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Friday, October 4, 2024

Eddie Kendricks - "Keep On Truckin' " (A R&B dance song of encouragement: sound file & selected comments)


chosenssh, Mar 12, 2013

Keep On Truckin by Eddie Kendricks


Eddie as a solo artist in the 70's. formerly with the Temptations.

****

Edited by Azizi Powell This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series on the African American Vernacular English word "truckin" and the African American Vernacular English saying "Keep on truckin", and the Jazz dance "truckin'". Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-multiple-meanings-of-vernacular.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the vernacular English meanings of the word "truckin'" and the saying "Keep on truckin". Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/10/blind-boy-fuller-truckin-my-blues-away.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases the 1936 Blues song "Truckin' My Blues Away" by Blind Boy Fuller. Information about Blind Boy Fuller and information about the song "Truckin' My Blues Away" are also included in that post along with the lyrics to that song. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/10/eddie-kendricks-keep-on-truckin-r-dance.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video of Eddie Kendricks' 1973 R&B song "Keep On Truckin". Information about Eddie Kendricks is included in this post along with information and lyrics for this song. -snip- Two African American sayings that are very similar to the core meaning of "Keep on truckin'" are "Keep on keepin' on" and "Keep on pushing". ****SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT EDDIE KENDRICKS' 1973 R&B SONG "KEEP ON TRUCKIN' " From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aElKjhSwjBc [This is the YouTube sound file that is embedded at the top of this pancocojams post. This particular sound file was randomly selected and all of these comments are from that sound file's discussion thread. As of 9:12 PM EDT there were a total of 859 comments in that discussion thread. The comments in this pancocojams compilation are given in relative chronological order with the oldest published comments given first except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. I'm particularly interested in quoting some examples of comments that document memories of this song from the 1970s, and/or examples of comments that include the saying "Keep on truckin". Brief explanations for a few of these comments are given in the comment section below for this pancocojams post.

1. @johnjarou2357, 2015
"big solo hit for eddie kendricks 1973.  got a lot of radio airplay back then."
**
Reply
2. @homelesshannah50, 2017
"This is what old school is all about :)"
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Reply
3. @awso-noanazz, 2019
"Yes but not the extended version. I never heard that til youtube." ** Reply 4. @sandyRndisco1, 2021
"I had it on 45 record both sides."

** Reply 5. @tyliekinc, 2021
"#1 hit on Billboard Hot 100"
**
6. @tomwilliams2459, 2015
"I was in Basic training at Fort Jackson (Sept. '73). I remember this song being played at the snack bar and the EM club when we got a coveted pass to go to those places great memories."
**
Reply
7. @homelesshannah50, 2017
"I guess this was the song for the military so many soldier stories"

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8. @TheBreezus, 2021
"Thank you for your service. Seriously. We wouldn't be here without you."

**
9. @runawaychild2, 2016
"Eddie I'm still Truckin 42yrs later in 2016.. we use to PARTY to this song all night long at the Record Hops in LA at Sportsman's Park..  check out the bass..  Keep On Trucking in 2016 everybody!"

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Reply
10. @insp252, 2016
"Right On."

**
11. @brucemarmy8500, 2016
"Soul satisfyin' syncopated spirituall. Gotta keep on truckin'. Can't nothing hold us back. We the red ball Express of lovin'"

**
12. @dink7278, 2016
"They just don't make music like yesteryear.  "Keep on Truckin'" was a popular expression with that famous cartoon character truckin.  It was so popular that one of my chemistry profs in school had a "Keep on Truckin'" iron on decal on the back of his lab coat!"

