Long Train Runnin'
"Long Train Runnin'" | ||||
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![]() Side A of US single | ||||
Single by The Doobie Brothers | ||||
from the album The Captain and Me | ||||
B-side | "Without You" | |||
Released | 1973 | |||
Studio | Warner Bros. Studios, North Hollywood, California[1] | |||
Genre | Country rock[2] | |||
Length | 3:25 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom Johnston | |||
Producer(s) | Ted Templeman | |||
The Doobie Brothers singles chronology | ||||
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Official audio | ||||
"Long Train Runnin'" on YouTube |
"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 was released as a single, becoming a hit and peaking at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3]
It was covered by Italian band Traks in 1982 and then by British girl group Bananarama in 1991. In 1993 the Doobie Brothers version was remixed and charted again in several countries, including reaching No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart.
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.
Billboard described it as "good-timey, good-harmony AM cooker."[4]
Personnel[]
Source:[1]
- Tom Johnston – lead guitar, harmonica, ARP synthesizer, vocals
- Patrick Simmons – guitar, ARP synthesizer, vocals
- Tiran Porter – bass, vocals
- John Hartman – drums, percussion, vocals
- Michael Hossack – drums, congas, timbales
Charts[]
Original release[]Weekly charts[]
Year-end charts[]
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Remixes[]Weekly charts[]
Year-end charts[]
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Other reissues[]
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Certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Silver | 200,000![]() |
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Traks version[]
"Long Train Runnin'" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Traks | ||||
from the album Long Train Runnin' | ||||
B-side | "Drums Power" | |||
Released | 1982 | |||
Length | 3:30 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Tom Johnston | |||
Producer(s) | Traks | |||
Traks singles chronology | ||||
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In 1982, Italian band Traks covered the song. This version charted in France and in Germany, where it peaked at No. 62 and No. 18, respectively.
Track listing[]
7" single Polydor 2040 365
- "Long Train Runnin'" (short version) – 3:30
- "Drums Power" – 4:27
Charts[]
Chart (1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
France (IFOP)[24] | 62 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] | 18 |
Bananarama version[]
"Long Train Running" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Bananarama | ||||
from the album Pop Life | ||||
B-side | "Outta Sight" | |||
Released | 1991 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop[26] | |||
Length | 3:31 | |||
Label | London | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom Johnston | |||
Producer(s) | Youth | |||
Bananarama singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Long Train Running" on YouTube |
Bananarama's version appeared on their fifth studio album Pop Life in 1991[26] 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 tune recorded to complete Pop Life and decided to go with a cover. The song reached No. 10 in Portugal, No. 18 in Ireland and No. 30 in the UK.
Critical reception[]
Larry Flick from Billboard noted that here, "Bananarama offers a pop/house version of the Doobie Brothers' classic rocker "Long Train Running"." He added, "Produced by Youth, this first single from the forthcoming "Pop Life" album features guitar work from the Gipsy Kings, which provides a tough, rustic edge to an otherwise light and campy track. A fun one that could cross into radio territory."[27] Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly commented that "those techno-flamenco gods" help engineer the song "into a scary locomotive blues."[28]
Weekly charts[]
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[29] | 179 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] | 47 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[31] | 45 |
Ireland (IRMA)[18] | 18 |
Portugal (AFP)[32] | 10 |
UK Singles (OCC)[33] | 30 |
UK Dance Singles (Music Week)[34] | 57 |
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 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
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b The Captain and Me (liner notes). The Doobie Brothers. Warner Bros. 1994. Retrieved August 16, 2016.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Stuyt, Chelsey (November 17, 2014). "The Doobie Brothers' 'Southbound' a Jukebox of Greatest Hits". Vancouver Weekly. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Captain and Me – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ "Radio Action & Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. April 14, 1973. p. 54. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 92. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4849." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4840." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 1973" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand – search listener". Flavour of New Zealand. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of '73". RPM. Vol. 20 no. 20. Library and Archives Canada. December 29, 1973. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ "Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. December 29, 1973. p. TA-28. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 17 Apr 1994". Retrieved March 3, 2016 – via Imgur.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin' (Locomotive Remixes '93)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Long Train". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 27, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Lescharts.com – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "British single certifications – Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 11, 2019.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Long Train Runnin in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Traks" from the artist drop-down menu. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Traks – Long Train Runnin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Mason, Stewart. "Bananarama – Pop Life". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ Flick, Larry (June 22, 1991). "Hi-NRG Awards Set; Waters Flowing; Princely Track" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103 no. 25. p. 31. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Eddy, Chuck (July 12, 1991). "Pop Life". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Re: ARIA Charts Peak". June 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Bananarama – Long Train Running" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – Long Train Running" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 28. July 13, 1991. p. 26. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 27, 1991. p. 24. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
External links[]
- 1973 songs
- 1973 singles
- 1982 singles
- 1991 singles
- Bananarama songs
- The Doobie Brothers songs
- London Records singles
- Polydor Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Ted Templeman
- Songs about trains
- Songs written by Tom Johnston (musician)
- Warner Records singles
- Music Week number-one dance singles