music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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]

"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
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)

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

12" single

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

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