**
13. @TheDebgirl12000, 2017
"I had a "Keep on Truckin" t shirt back in the day! I love Eddie Kendrick's. RIP."

**
14. @mikedeloach6809, 2017
"Keep on trucking that's what I've been doing all These years. LOL"

**
15. @dalynndavis7353, 2017
"At all our family functions once this song came on we all hit the dance floor, my Father, Aunties and Uncles would jump up and start dancing. I didn't think much of the song then but now when I hear this song it reminds me of the goo old days. Keep on Trucking. Music is Love!"
**
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16. @spaceindian700, 2019
"I feel the same way got to keep on truckin"
**
17. @riclurbina7483, 2018
"Another one of the great artists from back in the day still love this music, it's as fresh as it ever was."
**
18. @natedogg265, 2018
"Seems like this song was a hit for YEARS!!!!! They just wouldn't stop playing it. lol"

**
19. @TimeisReel, 2018
"Sampled so many times... Great Song 🎵"

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20. @wandaperi, 2019
"#CWMcCall even sampled the name !! \ The Old Home Filler-Up and Keep on A-Truckin' Café"

**
21. @joanndavis3211, 2018
"my main man, all his song's was soul deep. kept me alive."

**
22. @tamifaye2125, 2018
"This man.........was BAD!!!! I mean......BAD!!!! In a group, by himself......in his blood."

**
23. @christopherclarkin9584, 2018
"Do you remember the "Keep on Truckin' shirts? Mine said "Just passin' Through"'

**

24. @Honey-vz1qq, 2018
"One of the best "bump" songs"

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25. @feli694, 2019
"Honey327 It sho’ was..."
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26. @conniemoore1786, 2019
"OMG and those other krazy dances we were doing😆"

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Reply
27. @nurimajeed8595, 2020
"YES!!! DA BUMP..."
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Reply
28. @pamelagreenlee6134, 2021
"Absolutely 💯,  we was still Doing the robot too"
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29. @botvinnik64, 2019
"This was one Baaaad Brother!"

**
30. @rickritz9753, 2019
"Love this song and always will! Keep on trucking everybody!"
**
31. @tanyapeterson667, 2019
"THOSE 70'S MEN'S SHO WAS FINE GO EDDIE RIP YOU HAD THE BEST SEXY VOICE EVER! SANG BABY AND WE GOT TO KEEP ON TRUCKIN IN 2019!"

**
32. @coxgary9267, 2019
"Classic soul music. I'm glad and fortunate to lived in an era when music was more than something to make a profit from."
**
33. @jocelynhkcarter, 2019
"Jocelyn Carter: The 70s had the best songwriters, musicians, performers and producers. We were ready to party after the Civil Rights Movement. The doors were opening up and blacks and whites were ready to jam together!"

**
34. @Tbro13oo, 2019
"Why is this so good?  Here's one guess.  The combination of Kendricks's almost Motowny, souly vocals with the funk of most of what else is happening.  The early '70's were a golden age (one I'm grateful to have heard, first, on the radio, whether I knew what I was listening to or not) for how two decades of music converged.  Thank you, this was happening in more than two genres.  ...If you heard top 40 radio of the period, at a suitably impressionable age...."

**
35. @annwells7025, 2019
"This  is a classic song. Reminds me of all the truckers out there. Keep on truckin'. Got to keep on truckin' down the highways. Be safe. My ex husband used to be a trucker. Brings back memories."
**
36. @gregoryhertzog8796, 2020
"Mr.eddie soft softly gospels funky jazz musicians Nubian wooly African voice styles late 1960-1970style Mr Eddie Kendrick keeping trucking 1974

Yammering, hammer hardware rocker and soulful and groove songs and cultural heritage foundation for the people's choice Mr Eddie Kendrick keeping trucking. 🌍🌎🌏🍎🍆🍊🍏🍐🍐🍑🍍🍌😆😅😄😂😂😁😀"

**
37. @laceyjackson3196, 2020
"2020, no matter what...I gotta keep on trucking’! The musical chords and instruments on this song is AMAZING! Eddie’s voice is the cherry on top! Love it! ❤️"

**
38. @beverlybaker9184, 2020
"My Dad would blast this on his 8 track😜😜"

**
39. @yoohoofoofoo, 2020
"I used to dance to this song on a San Francisco beach with my trusty walkman in the 1980's. Rhythm like the waves."

