Five Gerry Goffin songs we know and love
Gerry Goffin, the lyricist who co-wrote hits such as The Loco-Motion, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Up on the Roof, has died aged 75. Here is a selection of his best-known songs.
Goffin, who died of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home, penned more than 50 top-40 singles with his former wife Carole King.
“Gerry Goffin was my first love,” Ms King, 72, said in a tribute posted on her Facebook page. “He had a profound impact on my life and the rest of the world… His words expressed what so many people were feeling but didn’t know how to say.”
The Loco-Motion
One of their most popular songs, the No. 1 hit The Loco-Motion, ignited a dance craze and was originally performed by the singer Little Eva, who was working for the couple as a babysitter when they asked her to record it in 1962.
The bluesy love song Chains was first recorded by the Cookies but later covered by the Beatles. Queen of soul Aretha Franklin hit the charts with Natural Woman, but Ms King herself later recorded the ballad as a track on her breakthrough 1971 solo album Tapestry.
Other notable hits co-written by Goffin and King included Up on the Roof by the Drifters, One Fine Day by the Chiffons, I’m Into Something Good by Herman’s Hermits, Will You Love Me Tomorrow by the Shirelles, Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee, Don’t Bring Me Down by the Animals, Take a Giant Step by the Monkees and Goin’ Back by the Birds.
Here are the top five Gerry Goffin songs chosen by you on Twitter and Facebook.