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"Poetry in Motion" | ||||
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Single by Johnny Tillotson | ||||
from the album Johnny Tillotson's Best | ||||
B-side | "Princess Princess" | |||
Released | 1960 | |||
Genre | Rock and roll | |||
Length | 2:14 | |||
Label | Cadence (US) London (UK)[1] | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mike Anthony, Paul Kaufman[1] | |||
Producer(s) | Archie Bleyer[1] | |||
Johnny Tillotson singles chronology | ||||
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"Poetry in Motion" is a UK No. 1 hit single in 1961, recorded amongst others by Johnny Tillotson.[1] Tillotson's version was the most successful.
The song was written by Paul Kaufman (1930–1999) and Mike Anthony (born 1930),[1] who said that the inspiration for it came from looking up from their work and seeing a procession of young ladies from a nearby school pass by on the sidewalk outside each afternoon.[2] Bill Porter supervised the recording session in Nashville, Tennessee, which featured saxophonist Boots Randolph, pianist Floyd Cramer and bassist Floyd "Lightning" Chance. An alternative version, with King Curtis on saxophone, was recorded some weeks earlier and published by Bear Family Records in 2011.
In the US Billboard Hot 100, "Poetry in Motion" peaked at No. 2 in November 1960, kept out of the No. 1 spot by "Georgia on My Mind" by Ray Charles.[3] In the UK Singles Chart it hit No. 1 in January 1961,[1] and also made the charts on reissue in 1979.[4]
Chart (1960-1963) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina[5] b/w "Cutie Pie" |
1 |
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 5 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 9 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] | 46 |
Canada (CHUM Chart)[9] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 14 |
Norway (VG-lista)[11] | 4 |
US Billboard Top 100 Singles | 2 |
US Billboard R&B Singles | 27 |
U.K. Singles Charts | 1 |
West Germany (GfK)[12] | 38 |