Long Train Runnin'

"Long Train Runnin'"
Single by The Doobie Brothers
from the album The Captain and Me
B-side	"Without You"
Released	1973
Format	7" single
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 then by English girl group Bananarama in 1991. In 1993 the Doobie Brothers version was remixed and charted again in several countries, including reaching number 7 in the UK Singles Chart.

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 (1993–1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA Charts)[11][12] 67 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 32 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[14] 23 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 14 Poland (LP3)[16] 33 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[17] 7

Other reissues Chart (2011) Peak position France (SNEP)[18] 91 Chart (2013) Peak position France (SNEP)[18] 104

Cover versions

Traks version

"Long Train Runnin'"
Single by Traks
from the album Long Train Runnin'
B-side	"Drums Power"
Released	1982
Format	7" single 12" single
Genre	Funk rock
Length	3:30
Label	Polydor Savoir-Faire
Producer(s)	Traks
Traks singles chronology
"Long Train Running" (1982) "Get Ready" (1983)

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

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

Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
France (IFOP)[19]	62
Germany (Official German Charts)[20]	18

Bananarama version

"Long Train Running"
Single by Bananarama
from the album Pop Life
B-side	"Outta Sight"
Released	1991
Format	7" single 10" Picture Disc 12" single CD single
Genre	Dance-pop[21]
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^[21] 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)[22]	179
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23]	47
France (SNEP)[24]	72
Germany (Official German Charts)[25]	45
Ireland (IRMA)[15]	18
Italy (FIMI)[26]	33
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27]	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)

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.
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. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'". GfK Entertainment Charts. 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. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 17 Apr 1994". Imgur. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
12. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
13. "Ultratop.be – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin' (Locomotive Remixes '93)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
14. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 3 juli 1993" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Long Train". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
16. "LONG TRAIN RUNNING – Doobie Brothers" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
17. "Archive Chart: 1993-12-04" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
18. "Lescharts.com – The Doobie Brothers – Long Train Runnin'" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
19. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Traks" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Traks – Long Train Runnin'". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
21. Mason, Stewart. "Bananarama – Pop Life". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
22. "Re: ARIA Charts Peak". Imgur. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
23. "Ultratop.be – Bananarama – Long Train Running" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
24. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Bananarama" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – Long Train Running". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
26. "Indice per Interprete: B" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
27. "Archive Chart: 1991-04-27" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics