Long Train Runnin'

"Long Train Runnin'"
Single by The Doobie Brothers
from the album The Captain and Me
B-side	"Without You"
Released	March 28, 1973
Format	7" single
Recorded	1973
Genre	Pop, Rock, Funk
Length	3:25
Label	Warner Brothers
Writer(s)	Tom Johnston
Producer	Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers singles chronology
"Jesus Is Just Alright" (1972) "Long Train Runnin'" (1973) "China Grove" (1973)
Alternative cover "Long Train Runnin'" (Locomotive Remix) cover

"Long Train Runnin'" (or "Long Train Running") is a song written by musician Tom Johnston and recorded by The Doobie Brothers. It was included on the band's 1973 album The Captain and Me and released as a single, becoming a top-ten hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eight. This song became very famous for its intro with the guitar.

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 signature harmonica solo as well as the lead vocal and the distinctive, rhythmic guitar strumming that propels the song. In an interview with Songfacts Johnston revealed that he "wrote the words sitting in the bathroom at Amigo Studios" in Burbank, California.

Other versions

Bananarama's version appeared on their fifth studio album Pop Life and was released as the album's third single in the UK. The Gypsy Kings provided flamenco guitar on Bananarama's version, using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). UK singer Zoë provided backing vocals.

Traks covered the song in 1982.

Serbian rock musician Dejan Cukić recorded a version of the song on his 1995 album 4½... Ja Bih Da Pevam with lyrics in Serbian language entitled "Dugo putovanje vozom".

Another Serbian rock act, hard rock band Cactus Jack, recorded a version with original lyrics on their 2002 live cover album DisCover.

There's a Spanish cover of the song by the band La Unión, translated as "Tren de largo recorrido (Sin amor)", included in the band's álbum "Tren de largo recorrido", published in 1992.

Don Pablo's Animals made a couple Euro House style remixes of the song in 1990.

The song is performed by the Grambling State University marching band on the video game NCAA March Madness 06, and has been a performance staple of The Ohio University Marching 110 for over two decades.

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)

Charts

The Doobie Brothers version

Chart (1973)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	8