(I'm A) Road Runner

Album: Road Runner (1966)
Charted: 20
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Junior Walker is a man who cannot be tamed. He's always in motion and his life is on the road - fair warning to any woman who thinks she can get him to stay.

    Walker really was a road warrior, constantly touring and performing. When he and his band The Allstars signed with Motown Records, they had a hard time getting him into the studio because he was always out on the road.
  • Junior Walker & the All-Stars were signed to the Motown subsidiary Soul, and had Motown's cadre of writers, producers and musicians at their service. "(I'm a) Road Runner" was written by their ace team of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland, who were the main writers for The Supremes. Members of Motown's Funk Brothers house band, including bass player James Jamerson, played on the track.
  • Group leader Junior Walker played saxophone and sang, setting them apart from many other R&B groups on the scene. "(I'm a) Road Runner" was a solid hit early in their career; their run of hits started with "Shotgun" in 1965 and lasted into the early '70s when their popularity waned.
  • Bo Diddley also had a song called "Road Runner" with a similar theme. His hit #75 in 1960.
  • The Road Runner cartoons were very popular around this time. Part of the Looney Tunes universe, the clever bird would always outwit his rival, Wile E. Coyote. The Road Runner album showed a cartoon bird, but not the same one.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.