UK London NANA24
Released: April 1991
UK chart position: 30

Originally a classic by the Doobie Brothers, Long Train Running was covered by Bananarama on their Pop Life album. The decision to record this song, was based entirely on serendipity: Bananarama needed one more track to complete their album, and decided to do a "cover" (for which they are reknown), they uncovered the track while rifling through Youth's record collection. During recording, it was decided to include a flamenco guitar in the track which culminated in employing the Gypsy Kings to provide the authentic flamenco sound. When Long Train Running was chosen as the third single for issue in April 1991, the Gypsy Kings decided not to put their name to the track, and appeared under the pseudoname Alma de Noche (Knights of the evening). The single peaked at #30 in England as a response to mixed reviews, but was issued as the first single in the US from Pop Life.

"This was the last track that we recorded. We had nine ready for the album and needed one more track ...We started recording it with Youth, but he went on holiday to India for a month ... so we carried on with Andy. When Youth came back we sent him to meet The Gypsy Kings in Paris, so the idea to include them came from there." (Keren, 1991)

"It was an easy alternative to Sara writing one. By the time we'd finished it, everyone thought it should be a single. . . It took quite a few attempts to get it right, it wasn't at all easy to sing" (Jacquie, 1991)

"We decided to record it because we were all going through Youth's record collection whilst trying to come up with a song. An album by the Doobie Brothers was there, and we ust decided to do this track because we liked it so much. . . and we had to work out all the lyrics which was extrememly difficult because they're mainly references to American train lines." (Sara, 1991)

On the viodeo: "The last scene that we did was the one with us all sitting around the long table, and as the song began to end we all got up and danced around it. Did you see our Manager hills [Hillary Shaw] in that shot? She begged us for a part, so we gave in. Did you notice the man playing the guitar? He used to be Bananarama's press office in the olden days - his name is Eugene Manzi [see Shy Boy]. Thinking about it, he's been credited on a few LP's so people are probably familiar with his name. The funniest thing about having him in it was that he actually couldn't play a single note on the guitar. We were disgusted ...[the video for Long Train Running was shot] somewhere in Herts. It was an old army base - and the house that were were in was an old derelict place! When the producer of the vid had been out looking for a location he came back and told us that the house was haunted!" (Jacquie, 1991)


"It was great fun to film. In our last video for Preacher Man we dressed down a bit so it was nice to get back to wearing camp costumes again. I lovethose flamenco dresses. All the other people in the video were our friends so we just had good fun, basically." (Keren, 1991)

Source: Single, Pop Life (1991)
Chart Peak: UK #30

Bananarama Versions

Long Train Running (Album Version) 4:33
Long Train Running (Alma De Noche Mix) 6:40
Long Train Running (Flamenco Mix) 3:25
Long Train Running (Flamenco CD Mix) 4:57
Long Train Running (Pacha Mix) 4:34
Long Train Running (Romany Dance Mix) 4:48
Long Train Running (Single Version) 3:30
Long Train Running (Sparky's Magic Button Mix) 4:31
Long Train Running (Demo Version) 4:34


DJ Remix Service Versions

Long Train Running (Hot Tracks Digital Mix) 5:26
Long Train Running (Prime Cuts Flamenco Club Mix) 6:50