It Keeps You Runnin'
| "It Keeps You Runnin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Doobie Brothers | ||||
| from the album Takin' It to the Streets | ||||
| B-side | "Turn It Loose" | |||
| Released | October 5, 1976 | |||
| Studio | Warner Bros. Studios, North Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Blue-eyed soul[1] | |||
| Length | 4:20 (Album version) 4:07 (Single version) | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Michael McDonald | |||
| Producer(s) | Ted Templeman | |||
| The Doobie Brothers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"It Keeps You Runnin'" is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The song was written by band member Michael McDonald, and served as the third single from their sixth studio album Takin' It to the Streets (1976). It was also covered by Carly Simon the same year and released as the lead single from her sixth studio album Another Passenger.
The Doobie Brothers version was featured in the 1994 Oscar-winning film Forrest Gump, and was included on the film's multi-platinum selling soundtrack album.[2]
The song was also featured in the soundtrack of the 1978 film FM.
Lyrics and music
[edit]According to AllMusic critic Jason Elias, the music of "It Keeps You Runnin'" reflects a "jazzy R&B influence" and "gospel-based keyboard shading."[3]
Elias described the lyrics as the singer "trying to talk some woman into listening to what her heart is trying to say -- the oldest trick in the book."[3]
Reception
[edit]Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated "It Keeps You Runnin'" as the Doobie Brothers 10th greatest song, describing it as being "California-funky."[4]
Track listing
[edit]7" single[5]
- "It Keeps You Runnin'" – 4:07
- "Turn It Loose" – 3:53
Personnel
[edit]- Michael McDonald – keyboards, vocals
- Patrick Simmons – guitar, backing vocals
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitar
- Tiran Porter – bass, backing vocals
- Keith Knudsen – drums, backing vocals
- John Hartman – drums
Additional Personnel
[edit]- Ted Templeman – percussion, producer
- Bobby LaKind – congas
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Pop Singles (Hot 100)[6] | 37 |
Carly Simon version
[edit]| "It Keeps You Runnin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Carly Simon | ||||
| from the album Another Passenger | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 1976 | |||
| Genre | Rock, blue-eyed soul | |||
| Length | 3:56 (single/album version) | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Michael McDonald | |||
| Producer(s) | Ted Templeman | |||
| Carly Simon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
American singer-songwriter and musician Carly Simon covered "It Keeps You Runnin'" for her sixth studio album Another Passenger, and the song served as the lead single.[7] Simon's version charted on both the Billboard Pop singles (Hot 100) chart and the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[8]
The Doobie Brothers played and provided backing vocals on the track.[9] Ted Templeman produced both Simon's and The Doobie's versions, as well as each of their albums from which the song is featured.[7]
Reception
[edit]Billboard described it as an "interesting mid -tempo rocker" with a "jazzy feel" that has a powerful vocal performance by Simon.[10] Billboard specifically praised the guitar playing and the hook.[10] Cash Box said that Simon's "vocal is always clean and sensuous, and sensitive to the excellent backing," calling the song "an upbeat cut, with attractive chord changes and hook-filled lyric."[11] Record World called it "a refreshing change of pace for the songstress who sounds very comfortable with the palpitating percussive Doobies beat."[12]
Personnel
[edit]- Carly Simon – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Michael McDonald – keyboards
- Jeff Baxter – slide guitar
- Patrick Simmons – electric guitar
- Tiran Porter – bass
- John Hartman – drums
- Keith Knudsen – drums
- The Doobie Brothers – backing vocals
Track listing
[edit]7" single (US)[13]
- "It Keeps You Runnin'" – 3:56
- "Look Me In The Eyes" – 3:34
7" single (UK)[14]
- "It Keeps You Runnin'" – 3:56
- "Be with Me" – 1:53
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM)[15] | 47 |
| US Billboard Pop Singles (Hot 100)[16] | 46 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary[16] | 27 |
References
[edit]- ^ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 329. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
- ^ Ruhlmann, Ruhlmann. "Forrest Gump [Original Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ a b Elias, Jason. "It Keeps You Runnin'". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ Gallucci, Michael (February 12, 2013). "Top 10 Doobie Brothers songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ "The Doobie Brothers – It Keeps You Runnin'/Turn It Loose". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "The Doobie Brothers – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Another Passenger". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ Ragogna, Mike (August 30, 2010). "Dukes of September, McCartney's Guitarist & An Australian's Tourabout: Conversations With Michael McDonald, Brian Ray, and Xavier Rudd". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "It Keeps You Runnin'". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ a b "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. June 5, 1976. p. 74. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 5, 1976. p. 16. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 5, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Carly Simon – It Keeps You Runnin' - US". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Carly Simon – It Keeps You Runnin' - UK". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "CAN Charts > Carly Simon". RPM. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ a b "Carly Simon – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