 **
40. @Deedee-ee1sg, 2020
"Remember dancing to this at the disco!"

**
41. @1lebero, 2020
"Foundational Black AMERICANS."

**
42. @davidmonroe6942, 2021
"We can get online and hear this anytime, but nothing beats hearing this one in public.  I was crossing the street with groceries when a man had TJ volume up high on his car stereo.  I turned around and said  with a smile, “I hear that!”  The man smiled and said, “ You know it!”  Nothing like that shared experience."

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 43. @mobileautodetailingkc7094, 2023
"I can dig it...."
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44. @flintdavis2, 2021
"My niece is battling cancer, I sent her this song for inspiration. 🙏🏾 Keep on Trucking Sara."
** Reply 45. @theronedawson3236, 2023
"I am praying that she is still trucking."

**
46. @jananney, 2021
"This song is the sound of the early 1970’s. It was everywhere. The short version, anyway. The birth of funk."

**
47. @Rumtoad1, 2022
"If you can't bust a move listening to this then I submit you HAVE NO SOUL.!"

...literally... :)

**
48. @jodiespringer6138, 2022
"I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT❤😘MR. EDDIE KENDRICKS! SOME OF THE GREATEST MEMORIES FOREVER!✊🏽❤😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘"

**
49. @christinetaylor4607, 2022
"For some reason I twin this  song with  Curtis  Mayfield.s  Move  On Up. !!!!!! Gem. HX."

**
50. @manoutside6, 2022
"This 1973 Motown classic is dedicated to all Canadian truckers making a difference against all Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic government mandates."

**
"🙏🏻 🇨🇦 🚚 🇺🇸 🚛 🇨🇦 🙏🏿 God Bless Truckers around the world!🌍 I'm old enough to remember this classic. 💃🏻🇺🇸" **
52. @joannmcdonald4425, 2022 "Keep on trucking freedom riders of Canada 🇨🇦"
** 53. @denisebrewster9100, 2022 "This joint is smoke and 🔥 fire. So funky cool."
** 54. @roberturibe3150, 2023 "Keep on trucking. Everything was keep on trucking back then

I had a t shirt with a iron on and a sew on patch with keep on trucking on it. Memories." ** 55. @joannkelly7994, 2023 "Way ahead off it’s time; but the message is timeless.  Keep on truckin, y’all."

** 56. @lansing66, 2023 "I remember sitting in front of my record player with this 45 on those were the days!"

** 57. @midnightexpres28, 2023 "When I'm having a hard day at work I play this and I get through every time"

** 58. @lewismingledorff6417, 2023 "This was one of fun anthems of the 70s."

** 59. @marcusevans378, 2023 "Those 45’s played about 5 minutes! You be tired and sweaty from dancing"
**** ** 62. @matthewolmsted1685, 2024 "One BADASS Joint ! Thanx forever Eddie Kendricks  ! Especially since he MENTIONS the should be famous RED BALL EXPRESS..BLACK US SOLDIERS in WW2 who drove Trucks through unimaginable danger to keep front lines supplied..Yeah..Give em some Love..learn about these contributions...Eddie knew👍🙂🎶🚚 🚛 🚚"
** 63. @spontaneouz1000-sr6ls, 2024 "One of these days, Imma drive through 125 (in Harlem) and roll the windows down, and blast this record"
** 64. @brendaromaine2064, 2024
"I love this song 👈 Keep on Truck'n 😎"**** This concludes Part IV of this four part pancocojams series. Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.


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4 comments:

  1. Azizi PowellOctober 5, 2024 at 9:09 AM

    Comment #50 in this pancocojams compilation is one of a few other comments in that YouTube discussion thread about Eddie Kendricks' song "Keep On Truckin' that refers to "convoys of Canadian freedom truckers". Here's some information about that referent:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_convoy_protest
    "A series of protests and blockades in Canada against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, called the Freedom Convoy (French: Convoi de la liberté) by organizers, began in early 2022. The initial convoy movement was created to protest vaccine mandates for crossing the United States border, but later evolved into a protest about COVID-19 mandates in general. Beginning January 22, hundreds of vehicles formed convoys from several points and traversed Canadian provinces before converging on Ottawa on January 29, 2022, with a rally at Parliament Hill. The convoys were joined by thousands of pedestrian protesters. Several offshoot protests.

