The B-side is a cover of Bob Dylan's " I Shall Be Released" which Robinson performed many times, including as part of the supergroup "The Secret Police" at The Secret Policeman's Ball in 1979.

Tom Robinson Concert Setlists and Tour Dates". setlist.fm. 30 November 2019 . Retrieved 3 August 2020.

Shirley J. Thompson OBE: Music for His Majesty

Signature hit ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ was their first single, released in late 1977, which climbed into the top five of the UK singles charts and stayed there for over a month. It was followed almost immediately by their next record, a four-song EP called ‘Rising Free’, which was recorded live at London’s Lyceum Theatre in November 1977. It contained the songs ‘Don’t Take No for an Answer’, ‘Martin’, ‘(Sing if You’re) Glad to Be Gay’ and ‘Right on Sister’. The EP reached No. 18 in the UK singles charts. 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. [1] More recently, Kustow guested on ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ at the 100 Club in October 2017 on Tom Robinson’s Power in the Darkness Tour where the album was played in full. This was subsequently released on CD and LP. 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. [1]

Danny was mentored by the blues legend and broadcaster Alexis Korner and joined the early Tom Robinson Band in December 1976. Danny’s unique, fiery guitar playing was at the very heart of the TRB sound, and during the 70s and he played on every record of mine that ever troubled the Top 40.” August 2004 Script". Queer Music Heritage. August 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-07-05 . Retrieved 2014-08-05.

Continuing our look at the stories behind the songs, we turn our attention to a perennial driving favourite. Tom Robinson talked to M about the secrets of 2-4-6-8 Motorway - the debut single by Tom Robinson Band (TRB) in 1977. Born in 1955, Danny Kustow was the son of a physician and he grew up in Willesden, North London. He met Tom Robinson at the therapeutic community established by George Lyward called Finchden Manor, where he began playing the guitar. Tom Robinson Albums 1975–2002". tomrobinson.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-05 . Retrieved 2014-08-05.

The music and lyrics were written by Tom Robinson. The song was the first single released by the Tom Robinson Band, who had formed in January 1977 and was signed to EMI in August 1977. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. Motorway" was originally released on 7 October 1977 and immediately attracted attention. It rose to No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart on 22 October 1977, and stayed on the chart for 9 weeks. [3] This is Robinson's highest charting single; his later (solo) single " War Baby" reached No. 6. The band performed it on Top of the Pops on 27 October, and again on 10 November. [4] 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. [7] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrateded.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p.254. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.Kustow joined Robinson, along with keyboard player Mark Ambler and drummer Brian ‘Dolphin’ Taylor’ in the TRB’s classic line-up at the end of 1976. The song has subsequently appeared on numerous compilation albums, including Rising Free (1980), The Collection (1987), Last Tango, Midnight at the Fringe (1988), Winter of '89 (1992), Home from Home (1999) [8] and Tom Robinson Band The Anthology 1977–1979. It also appeared on No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion (2003), and is still a part of Robinson's live set. [9] [10] Charts [ edit ] Chart (1978) 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 Power in the Darkness, although both songs appeared on a 12" bonus record included with the US release of Power in the Darkness.