Long Train Runnin'

"Long Train Runnin'"
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
"Jesus Is Just Alright"
(1972)		 "Long Train Runnin'"
(1973)		 "China Grove"
(1973)

"Long Train Runnin'" (or "Long Train Running") is a song recorded by The Doobie Brothers and written by band member Tom Johnston. It was included on the band's 1973 album The Captain and Me and released as a single, becoming a top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 8.

It was covered by Italian band Traks in 1982 and was then by English girl group Bananarama in 1991. In 1993, the Doobie Brothers version was remixed and charted again in several countries.

The song is sometimes titled "Long Train Runnin' (Without Love)" due to the words "without love" being sung frequently during the song.

The harmonica bridge is played by lead vocalist Tom Johnston.

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 rhythmic guitar strumming that propels the song.

Charts

Original release

Chart (1973) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 58
Canada (CHUM)[2] 5
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[3] 20
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 8
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] 64
Italy (FIMI)[6] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 10
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[9] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 8

Remixes

Chart (1993–94) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Charts)[11] 67
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 32
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[13] 23
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 14
Poland (LP3)[15] 33
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 7

Other reissues

Chart (2011) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[17] 91
Chart (2013) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[17] 104

Cover versions

Traks version

"Long Train Runnin'"
Single by Traks
from the album Long Train Runnin'
B-side "Drums Power"
Released 1982
Format
Genre Funk rock
Length 3:30
Label
Producer(s) Traks
Traks singles chronology
"Long Train Running"
(1982)		 "Get Ready"
(1983)

In 1982, Italian band Traks covered the song. This version managed to chart in France and in Germany, where it peaked at no. 62 and no. 18, respectively.

Tracklisting

7" Single Polydor 2040 365
  1. "Long Train Runnin'" (Short Version) – 3:30
  2. "Drums Power" – 4:27

Charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
France (IFOP)[18] 62
Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 18

Bananarama version

"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 August 1989
Genre Dance-pop[20]
Length 3:31
Label London
Producer(s) Youth
Bananarama singles chronology
"Preacher Man"
(1990)		 "Long Train Running"
(1991)		 "Tripping on Your Love"
(1991)

Bananarama's version appeared on their fifth studio album Pop Life in 1991[20] 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.

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.

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Charts)[21] 179
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 47
France (SNEP)[23] 72
Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 45
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 18
Italy (FIMI)[25] 33
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 30

Remixes

UK CD single NANCD 24
  1. "Long Train Running" (Radio Version) – (3:31)
    Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  2. "Long Train Running" (Alma De Noche Mix) – (6:40)
    Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  3. "Long Train Running" (Flamenco CD Mix) – (4:57)
  4. "Outta Sight" – (4:30)
CD 1 single
  1. "Long Train Running" (Alma De Noche Mix) – (6:40)
    Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  2. "Long Train Running" (Radio Version) – (3:31)
  3. "Long Train Running" (Pacha Mix) – (4:40)
    Remixed by Youth
  4. "Outta Sight" - (4:30)
CD promo single
  1. "Long Train Running" (Alma De Noche Mix) – (6:40)
    Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  2. "Long Train Running" (The Romany Dance Mix) – (5:13)
    Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  3. "Outta Sight" – (4:30)

Other cover versions

The song was performed by a cover band in a casino in the 1974 film Harry and Tonto with a woman on lead vocals.

The song was covered by Richie Havens in 1976 on the album "The End Of The Beginning".

The Gipsy Kings provided flamenco guitar on Bananarama's version, using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). UK singer Zoë provided backing vocals.

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.

References

  1. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 92. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. ↑ CHART NUMBER 864 – Saturday, August 11, 1973 at the Wayback Machine (archived July 29, 2007). CHUM. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4849." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4840." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Indice per Interprete: D" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin' search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Captain and Me – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin' (Locomotive Remixes '93)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 3 juli 1993" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  14. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Long Train". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  15. ↑ "LONG TRAIN RUNNING – Doobie Brothers" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1993-12-04" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Lescharts.com – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  18. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Traks" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Traks – Long Train Runnin'". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  20. 1 2 Mason, Stewart. "Bananarama – Pop Life". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Re: ARIA Charts Peak". Imgur.com. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  22. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bananarama – Long Train Running" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  23. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Bananarama" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Bananarama – Long Train Running". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Indice per Interprete: B" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1991-04-27" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.

External links

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