Keep on Running (Spencer Davis Group)

20 JANUARY 1966


The Spencer Davis Group reached #1 in the UK charts with the classic mod-rocker ‘Keep on Running’. This was their fifth single and first big hit.

Written by Jamaican songwriter Jackie Edwards, this was originally intended to be a ska track but was transformed during the creative process into a hard R&B song with fuzz guitar.

The Spencer Davis Group had a string of decent hit singles before Steve Winwood left the band in 1967 to expand his musical horizons with the psychedelic band Traffic. Check out the voice on Winwood in this video, he was only 17 years old at the time but already sounded like Ray Charles.

B-side: 'High Time Baby'
Released: November 1965
Highest chart position: #1 (UK), #76 (US)
Label: Fontana TF632 (UK); Atco 45-6400 (US)
Writer: Jackie Edwards
Producer: Chris Blackwell

Keep on Running (Spencer Davis Group)