Keep on Truckin' (song)
Encyclopedia
"Keep on Truckin'" is a 1973 hit song recorded by Eddie Kendricks
for Motown Records
' Tamla label. The song was Kendricks' first major hit as a solo artist, coming two years after his departure from The Temptations
. "Keep On Truckin'" reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100
and R&B Singles Chart
upon its release, and was Kendricks' only number-one hit.
in 1971. While his former bandmates went on to record hits such as "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
" (which was a reported jab at Kendricks and fellow ex-Temptation David Ruffin
), and their seven-minute opus, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
", Kendricks had begun to reach a cult R&B fan base following his last two albums.
Working closely with Frank Wilson
, who was the main producer in most of Kendricks' solo efforts, the duo worked on a song that would aim at the dance floor rather than the serene ballads that Kendricks was used to recording. His earlier single, "Girl You Need a Change of Mind", was a cult favorite for club fans. With co-writers Anita Poree and Leonard Caston, Jr.
, Wilson created a song rivaling that of the Temptations' Norman Whitfield
-produced cinematic soul that had become commonplace among the group's recordings, but instead of instigating drama, the song's grooves were clearly aimed at the dance floor.
Upon its release in the summer of 1973, the song would finally bring Kendricks out of the shadow of his former band as the song's catchy beats and melody became a crossover hit. By late fall, the song had reached number one on the US pop and R&B singles chart, eclipsing singles released by his former group. When "...Truckin'" became a hit, the Temptations' hit luster was waning, with "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" barely reaching the Top 40, and the follow-up funk song, "Let Your Hair Down", becoming only a modest hit. Much like their "Superstar", which would notably be covered by David Ruffin, Kendricks included a jab at his former bandmates with the lyric:
The single version of the song, entitled as "Part 1" features the sound of a truck going by, before the coda.
The song would later be included in debates about the first-recorded and released disco record alongside The Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat" and Barry White
's "Can't Get Enough". The song gave Kendricks a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance losing out to Stevie Wonder
's "Superstition (song)
" and would remain his signature hit though he would score other hits such as "Boogie Down", "Shoeshine Boy", "Happy" and "A Friend of Mine". The song's instrumental bridge would later be sampled by rapper Mr. Cheeks
on his 2002 single, Lights, Camera, Action
and in the Jennifer Lopez
2007 single, Do It Well
.
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
for Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
' Tamla label. The song was Kendricks' first major hit as a solo artist, coming two years after his departure from The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. "Keep On Truckin'" reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and R&B Singles Chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
upon its release, and was Kendricks' only number-one hit.
Song information
By 1973, Eddie Kendricks was two years deep into a solo career following his bitter split from The TemptationsThe Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
in 1971. While his former bandmates went on to record hits such as "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
"Superstar " is a 1971 hit single for the Gordy label, recorded by The Temptations and produced by Norman Whitfield...
" (which was a reported jab at Kendricks and fellow ex-Temptation David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
), and their seven-minute opus, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a soul song, written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971...
", Kendricks had begun to reach a cult R&B fan base following his last two albums.
Working closely with Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson may refer to:* Frank E. Wilson , U.S. Representative from New York* Frank H. Wilson , American actor* Frank J...
, who was the main producer in most of Kendricks' solo efforts, the duo worked on a song that would aim at the dance floor rather than the serene ballads that Kendricks was used to recording. His earlier single, "Girl You Need a Change of Mind", was a cult favorite for club fans. With co-writers Anita Poree and Leonard Caston, Jr.
Leonard Caston, Jr.
Leonard Caston, Jr. is an American rhythm and blues songwriter, record producer, pianist and singer. He recorded for both the Chess and Motown labels in the 1960s and 1970s, and co-wrote or co-produced several major hit records, including Mitty Collier's "I Had A Talk With My Man" , The Supremes'...
, Wilson created a song rivaling that of the Temptations' Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
-produced cinematic soul that had become commonplace among the group's recordings, but instead of instigating drama, the song's grooves were clearly aimed at the dance floor.
Upon its release in the summer of 1973, the song would finally bring Kendricks out of the shadow of his former band as the song's catchy beats and melody became a crossover hit. By late fall, the song had reached number one on the US pop and R&B singles chart, eclipsing singles released by his former group. When "...Truckin'" became a hit, the Temptations' hit luster was waning, with "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" barely reaching the Top 40, and the follow-up funk song, "Let Your Hair Down", becoming only a modest hit. Much like their "Superstar", which would notably be covered by David Ruffin, Kendricks included a jab at his former bandmates with the lyric:
- In old Temptations' rain, I'm duckin
- For your love through sleet or snow, I'm truckin
The single version of the song, entitled as "Part 1" features the sound of a truck going by, before the coda.
The song would later be included in debates about the first-recorded and released disco record alongside The Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat" and Barry White
Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
's "Can't Get Enough". The song gave Kendricks a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance losing out to Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's "Superstition (song)
Superstition (song)
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" and would remain his signature hit though he would score other hits such as "Boogie Down", "Shoeshine Boy", "Happy" and "A Friend of Mine". The song's instrumental bridge would later be sampled by rapper Mr. Cheeks
Mr. Cheeks
Mr. Cheeks is a Grammy Award winning rapper best known for his work with the musical group Lost Boyz, and his career as a solo artist.-Biography:...
on his 2002 single, Lights, Camera, Action
Lights, Camera, Action!
"Lights, Camera, Action!" was the lead single from Mr. Cheeks' debut album, John P. Kelly. The song was produced by Bink, who used a sample of "Keep on Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks. The song became Mr. Cheeks' first and only major hit as a solo artist, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and...
and in the Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
2007 single, Do It Well
Do It Well
"Do It Well" is a song written and produced by Ryan Tedder for American recording artist Jennifer Lopez's sixth studio album, Brave . The track contains a sample of Eddie Kendricks' 1973 song "Keep on Truckin'", written by Leonard Caston, Jr., Anita Poree, and Frank Wilson, and was released to...
.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
- Background vocals by The Young Senators
- Instrumentation by assorted Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
musicians