.
  5. Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Messages. Sidgwick & Jackson. 1987. . p. 131.
  6. Voller. Debbi. Singles. Number One. 7 April 1984. 32.
  7. Smith. Jerry. Singles. Music Week. 14 April 1984. 23.
  8. Hibbert. Tom. Tom Hibbert. Singles. Smash Hits. 12–25 April 1984. 6. 8. 21.
  9. News: In Focus. North Wales Weekly News. 5 April 1984. 28.
  10. Web site: Top 106.7 Songs of 1984. 31 December 1984. KROQ-FM. 20 July 2022. RadioHitList.com.
  11. https://www.allmusic.com/song/locomotion-mt0031027798 "Locomotion" review
  12. Web site: Junk Culture Deluxe Edition – album review. 16 March 2015. Louder Than War. 25 August 2016.
  13. Book: Hook, Peter. Peter Hook. 2012. Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division. Simon & Schuster UK. 214. 978-0-85720-215-4. I liked OMD a lot as a group. I always thought they were really, really good; nice guys, too..
  14. Book: Hook, Peter. Peter Hook. 2016. Substance: Inside New Order. Simon & Schuster. 9781471132438.
  15. Web site: New exclusive interview with Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart. 16 May 2016. Barenaked Ladies Fans. 21 February 2022.
  16. Web site: Official OMD Website - Discography - Locomotion 12 . 13 April 2009.
  17. Web site: Top 20 B-sides of the 80s. Page. Barry. 5 May 2022. Classic Pop. 10 May 2022.
  18. Web site: Official OMD Website - Discography - Locomotion CD Single . 13 April 2009.
  19. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. St Ives, N.S.W.. Australian Chart Book. 1993. 224. 0-646-11917-6.
  20. European Top 100 Singles . . 1 . 7 . 14 May 1984 . 8 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
  21. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Dance Club Songs) . . 24 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190427164711/https://www.billboard.com/music/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark/chart-history/dance-club-play-songs . 27 April 2019.
  22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1984 – Singles . Dutch . Ultratop . 22 December 2020.
  23. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984 . Dutch . Dutch Top 40 . 22 December 2020.
  24. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984 . Dutch . . 22 December 2020.