Long Train Running
Encyclopedia
"Long Train Runnin'" 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 U.S. Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number eight. This song became very famous for its intro with the guitar.
Nearly twenty 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 remix
ed and hit the top ten.
"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 signature harmonica solo as well as the lead vocal and the distinctive, rhythmic guitar strumming that propels the song. In an interview with Songfacts Johnston revealed that he "wrote the words sitting in the bathroom at Amigo Studios" in Burbank, California
.
, 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 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.
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
.
There's a Spanish cover of the song by 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.
Don Pablo's Animals made a couple Euro House style remixes of the song in 1990.
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 two decades.
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.
CD 1 single
CD promo single
Tom Johnston (US musician)
Tom Johnston is an American musician. He is a guitarist and vocalist, and co-founded The Doobie Brothers with drummer John Hartman, guitarist Patrick Simmons and bassist Dave Shogren....
and recorded by The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
. It was included on the band's 1973 album The Captain and Me
The Captain and Me
The Captain and Me is the third studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1973. It features some of their most popular hits including "Long Train Running", "China Grove" and "Without You". The album is certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.- Recording and content :This time...
and released as a single, becoming a top-ten hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number eight. This song became very famous for its intro with the guitar.
Nearly twenty years later "Long Train Runnin'" became a hit in the UK twice. In 1991 the song was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by English girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
and in 1993 the Doobie Brothers version was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed and hit the top ten.
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 signature harmonica solo as well as the lead vocal and the distinctive, rhythmic guitar strumming that propels the song. In an interview with Songfacts Johnston revealed that he "wrote the words sitting in the bathroom at Amigo Studios" in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
.
Other versions
Bananarama's version appeared on their fifth studio album Pop Life 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 YouthMartin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
, 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 Gypsy Kings provided flamenco guitar
Flamenco guitar
A flamenco guitar is a guitar similar to a classical guitar. Flamenco guitar also refers to toque, the guitar-playing part of the art of Flamenco.-Brief history:...
on Bananarama's version, using the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). UK singer Zoë
Zoe (singer)
Zoë is a British pop singer and songwriter, who had brief success in 1991 with two hit singles, "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", which climbed to #4 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Lightning", which reached #37...
provided backing vocals.
Traks covered the song in 1982.
Serbian rock
Serbian rock
Serbian rock is the rock music scene of Serbia. During the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s, while Serbia was a constituent republic of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbian rock scene was a part of the SFR Yugoslav rock scene....
musician Dejan Cukić
Dejan Cukic
Dejan Cukić is a Serbian rock musician, journalist and writer.During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Cukić was the frontman of the New Wave band Bulevar, releasing two albums with the band. After Bulevar disbanded in 1982, he retired from music...
recorded a version of the song on his 1995 album 4½... Ja Bih Da Pevam with lyrics in Serbian language
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
entitled "Dugo putovanje vozom".
Another Serbian rock
Serbian rock
Serbian rock is the rock music scene of Serbia. During the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s, while Serbia was a constituent republic of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbian rock scene was a part of the SFR Yugoslav rock scene....
act, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Cactus Jack
Cactus Jack (band)
-Band history:The band, originally named Caramba, was formed at the end of 1998 by Stevan Birak , Miodrag Krudulj , Vladimir Jezdimirović and Dušan Gnjidić ....
, recorded a version with original lyrics on their 2002 live cover album DisCover
DisCover (album)
Discover, written as DisCover on the cover, is the first album by Serbian hard rock band Cactus Jack.The album features nineteen cover songs and was recorded on Cactus Jack concert in Coupe club in Pančevo...
.
There's a Spanish cover of the song by 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.
Don Pablo's Animals made a couple Euro House style remixes of the song in 1990.
The song is performed by the Grambling State University
Grambling State University
Grambling State University is a historically black , public, coeducational university, located in Grambling, Louisiana. The university is the home of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson and is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.-Academics:Grambling State University provides over...
marching band on the video game NCAA March Madness 06
NCAA March Madness 06
NCAA March Madness 06 was the 2005 installment in the NCAA March Madness series. It was released on October 11, 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox. Former North Carolina and current Portland Trail Blazers player Raymond Felton is featured on the cover....
, and has been a performance staple of The Ohio University Marching 110
The Ohio University Marching 110
The Ohio University Marching Band, known as the Marching 110, is known for its high-intensity, hard-driving marching style.Originally referring to the 110 members of the band in 1968, the band has now extended its membership to 227 members during this 2011 season...
for over two decades.
Music video
Bananarama's music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
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)
The Doobie Brothers version
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
Bananarama version
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 30 |