Going Left Right

"Going Left Right"
7" UK release
Single by Department S
A-side "Going Left Right"
B-side "She's Expecting You"
Released 19 June 1981
Format 7" and 12" vinyl
Genre Post-punk
Label Stiff Records
Songwriter(s) Vaughn Toulouse, Mark Taylor, Mike Herbage
Producer(s) David Tickle
Department S singles chronology
"Is Vic There?"
(1981)
"Going Left Right"
(1981)
"I Want"
(1981)

"Is Vic There?"
(1981)
"Going Left Right"
(1981)
"I Want"
(1981)

"Going Left Right" is the second single by post-punk band Department S, released on 19 June 1981 on Stiff Records.[1][2] It was their second single, following "Is Vic There?", and was produced by David Tickle.[1][3]

Reception

The song was considered a sophomore slump, as it only reached No. 55 on the UK Singles Chart[4] despite considerable airplay.[5] Guitarist Mike Herbage later described the song as "an aggressive, trance and beat driven track"[5] but expressed surprise at the fact that it charted at all, calling its placing "probably higher than it had any right to, really". Vocalist Vaughn Toulouse was a bit more positive, saying, "I think 'I Want' and 'Going Left Right' are ... really representative of the band".[5] In a later interview, Herbage admitted that "Going Left Right" and third single "I Want" were both "very strong tracks" and added, "we worked so hard on '[Going Left Right]'"[5]

Retrospective reviews for the song were universally positive. Paolo Hewitt of Melody Maker said that it and "I Want" were "far superior" to "Is Vic There?"[5]], Mimi von Tussle of Sputnikmusic called it "always a crowd-pleaser" and "sublime",[6] while Leonard's Lair said that it "matched 'Is Vic There?' for swagger and military precision".[7] Dave Thompson of AllMusic said that it "stands among the finest songs of the entire post-punk early '80s".[8]

Track listing

7" single

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Going Left Right" 
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."She's Expecting You" 

12" single

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Going Left Right (Extended Version)" 
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."She's Expecting You" 
2."Is Vic There? (French Version)" 

Personnel

Department S
  • Vaughn Toulouse – vocals
  • Mike Herbage – keyboards, guitar on "She's Expecting You"
  • Mark Taylor – guitar, keyboards on "She's Expecting You"
  • Tony Lordan – bass guitar
  • Stuart Mizon – drums
Technical
  • David Tickle – production
  • David Tickle, Steven W. Tayler – engineering

References

  1. 1 2 "Department S - Discography". Department S. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  2. "The Post Punk Progressive Pop Party: Department S - Going Left Right". Thep5.blogspot.com. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  3. "Department-S* - Going Left Right (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 151. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Articles and Reviews - Part Three". Department S. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  6. "Department S - Mr Nutley's Strange Delusionarism". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  7. "Department S - Sub-Stance". Leonard's Lair. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  8. "Sub-Stance - Department S". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
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