315:
The song is about the joys of driving a lorry through a rainy night, until dawn. Although the chorus is based upon a gay liberation chant, this is not clear to the casual listener, so the song is in contrast to their far more blatantly political later songs, covering subjects such as
289:
Robinson wrote the song between leaving Café Society in 1976 and forming the Tom
Robinson Band the following year, at a time when he was performing with whichever friends were available on the night; thus, the song had to be simple enough to learn in a few minutes.
301:"' which he could not really remember. This led to the simple three-chord repeat of "2-4-6-8". The verse came from Robinson's memories of driving back to London through the night after gigs with Café Society: "By the time our van hit the last stretch of
378:
It was released in Europe, reaching No. 1 in Sweden on 27 January 1978, and staying at the top for 4 weeks, while in the US (Harvest 4533) has "2-4-6-8" on both sides. It was re-released on Old Gold in 1983 and on EMI in 1987, including a 12" version.
389:"2-4-6-8 Motorway" was not issued on a UK album at the time, and Robinson still rues what he calls the "fatal mistake" of omitting the band's most famous songs "2-4-6-8 Motorway" and "Glad to Be Gay" from their debut album
29:
312:
EMI initially turned the song down. However, after touring the band became much tighter, and guitarist Danny Kustow expanded his riffs, which persuaded EMI to release the record.
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909:
834:
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into London the motorway sun really was coming up with the morning light." The numerical chants in the chorus were taken from a
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340:
on 22 October 1977, and stayed on the chart for 9 weeks. This is
Robinson's highest charting single; his later (solo) single "
428:
372:
595:
336:"2-4-6-8 Motorway" was originally released on 7 October 1977 and immediately attracted attention. It rose to No. 5 in the
713:
818:
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360:
described the song as "somewhere between a terrace chant (or a demo marching song) and a Brucie
Springsteen number".
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371:" which Robinson performed many times, including as part of the supergroup "The Secret Police" at
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chant: "2, 4, 6, 8, Gay is twice as good as straight... 3, 5, 7, 9, Lesbians are mighty fine".
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759:
391:
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8:
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368:
842:
918:
814:
789:
454:
395:, although both songs appeared on a 12" bonus record included with the US release of
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788:(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 254.
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The song has subsequently appeared on numerous compilation albums, including
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536:
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866:"Folkie Peter Stampfel Surveys the 20th Century in His Unique Style"
641:
982:
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Robinson came up with the tune 'trying to work out the chords to
802:
813:(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited.
682:
Sleeve notes to Tom
Robinson Band The Anthology 1977–1979
283:
143:
483:
The song has been covered by several bands, including:-
432:(2003), and is still a part of Robinson's live set.
598:. Queer Music Heritage. August 2004. Archived from
282:, who had formed in January 1977 and was signed to
1022:
278:. The song was the first single released by the
760:"Tom Robinson Concert Setlists and Tour Dates"
903:
577:. PRS for Music Online Magazine. 29 July 2011
910:
896:
512:Peter Stampfel’s 20th Century in 100 Songs
344:" reached No. 6. The band performed it on
27:
424:Tom Robinson Band The Anthology 1977–1979
350:on 27 October, and again on 10 November.
247:. It was released as a single in 1977 by
863:
857:
356:described it as an "instant hit" whilst
331:
808:
1023:
739:"Gig review of the Tabernacle Concert"
569:
567:
565:
1061:Song recordings produced by Vic Maile
917:
891:
274:The music and lyrics were written by
780:
382:The song also reached No. 13 on the
864:Horowitz, Steve (19 January 2021).
774:
562:
269:
13:
429:No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion
412:Last Tango, Midnight at the Fringe
14:
1072:
741:. Dave's Gig Reviews. 2 July 2013
716:. tomrobinson.com. Archived from
811:British Hit Singles & Albums
663:"Artist profile of Tom Robinson"
16:1977 single by Tom Robinson Band
827:
786:Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
752:
714:"Tom Robinson Albums 1975–2002"
762:. setlist.fm. 30 November 2019
731:
706:
693:"Vinyl 45 listing of releases"
685:
676:
655:
634:
621:"Tom Robinson's chart history"
613:
588:
1:
1046:Songs written by Tom Robinson
555:
518:
471:
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7:
373:The Secret Policeman's Ball
262:, and reached No. 5 in the
10:
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642:"45 Cat entry for 2-4-6-8"
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623:. Official Charts Company
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363:The B-side is a cover of
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74:October 7, 1977
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58:
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35:
26:
21:
384:Australian Singles Chart
1041:Tom Robinson Band songs
809:Roberts, David (2006).
467:Official Charts Company
835:"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
426:. It also appeared on
89:Berwick Street Studio
975:Power in the Darkness
397:Power in the Darkness
392:Power in the Darkness
332:Release and reception
328:("Long Hot Summer").
