Long Train Runnin'

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.

"Long Train Runnin'"
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
Genre	Country rock Southern rock boogie rock pop rock
Length	3:25
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Tom Johnston
Producer(s)	Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers singles chronology
"Jesus Is Just Alright" (1972) "Long Train Runnin'" (1973) "China Grove" (1973)
Official audio
"Long Train Runnin'" on YouTube

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. 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." Cash Box praised the Doobies' "fine harmony and musical prowess." Record World said that the "pulsating rocker should take the honors in 1973."

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated "Long Train Runnin'" the Doobie Brothers' second-greatest song, especially praising the guitar riff. 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.

Source:

• 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

"Long Train Runnin'"
Single by Traks
from the album Long Train Runnin'
B-side	"Drums Power"
Released	1982
Length	3:30 7:02 (Album version)
Label	Polydor Savoir-Faire
Songwriter(s)	Tom Johnston
Producer(s)	Traks
Traks singles chronology
"Long Train Runnin'" (1982) "Get Ready" (1983)
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.

Track listing

• 7" single Polydor 2040 365

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

Charts

"Long Train Running"
Single by Bananarama
from the album Pop Life
B-side	"Outta Sight"
Released	April 8, 1991 (1991-04-08)
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	3:31
Label	London
Songwriter(s)	Tom Johnston
Producer(s)	Youth
Bananarama singles chronology
"Preacher Man" (1990) "Long Train Running" (1991) "Tripping on Your Love" (1991)
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), 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.

Critical reception

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." Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly said that "those techno-flamenco gods" help engineer the song "into a scary locomotive blues." 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?"

Music video

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. Scenes at a decorated dining table alternate with shots from bedrooms.

Track listing

• 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

Charts