Doin' That Crazy Thing

{{More citations needed|date=October 2012}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Doin' That Crazy Thing

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Jeff Lynne

| album =

| B-side = Goin' Down to Rio

| released = 1977

| recorded = 1977

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop rock, disco, funk rock

| length = 3:25

| label = United Artists

| writer = Jeff Lynne

| producer = Jeff Lynne

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Video!

| next_year = 1984

| misc =

}}

"Doin' That Crazy Thing" is a song written, recorded and produced by Jeff Lynne.{{cite web|url=http://www.jefflynnesongs.com/jlworks7.php |title=Jeff Lynne Song Database - 1970s Songs |publisher=Jefflynnesongs.com |date= |accessdate=11 October 2012}}

The song and its associated dance started in the mind of Lynne{{cite web|url=http://www.jefflynnesongs.com/popup.php?data=DoinThatCrazyThing197724_popupplus |title=Jeff Lynne Song Database - Song Details |publisher=Jefflynnesongs.com |date= |accessdate=11 October 2012}} when he took a short break from being Electric Light Orchestra's frontman. He released the single "Doin' That Crazy Thing", backed with "Goin' Down to Rio", in the summer of 1977.

It was released with two covers: one with a photo of Lynne's face with various seemingly unrelated pictures on the side in black and white (including a man riding an emu and another riding a bicycle backwards),{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Lynne-Doin-That-Crazy-Thing/release/1500994|title=Jeff Lynne - Doin' That Crazy Thing (Vinyl) At Discogs|website=Discogs.com|date=5 August 1977 |access-date=23 September 2018}} and one colored with an instruction how to do the "Crazy Thing".{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Lynne-Doin-That-Crazy-Thing/release/2026624|title=Jeff Lynne - Doin' That Crazy Thing (Vinyl) at Discogs|website=Discogs.com|year=1977 |access-date=23 September 2018}} A one-sided 7" single of the song was included in ELO's 1980 box set A Box of Their Best as a promo,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Electric-Light-Orchestra-A-Box-Of-Their-Best/release/2232948|title=Electric Light Orchestra - A Box of Their Best (Vinyl) at Discogs|website=Discogs.com|year=1980 |access-date=23 September 2018}} despite not being related to the band other than through Jeff Lynne.

It was the first time Lynne's name appeared as principal, and not the name of a band. Although ELO was enjoying major success in the singles and albums charts at the time, it received very little airplay, no TV exposure, and did not chart.

Cash Box said that "using catch phrases from disco and other jive for lyrics, Lynne has tamed a riot of different sounds into a cohesive record that defies categorization."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=October 1, 1977|page=18|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2021-12-26|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-10-01.pdf}}