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 | Country rock,[1] blue-eyed soul | |||
| 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. It was also covered and released as a single by Carly Simon.
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
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
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
7" single
- "It Keeps You Runnin'" – 4:20
- "Turn It Loose" – 3:53
Personnel
- 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
- Ted Templeman – percussion, producer
- Bobby LaKind – congas
Charts
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Pop Singles (Hot 100)[5] | 37 |
Carly Simon version
| "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. Simon's version charted on both the Billboard Pop singles chart and the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[6]
Billboard described it as an "interesting mid -tempo rocker" with a "jazzy feel" that has a powerful vocal performance by Simon.[7] Billboard specifically praised the guitar playing and the hook.[7] 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."[8]
The Doobie Brothers 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.
Personnel
- 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
7" single (US)
- "It Keeps You Runnin'" – 3:56
- "Look Me In The Eyes" – 3:34
7" single (UK)
- "It Keeps You Runnin'" – 3:56
- "Be with Me" – 1:53
Charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Pop Singles (Hot 100)[10] | 46 |
| Adult Contemporary[11] | 27 |
References
- ^ "9 of the best Michael McDonald songs of all time".
- ^ "Forrest Gump [Original Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ a b Elias, Jason. "It Keeps You Runnin'". Allmusic. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ Gallucci, Michael (February 12, 2013). "Top 10 Doobie Brothers songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ "The Doobie Brothers – Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ Mike Ragogna (August 30, 2010). "Dukes of September, McCartney's Guitarist & An Australian's Tourabout: Conversations With Michael McDonald, Brian Ray, and Xavier Rudd". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Another Passenger". carlysimon.com.
- ^ "Carly Simon – Chart history | Billboard (Hot 100)". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ "Carly Simon – Chart history | Billboard (AC)". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
