Grand Funk Railroad‘s hit remake of Little Eva‘s “The Loco-Motion” turns 50 this spring. The song was a single from Grand Funk’s “Shinin’ On” album in 1974 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, just like the original, which was written by Carole King-Gerry Goffin. It was Grand Funk’s second chart-topping hit, following “We’re An American Band” in 1973.
Grand Funk drummer Don Brewer — who still leads the current incarnation of the group with original bassist Mel Schacher — tells us that the group was working on “Shinin’ On” with producer Todd Rundgren and was one song short of completion when singer-guitarist Mark Farner came up with the idea to cover “The Loco-Motion:”
Audio below…