    [...]

    On the political front, Trudeau and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh condemned the convoy, while many members of Parliament from the Conservative Party of Canada endorsed the convoy; Republican politicians from the United States, as well as other conservative politicians and media figures, also endorsed the convoy."...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Azizi PowellOctober 5, 2024 at 9:38 AM

    Comment #41 in this pancocojams discussion thread only has the words "Foundational Black AMERICANS". That comment was posted by @1lebero (four years ago), meaning in 2020.

    I've included that comment to document the earliest year that I've found so far for the use of the referent "Foundational Black Americans" in a YouTube discussion thread.

    I interpret that comment to mean that @1lebero is asserting that Eddie Kendricks and the other people who recorded the song "Keep On Truckin'" were "Foundational Black Americans".

    Here's an explanation of the referent "Foundational Black Americans":
    from https://newsone.com/4375128/foundational-black-americans-explained/ "Foundational Black Americans: Who Are They And What Do They Stand For?"

    Foundational Black Americans are descendants of Black slaves who built the United States from scratch.

    Written by Shannon Dawson, published on July 19, 2022

    Here is the beginning of that 2022 article:
    "Over the last year, you may have seen the phrase Foundational Black American (FBA) tossed around the internet thanks to the “World’s #1 Race Baiter,” Tariq Nasheed. In January, during a Twitter Spaces discussion, the controversial media personality sent the buzzword trending when he argued that Black Americans were the originators of the United States. Since then, the polarizing author and documentarian’s belief has attracted millions of supporters from the Black community, many of whom claim they too identify as a Foundational Black American."...
    -snip-
    For the record, I'm a Black American who doesn't classify myself as a Foundational Black American. Given the fact that my maternal grandparents were from the Caribbean and I can't trace where my paternal grandparents were from (since my father who was Black was "adopted by a Black couple who were from Michigan, but he was from New York state), I can't verify that I am descended from a person who was enslaved in the United States- although I think it's likely since slavery also existed at one point in New York.

    Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/06/article-excerpts-about-population.html for a 2024 pancocojams post entitled "Article Excerpts About The Population Referents "ADOS" (American Descendants Of Slaves) And "FBA" (Foundational Black Americans)".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Azizi PowellOctober 5, 2024 at 9:43 AM

      Here's the result that I got for a Google search on October 5, 2024 for "what was the earliest date that Foundational Black Americans was used"

      AI Overview
      "The term "foundational Black American" is a relatively recent concept, with its widespread use primarily emerging within the last few decades, particularly in academic and activist circles discussing the specific experiences of descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States; there isn't a readily available documented "first use" of the exact phrase, as it evolved within conversations about racial identity and the legacy of slavery."

      Delete
  3. Azizi PowellOctober 5, 2024 at 10:04 AM

    Returning to the core of this pancocojams post, here's what I wrote in Part I of this pancocojams series about the meaning of an early African American Vernacular English meaning of the word "truck":
    https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-multiple-meanings-of-vernacular.html "The Multiple Meanings Of The African American Vernacular English Saying "Keep On Truckin' " & Where Did That Saying Originally Come From?"

    I believe that "The Ward Line" work song that was collected in the 1930s includes a meaning of the word "truck" that directly influenced the later African American Vernacular English word "truckin'" and the later African American Vernacular English saying "Keep on Truckin'".

    "The Ward Line" is categorized as a sea shanty. However, instead of being sung by sailors, it was sung by the Black men who were laborers on land who loaded and emptied cargo in the holds of sailing vessels. The title "The Ward Line" refers to the route that that vessel followed or "The Ward Line" is the "brand name" for the ships that were owned and operated by the Ward family. [Correction welcomed]

    The word "truck" in "The Ward Line" song refers to the "wheelbarrow" that the laborers pushed to load cargo into the ship's hold or to empty cargo from the ship's hold. The Black men who did this back breaking labor were referred to as "truckers". Those men had to "keep on truckin' " all those long hours until they completed that difficult work.

    ReplyDelete

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