"The Loco-Motion" (or "Locomotion") is a pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King.

Sharp passed on the song, leaving the opportunity open for Eva Boyd, who had recorded the demo.

The Little Eva version of the song was later featured in the David Lynch film Inland Empire (2006).

King stated this during an interview on National Public Radio (NPR) shortly after Little Eva died.

In 1971, she moved to North Carolina and lived in obscurity on menial jobs and welfare until being rediscovered in 1987.

Top-40 DJ Dan Ingram has been quoted as saying that he believes the original "The Loco-Motion" was recorded by King herself.

[27] 7-inch EP: "Le Loco-motion" / "Aussi loin que j'irai" / "Oui c'est lui" / "Comme l'été dernier" RCA Victor 76.593, 86.593 (1962, France) American rock band Grand Funk Railroad recorded a cover version of the song in 1974, produced by Todd Rundgren.

The Grand Funk version of the song featured guitars, several layers of harmony, and heavy drums.

SMAP also used the song on their television variety show SMAP×SMAP for a music video, singing along to the original Grand Funk recording rather than covering it.

"The Loco-Motion" appeared on Grand Funk Railroad's album Shinin' On and was released as a single in February 1974, eventually peaking at No.

John Lennon, during a 1974 interview discussing recent hit songs, said "I like "Loco-Motion," thought that was a great record.

"[31] In the 2004 edition of The Rolling Stone Album Guide, Village Voice Media music critic Nick Catucci called the cover "embarrassing".

[48] Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue released a cover version of the song in July 1987 as her third single, under the title "Locomotion".

After an impromptu performance of the song at an Australian rules football charity event with the cast of the Australian soap opera Neighbours, Minogue signed a record deal with Mushroom Records to release the song as a single.

Initially recorded in a big band style, the project was radically reoriented by producer Mike Duffy, who was on loan to Mushroom from Pete Waterman's UK company PWL.

[50] Duffy recorded a whole new backing track, inspired by the hi-NRG pop of Dead or Alive, but retained Minogue's original vocal.

[52] Original producer Mike Duffy instead blamed the decision to re-record on Waterman's alleged wish to claim the prestige and royalties that looked set to roll in from the track's looming placement of the soundtrack of the 1988 film Arthur 2: On the Rocks, starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli.

The 1987 "Locomotion" release was a huge hit in Minogue's native Australia, reaching number one on the Kent Music Report singles chart and remaining there for seven weeks.

During late 1988, Minogue traveled to the United States to promote "The Loco-Motion", where she did many interviews and performances on American television.

In 2023, Robert Moran of Australian daily tabloid newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald ranked the song as Minogue's 17th best song (out of 183), describing it "a surprisingly gritty sex track built on chugging synths and girl-group harmonies".

'[56] The music video for "Locomotion" was directed by Chris Langman and filmed at Essendon Airport and the ABC studios in Melbourne, Australia.

Choreographer Tania Lacy conceived the video's dance sequences around locomotive movements.