Locomotion

Uk 7" single front

12" (and later CDS) front

**Locomotion** (OMD/Troeller) is the title of a song recorded and released by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in April 1984. It was originally released as the group's tenth single, and the lead-single to the new album *Junk Culture*.

The track was recorded in Monserrat Studios and was produced by OMD and Brian Tench.

It became one of the group's biggest hits and remains one of their best known songs, occasionally receiving radio airplay, and regular performance at live shows.

## Origins

The group were conscious that they needed a hit single after the commercial disaster that was *Dazzle Ships* and started writing and recording to that end, eventually moving to the exotic location of the Monserrat Studios. Locomotion was one the last tracks to come out of the new sessions and had not been previewed at any time before (as was the case with Tesla Girls, Never Turn Away and other new tracks). The track had

> "..*originally been intended as a song about the problems of mobility for disabled people...the lyric lost most of its original intention*.", AM in Houghton, 2018, p.180
>
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## Style and content

Locomotion is an up-beat pop song making use of the sampled sound of steel drums and brass instruments. The lyrics deal with the subject of various forms of movement ("*I walk..run.sail...fly*,,) , transport ("*railways..seaways.. airways..moving..at a million miles an hour.*.") and of with the singer delivering lyrics in the first person about reaching a desired or loved one ("*I'm staring out the window, wonder where you are*...*I can't say no to you*"). The song has a catchy chorus driven by the repetitive bass tone lyric "*Crossing every ocean for the sake of locomotion.*."

The song was co-written by AM & PH with Gordon Troeller who also plays piano on the track, although writing credits for Troeller were not attributed until later. As with other Monserrat tracks, recording was completed at Wisselord Studios in Hilversum, Belgium. The brass section was made up of Jan Faas (trumpet), Jan Vennik (tenor sax) and Bart van Lier (trombone). The brass parts were arranged by Tony Visconti who was called in to help with the *Junk Culture* sessions.

## Single release

Locomotion was released as a single by Virgin records on 02 April 1984, with Her Body In My Soul as the B-side. As was customary at the time it was released on 7" and 12" vinyl, with the latter featuring an extended version (not mentioned on sleeve) of the lead track and a bonus track, The Avenue, on the B-side.

As promotion, a competition was held to win a Sony compact disc player (still a novelty at the time of the single's release) or one of 500 copies of the new album. Buyers had to 'scratch' away a part of the sleeve to see if it revealed a train.

As a further gimmick, the single was also released as a train shaped picture disc in a 10" stickered acetate sleeve. Some uncut picture discs also made it into circulation.

Locomotion was also released as a CD single in July 1988, featuring the same three tracks as the original 12" release.

### Sleeve

The single sleeve features a red-headed girl in brightly coloured clothing and sunglasses dancing , or just moving, against a painted mural background depicting a street café. The image of the girl is blurred to give the effect of movement or indeed 'locomotion'. The artwork was by Peter Savile and Trevor Key who had collaborated on previous sleeve artwork. The 7" and 12" front sleeve photographs are variations on the same subject of the moving girl.

The typography is stylised to incorporate the letters 'o' and 'm' in the 'Locomotion' title. The full band name, stylised to 'Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark' appears on the 7" only, whereas the 12" featured a sticker with full name and disc catalogue number. Initial 7" labels contain the misspelling "Manoeuvers" although this was later corrected. The spelling remains on all 12" issues.

### Tracklistings

* 7" Virgin VS 660 / Shaped Pic disc VSS 660

A. Locomotion (3:53)

B. Her Body In My Soul (4:40)

* 12" Virgin VS 660-12

A. Locomotion (5:20)

B1. Her Body In My Soul (4:40)

B2. The Avenue (4:12)

* CDS Virgin CDT 12

1. Locomotion (5:20)
2. Her Body In My Soul (4:40)
3. The Avenue (4:12)

### Reception and reviews

The new single was generally well received and gained prime time airplay on both Radio 1 and Radio 2 immediately on its release. Writing in *Smash Hits*, Tom Hibert described the single as "pleasant" and "..*a lazy, swingy dance number that contains sharp horns, sparkling steel drums and no reference whatever (sic.) to genetic engineering.*"

### Chart progress

Locomotion went straight into the UK charts, as announced on 10 April, at no.28, and was the fourth highest new entry. It went up to no.19 the following week, then to no.10, no.6 and reached its peak position of no.5 in the chart revealed on 09 May, the same week as *Junk Culture* entered the UK album charts at no.9. It was OMD's fifth Top 10 single, equalling the position of Joan of Arc in 1981.

### Promotion

Locomotion was accompanied by the release of a promotional video featuring all four members of OMD at the time. The storyline is in period costume with the group members travelling by steam train and salining boat in pursuit of a mysterious female, accompanied by MC, dressed as a man with a luminous briefcase. The final scene features AM & PH running after a hot-air balloon as it takes off with the female and MC on board. AM is shown miming to the song in certain scenes.

The group appeared twice on Top of the Pops as the single was going up the charts, the first on 19 April 1984 when it was at no.19 and a second time opening the show on 03 May when it was at no.6. The Weir Brothers, who were soon to tour with the band, also "played" the brass parts for these promo appearances. PH "plays" a steel drum.

Further TV promotional work at the time of the release of Locomotion seems scarce, although a video recording also exists of OMD miming to the song on the Australian TV show *Countdown*, on 05 August 1984. [1]

## Versions and availability

UK releases only. Timings (in brackets) may vary

* *Junk Culture* (1984, et passim)
* *The Best of OMD* (1988)
* *The OMD Singles* (1998)
* *Messages: Greatest Hits* (2008)
* *Souvenir* (2019)
* *Now That's What I Call Music 3* (1984)
* *Now That's What I Call Music 4 (CD)* (1984)
* Locomotion CDS (1988)
* *Junk Culture* deluxe ed. (2015)
* *Messages: Greatest Hits* (2008)

## Live performances

Locomotion was part of the Junk Culture tour setlist and was also performed on some subsequent tours in the 1980s. It was also performed live when PH was no longer with the group, and then successively on more recent tours since the group reformed, including the Souvenir tour.

### Official live releases

* date unknown on La Femme Accident 2x12" (1985)
* date unknown on If You Leave 12" (1986)
* 1991-08-24: Milton Keynes Bowl, UK on Everyday CDS VSCDG 1471
* 2007-05-19: Hammersmith Apollo, London on *Architecture & Morality & More*, & DVD (2008)
* 2011-02-03: The Mermaid Theatre, Liverpool on *Souvenir (boxset)* CD4 (2019)
* 2019-11-04: The Empire Theatre, Liverpool, UK on Live at The Empire Theatre, Liverpool (2019)
* 2019-11-20: Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK on Live At Eventim Hammersmith Apollo (219)

also part of the BBC Radio 1 *In Concert* recording at Hammersmith Odeon, broadcast in November 1984.

## Legacy

Locomotion has become one of OMD's best known songs and especially of the period, when it was one of the biggest selling singles of 1981. It has been included on every OMD singles and greatest hits compilation album, and also appeared on compilation albums such as Now that's What I Call Music 3. It re-established OMD as a commercially viable act, capable of producing hit singles but with their own particular twist.

Although many fans had mixed feelings towards the song, as being overtly commercial and a "sell-out", it remains a crowd favourite at live performances to date.

## Gallery

Locomotion lyrics and full page colour poster in *Smash Hits*, dtd.26 April 1984
## External links

* Locomotion on discogs.com

* Locomotion (work) on musicbrainz.org