Long Train Runnin'
| "Long Train Runnin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Doobie Brothers | ||||
| from the album The Captain and Me | ||||
| B-side | "Without You" | |||
| Released | March 28, 1973 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Genre | Funk rock | |||
| Length | 3:25 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Writer(s) | Tom Johnston | |||
| Producer(s) | Ted Templeman | |||
| The Doobie Brothers singles chronology | ||||
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"Long Train Runnin'" (or "Long Train Running") is a song written by musician Tom Johnston and recorded by The Doobie Brothers. It was included on the band's 1973 album The Captain and Me and released as a single, becoming a top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 8. This song became very famous for its intro with the guitar.
Nearly 20 years later, "Long Train Runnin'" became a hit in the UK twice. In 1991, the song was covered by English girl group Bananarama, and in 1993, the Doobie Brothers version was remixed and hit the top 10.
The song is sometimes titled "Long Train Runnin' (Without Love)" due to the words "without love" being sung twice in the chorus.
Song's origin
The tune evolved from an untitled and mostly ad-libbed jam that the Doobies developed onstage years before it was finally recorded. Its working title, according to Johnston, was "Rosie Pig Moseley" and later "Osborn". "I didn't want to cut it," Johnston later confessed. "...I just considered it a bar song without a lot of merit. Teddy [Templeman], on the other hand, thought it had some." Templeman convinced Johnston to write words to the song.
Johnston performed the lead vocal and the distinctive, rhythmic guitar strumming that propels the song.
The signature harmonica solo was performed by Norton Buffalo.
Other versions
| "Long Train Running" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Bananarama | ||||
| from the album Pop Life | ||||
| B-side | "Outta Sight" | |||
| Released | April 1991 | |||
| Format | 7" single, 10" Picture Disc, 12" single, CD single | |||
| Recorded | October 1990 | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop[1] | |||
| Length | 3:31 | |||
| Label | London Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Tom Johnston | |||
| Producer(s) | Youth | |||
| Bananarama singles chronology | ||||
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Bananarama's version appeared on their fifth studio album Pop Life in 1991[1] and was released as the album's third single in the UK. The group discovered the song when they were browsing through the record collection of Youth, producer of the Pop Life album. They needed one more song recorded to complete Pop Life and decided to go with a cover version.
The song was covered by Richie Havens in 1976 on the album "The End Of The Beginning".
The Gypsy Kings provided flamenco guitar on Bananarama's version, using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). UK singer Zoë provided backing vocals.
Traks covered the song in 1982.[2]
Don Pablo's Animals made a couple euro house style remixes of the song in 1990.
There are two Spanish covers of the song: one by the hard rock band Niagara, still with lyrics in English and included in their second album Backstage Girls, published in 1990; the other version is from the band La Unión, translated as "Tren de largo recorrido (Sin amor)", included in the band's álbum Tren de largo recorrido, published in 1992.
Serbian rock musician Dejan Cukić recorded a version of the song on his 1995 album 4½... Ja Bih Da Pevam with lyrics in Serbian language entitled "Dugo putovanje vozom".
Another Serbian rock act, hard rock band Cactus Jack, recorded a version with original lyrics on their 2002 live cover album DisCover.
The song is performed by the Grambling State University marching band on the video game NCAA March Madness 06, and has been a performance staple of The Ohio University Marching 110 for over four decades.
The University of West Georgia Marching Band "The Sound that Lights the South" has also made this song a staple performance, and plays it with a dance routine after each half time show.
A cover version was made by Bus Stop and X-Treme for Dancemania compilation album. The first cover then got featured on arcade dancing simulation game DDRMAX2, while the later got featured on DDR SuperNOVA.
Music video
Bananarama's music video features them dressed in black Spanish dresses eating at a decadent feast and performing the song on a large bed in a Spanish castle. Bananarama's then-manager Hilary Shaw appears on the feast scene.
Remixes
- UK CD single NANCD 24
- "Long Train Running" (Radio Version) - (3:31)
- Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
- "Long Train Running" (Alma De Noche Mix) - (6:40)
- Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
- "Long Train Running" (Flamenco CD Mix) - (4:57)
- "Outta Sight" - (4:30)
- CD 1 single
- "Long Train Running" (Alma De Noche Mix) - (6:40)
- Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
- "Long Train Running" (Radio Version) - (3:31)
- "Long Train Running" (Pacha Mix) - (4:40)
- Remixed by Youth
- "Outta Sight" - (4:30)
- CD promo single
- "Long Train Running" (Alma De Noche Mix) - (6:40)
- Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
- "Long Train Running" (The Romany Dance Mix) - (5:13)
- Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
- "Outta Sight" - (4:30)
Charts
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stewart Mason. "Pop Life review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 29, 2013. "More to the point, whoever suggested that the Doobie Brothers' stoner rock anthem "Long Train Running" was a suitable vehicle for an electronic dance-pop remake should be punished."
- ↑
- ↑ bulion. "Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts - CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". ARIA. Australian-charts.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 19, No. 20, June 30, 1973". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 19, No. 22, July 14, 1973". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Indice per Interprete: D". HitParadeItalia (in Italian). Creative Commons. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ "The Captain and Me awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Long Train Runnin' - DOOBIE BROTHERS". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". IRMA. Retrieved July 29, 2013. Only results when searching "Long train"
- ↑ "LONG TRAIN RUNNING - Doobie Brothers". Nowe Media, Polskie Radio S.A. LP3.polskieradio.pl. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc (in French). InfoDisc.fr. July 29, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Traks"
- ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc (in French). InfoDisc.fr. July 29, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Bananarama"
- ↑ "Indice per Interprete: B". HitParadeItalia (in Italian). Creative Commons. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
External links
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