Long Train Runnin'


"Long Train Runnin'" 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 No. 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 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 , 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."

Charts

;Original release

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Remixes

Other reissues

Chart Peak
position

Certifications

Cover versions

Traks version

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'" – 3:30
  2. "Drums Power" – 4:27

    Charts

Bananarama version

Bananarama's version appeared on their fifth studio album Pop Life in 1991 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.

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 in the feast scene. The video was directed by Nick Egan.

Charts

Remixes

; UK CD single NANCD 24
  1. "Long Train Running" – 3:31
  2. :Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  3. "Long Train Running" – 6:40
  4. :Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  5. "Long Train Running" – 4:57
  6. "Outta Sight" – 4:30
; CD promo single
  1. "Long Train Running" – 6:40
  2. :Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  3. "Long Train Running" – 5:13
  4. :Remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent
  5. "Outta Sight" – 4:30