"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 | ||||
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 American rock band the Doobie Brothers and written by band member Tom Johnston. It was included on the band's third album, The Captain and Me (1973), and was released as a single by Warner Bros., becoming a hit and peaking at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. [6]
It was covered by the Italian band Traks in 1982, and then by the British girl group Bananarama in 1991. In 1993, the Doobie Brothers' version was remixed and charted again in several countries, including reaching No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
The tune evolved from an untitled and mostly ad-libbed jam that the Doobies developed onstage years before it was finally recorded. [7] 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 and also performs the harmonica solo.
Billboard described it as "good-timey, good-harmony AM cooker." [8] Cash Box praised the Doobies' "fine harmony and musical prowess." [9] Record World said that the "pulsating rocker should take the honors in 1973." [10]
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated "Long Train Runnin'" the Doobie Brothers' second-greatest song, especially praising the guitar riff. [7] The staff of Billboard rated it as the Doobie Brothers' sixth-best song, noting how Johnston's and Patrick Simmons' "punchy guitars" contrast with "the jammy polyrhythms" in the bass and drums. [11]
Source: [1]
Original releaseWeekly charts
Year-end charts
| RemixesWeekly charts
Year-end charts
| Other reissues
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Spain (PROMUSICAE) [37] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [38] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"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 7:02 (Album version) | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Tom Johnston | |||
Producer(s) | Traks | |||
Traks singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Long Train Running" on YouTube |
In 1982, Italian band Traks covered the song. This version charted in France and in West Germany, where it peaked at No. 62 and No. 18, respectively.
Chart (1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
France (IFOP) [39] | 62 |
West Germany (Official German Charts) [40] | 18 |
"Long Train Running" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Bananarama | ||||
from the album Pop Life | ||||
B-side | "Outta Sight" | |||
Released | April 8, 1991 [41] | |||
Genre | Dance-pop [42] | |||
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 |
English pop trio Bananarama's version of "Long Train Runnin'" appeared on their fifth studio album, Pop Life (1991), [42] 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 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.
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Bananarama offers a pop/house version of the Doobie Brothers' classic rocker "Long Train Running". 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." [43] Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly said that "those techno-flamenco gods" help engineer the song "into a scary locomotive blues." [44] Everett True from Melody Maker commented, "They have a new single out. They've thought up a new, crap, out-of-time dance routine and they're gonna have another hit. All in all, Bananarama give this rather chaotic world a reassuring sense of order, don't they?" [45]
The Bananarama music video for "Long Train Running", directed by Nick Egan, features the group members dressed in Spanish gowns while attending a soirée with various guests at a castle. [46] Scenes at a decorated dining table alternate with shots from bedrooms.
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [47] | 179 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [48] | 47 |
Germany (Official German Charts) [49] | 45 |
Ireland (IRMA) [29] | 18 |
Portugal (AFP) [50] | 10 |
UK Singles (OCC) [51] | 30 |
UK Dance ( Music Week ) [52] | 57 |
Charles Thomas Johnston is an American musician. He is a guitarist and vocalist, known principally as a founder, guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter for the rock group the Doobie Brothers, as well as for his own solo career. He has played off and on with the Doobie Brothers for 50 years, in several styles.
The Captain and Me is the third studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on March 2, 1973, by Warner Bros. Records. It features some of their most popular hits including "Long Train Runnin'", "China Grove" and "Without You". The album is certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.
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Stampede is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers. The album was released on April 25, 1975, by Warner Bros. Records. It was the final album by the band before Michael McDonald replaced Tom Johnston as lead vocalist and primary songwriter. The album has been certified gold by the RIAA.
"Venus" is a song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, released as a single in the Netherlands in the summer of 1969. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen, the song topped the charts in nine countries.
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"A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think)" is a song by American musical group P.M. Dawn, released in May 1991 as a single from their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience (1991). The song peaked at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart and number 44 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1991. Writing credit is given to Attrell Cordes (Prince Be of P.M. Dawn) and Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers as the song contains a sample of the Doobie Brothers' "Feelin' Down Farther".
"Nathan Jones" is a song by American girl group the Supremes from their twenty-third studio album, Touch (1971). It was released on April 15, 1971, as the album's lead single. Produced by Frank Wilson and written by Kathy Wakefield and Leonard Caston, "Nathan Jones" was one of eight top-40 entries the Supremes recorded after its original frontwoman, Diana Ross, left the group for a solo career.
Pop Life is the fifth studio album by English group Bananarama, released on 13 May 1991 by London Records. It is the only Bananarama studio album which features singer Jacquie O'Sullivan, who replaced Siobhan Fahey following her departure in 1988. This album marks the end of the group's association with the Stock Aitken Waterman production team as most of Pop Life was produced by Youth. English singer Zoë provided backing vocals on "Long Train Running". This would be the last album by Bananarama as a trio.
English group Bananarama have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, 16 compilation albums, two extended plays, 51 singles and four video albums.
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"Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" is a song written by the premier Motown songwriting/production team of the 1960s Holland–Dozier–Holland. The first hit recording was sung by Kim Weston in 1965. It was most popular in 1975 when it was recorded by the Doobie Brothers.
"Listen to the Music" is a song by American rock band the Doobie Brothers, released on their second album, Toulouse Street (1972). The song was their first major hit. It was written by Tom Johnston. In 1994, it received a remix by Steve Rodway a.k.a. Motiv8 in 1994, which eventually peaked at #37 UK.
"You Belong to Me" is a song written by American singer-songwriters Carly Simon and Michael McDonald. Originally recorded by McDonald's rock group The Doobie Brothers for their seventh studio album, Livin' on the Fault Line (1977), the song was made famous by Simon when she recorded it for her seventh studio album, Boys in the Trees (1978). A live version of the song from The Doobie Brothers' 1983 album Farewell Tour would later chart on the Pop Singles chart at No. 79 in August 1983.
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"Minute by Minute" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Lester Abrams originally released by the Doobie Brothers on their 1978 album Minute by Minute. The single was released in April 1979, and reached number 14 on June 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, but lost out to the Doobie Brothers' own "What a Fool Believes". "Minute by Minute" did win a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards.
"Dependin' on You" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons that was first released by the Doobie Brothers on their 1978 album Minute by Minute. It was also released as the third single from the album. It has subsequently been released on live and compilation albums.
"It Keeps You Runnin'" is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The song was written by band member Michael McDonald, and served as the third single from their sixth studio album Takin' It to the Streets (1976). It was also covered by Carly Simon the same year and released as the lead single from her sixth studio album Another Passenger.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)They grew their fanbase...reaching the top 10 with 1973's percussive acoustic boogie jam "Long Train Runnin'".