299:Couldn't Get It Right
101:Berwick street studio
66:"I Shall Be Released"
596:"August 2004 Script"
492:I Love Rock 'n' Roll
1056:LGBTQ-related songs
1051:EMI Records singles
845:on 31 December 2018
369:I Shall Be Released
1036:1977 debut singles
872:. PopMatters Media
665:. Robert Christgau
575:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
223:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
181:singles chronology
54:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
22:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
1018:
1017:
919:Tom Robinson Band
839:Showaddywaddy.net
476:
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455:Kent Music Report
295:Climax Blues Band
280:Tom Robinson Band
260:Tom Robinson Band
237:
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179:Tom Robinson Band
91:14 September 1977
41:Tom Robinson Band
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1002:2-4-6-8 Motorway
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841:. Archived from
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465:United Kingdom (
440:
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354:Robert Christgau
338:UK Singles Chart
286:in August 1977.
270:Song information
264:UK Singles Chart
241:2-4-6-8 Motorway
224:
194:2-4-6-8 Motorway
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695:. Vinyl45LP.com
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386:in early 1978.
347:Top of the Pops
334:
272:
243:" is a song by
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90:
77:
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17:
12:
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1009:Glad to Be Gay
1005:
997:
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987:
979:
970:
968:
964:
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958:Charlie Morgan
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950:Preston Heyman
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945:Dolphin Taylor
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543:Dolphin Taylor
540:
539:– organ, piano
534:
528:
527:– vocals, bass
520:
517:
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508:Peter Stampfel
505:
495:
480:
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450:
449:
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420:Home from Home
408:The Collection
358:David Quantick
333:
330:
326:civil disorder
322:Glad to Be Gay
307:Gay Liberation
271:
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235:
234:
231:
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218:
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216:Official audio
213:
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209:
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201:"Rising Free"
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967:Studio albums
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820:1-904994-10-5
816:
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805:
797:
795:0-646-11917-6
791:
787:
783:
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761:
755:
740:
734:
720:on 2014-06-05
719:
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616:
602:on 2007-07-05
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488:Showaddywaddy
486:
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443:Chart (1978)
442:
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416:Winter of '89
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152:Songwriter(s)
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940:Tom Robinson
935:Danny Kustow
874:. Retrieved
869:
859:
847:. Retrieved
843:the original
838:
829:
810:
804:
785:
776:
764:. Retrieved
754:
743:. Retrieved
733:
722:. Retrieved
718:the original
708:
697:. Retrieved
687:
678:
667:. Retrieved
657:
646:. Retrieved
636:
625:. Retrieved
615:
604:. Retrieved
600:the original
590:
579:. Retrieved
531:Danny Kustow
525:Tom Robinson
511:
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427:
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276:Tom Robinson
273:
245:Tom Robinson
240:
238:
193:
158:Tom Robinson
954:Nick Plytas
930:Mark Ambler
849:30 December
782:Kent, David
537:Mark Ambler
453:Australia (
422:(1999) and
404:Rising Free
166:Producer(s)
1031:1977 songs
1025:Categories
870:PopMatters
745:2014-08-05
724:2014-08-05
699:2014-08-05
669:2014-08-05
648:2014-08-05
627:2014-08-05
606:2014-08-05
581:2014-08-05
556:References
551:– producer
318:homophobia
258:group the
78:1977-10-07
549:Vic Maile
519:Personnel
448:position
375:in 1979.
365:Bob Dylan
252:punk rock
172:Vic Maile
112:Punk rock
784:(1993).
766:3 August
533:– guitar
418:(1992),
414:(1988),
410:(1987),
406:(1980),
342:War Baby
256:new wave
116:new wave
86:Recorded
71:Released
983:TRB Two
644:. 45cat
545:– drums
324:") and
249:British
228:YouTube
203:(1978)
198:(1977)
76: (
986:(1979)
978:(1978)
817:
792:
514:(2021)
504:(2003)
498:Trucks
494:(2006)
479:Covers
436:Charts
122:Length
97:Studio
61:B-side
49:A-side
37:Single
994:Songs
876:5 May
502:Juice
139:Label
107:Genre
878:2021
851:2018
815:ISBN
790:ISBN
768:2020
446:Peak
367:'s "
297:'s "
460:13
284:EMI
226:on
144:EMI
39:by
1027::
868:.
837:.
564:^
510::
500::
490::
472:5
469:)
457:)
399:.
320:("
303:M1
266:.
196:"
131:20
114:,
1011:"
1007:"
1004:"
1000:"
911:e
904:t
897:v
880:.
853:.
823:.
798:.
770:.
748:.
727:.
702:.
672:.
651:.
630:.
609:.
584:.
254:/
239:"
192:"
129::
127:3
80:)
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