Last Train to London

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There was a certain period when it seemed we spent years on trains going back and forth from Birmingham to the various TV and radio stations in London.

— Discovery remaster (2001), Jeff Lynne

Critical reception

Billboard described the song as having a "catchy pop melody with Beatlesque vocal qualities and a smooth layered sound." [3] Cash Box said that the song has "a frothy pop melody" and "a bouncy R&B-tinged rhythm line," making it sound somewhat like Heatwave's 1977 single "Boogie Nights." [4] Record World said that "The electronic dance beat and lilting vocals are as timely as they are engaging." [5]

Something Else! critic S. Victor Aaron found it to be "more formulaic" than "Shine a Little Love", the other "disco thumper hit from Discovery." [6]

Personnel

According to JeffLynneSongs.com [7]

Additional personnel

"Last Train to London"
Last train to london.jpg
UK single
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Discovery
A-side "Confusion" (UK)
B-side "Down Home Town" (US)
Released9 November 1979 (UK)
January 1980 (US)
Recorded1979
Studio Musicland Studios, Munich, West Germany
Genre
Length4:31
Label Jet
Songwriter(s) Jeff Lynne
Producer(s) Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"Confusion"
(1979)		"Last Train to London"
(1979)		"I'm Alive"
(1980)
Discovery track listing
9 tracks
Side one
  1. "Shine a Little Love"
  2. "Confusion"
  3. "Need Her Love"
  4. "The Diary of Horace Wimp"
Side two
  1. "Last Train to London"
  2. "Midnight Blue"
  3. "On the Run"
  4. "Wishing"
  5. "Don't Bring Me Down"

Atomic Kitten sample

In 2002 British girl group Atomic Kitten sampled the hook of the song in their single "Be with You". The song was released as a double A-side with the song "The Last Goodbye". The single peaked at No. 2 in the UK. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Electric Light Orchestra – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1 December 1979. p. 52. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 1 December 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 1 December 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Aaron, S. Victor (14 February 2011). "Guilty pleasures: Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra". Something Else!. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Jeff Lynne Song Database – Song Details". jefflynnesongs.com. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 6 March 2013.Enter Electric Light Orchestra in the Search by Artist field, then click Search.
  9. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles – March 8, 1980" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "British single certifications – ELO – Confusion/Last Train To London". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  11. ↑ Van der Kiste, John (2017). Electric Light Orchestra: Song by Song.


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