Love Train
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Love Train
| image = Love train by o'jays US vinyl.png
| alt =
| caption = Side A of the US single
| type = single
| artist = the O'Jays
| album = Back Stabbers
| B-side = Who Am I
| released = December 20, 1972{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/zs73524|title=Love Train / Who Am I - O'Jays|publisher=45cat|access-date=January 21, 2020}}
| format =
| recorded = Summer 1971 to 1972
| studio = Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| genre =
- Proto-disco{{Cite web|url=https://blackgrooves.org/love-train-the-sound-of-philadelphia/|title = Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia | BLACK GROOVES|date = December 12, 2008}}
- pop{{cite book|title= Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s|first1=Don|last1=Breithaupt|first2= Jeff|last2= Breithaupt|date= October 15, 1996|chapter= What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?: Utopian Pop|page= 75|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=031214704X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMPCAwAAQBAJ}}
| length = 6:15 (extended version); 2:59 (album version)
| label = Philadelphia International
| writer = Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
| producer = Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
| prev_title = 992 Arguments
| prev_year = 1972
| next_title = Time to Get Down
| next_year = 1973
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|_BlkTSKqE_8|"Love Train" (Official Soul Train Video)}} }}
}}
"Love Train" is a hit single by the O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached No. 1 on both the R&B Singles and the Billboard Hot 100 in February and March 1973 respectively,{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=438}} and No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. It was the O'Jays' first and only number one record on the US pop chart. The song has been considered one of the first songs of disco music.
"Love Train" entered the Hot 100's top 40 on January 27, 1973,Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}} the same day that the Paris Peace Accords were signed. The song's lyrics of unity mention a number of countries, including England, Russia, China, Egypt and Israel, as well as the continent of Africa.
Record World said of the single release that the "tune chugs right along with a Gamble and a Huff" and could become the biggest hit from the Back Stabbers album.{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=January 6, 1973|access-date=March 24, 2023|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-01-06.pdf}}
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, the house band MFSB provided the backing. Besides its release as a single, "Love Train" was the last song on the O'Jays' album Back Stabbers. "Love Train" was a 2006 inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131112234936/https://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#l Grammy Hall of Fame] {{void|Fabrickator|comment|live url has requested information but is harder to view... see https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#l}}
Music video
The music video shows a group of people forming a human chain near a railroad station, while at the same time, some railroad cars are shown in motion. Throughout the video, more people join in the chain, which they call the "Love Train".
The video was likely filmed around the Northeast Corridor, since Long Island Rail Road MP75 railcars appear throughout the music video in which the words "LONG ISLAND" are clearly visible, along with Amtrak railcars, Penn Central railcars, and other railcars.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} It was recorded in 1973.{{cite web|url=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvsAqkOhI48&list=FLuyhAVEeM8zDEpGpbmtsThg&feature=plcp |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/SvsAqkOhI48 |archive-date=December 18, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Love Train - The O' Jays |via=YouTube |date=September 8, 2008 }}{{cbignore}}
Charts
{{col-begin|width=69%}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1973)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
|---|
| Canada{{Cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=9481&|title=Item|date=July 17, 2013|website=Bac-lac.gc.ca|access-date=May 24, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|117 |
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1973.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973|website=Musicoutfitters.com}}
| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
| US Cash Box
| style="text-align:center;"|12 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=O'jays|title=Love Train|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=4063-4990-1|access-date=August 5, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=O'jays|title=Love Train|award=Gold|relyear=1972|certyear=1973|access-date=June 21, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
Cover versions
By early 1974, The Supremes' line up (Wilson, Birdsong and Payne) adopted the song to perform in live appearances. Hall & Oates covered it for the 1989 soundtrack to the film Earth Girls Are Easy, as well as Daryl Hall and his band joining the 2016 version of the O'Jays in a live version on Hall's Live from Daryl's House television show. The Rolling Stones played Love Train on their worldwide Licks Tour during 2002 and 2003.{{cite web|url=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLQFiDA4T4s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/KLQFiDA4T4s |archive-date=December 18, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Love Train - The Rolling Stones |publisher=YouTube |date=October 12, 2012 }}{{cbignore}}
Roots rock 'n' roll band The Yayhoos' take on the song appeared on their 2006 release, "Put The Hammer Down." Gospel Group Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites did a rendition in 2003. In 2006 Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee performed "Love Train" for the ending credits of Final Destination 3.{{cite web |url= https://blabbermouth.net/news/tommy-lee-records-love-train-for-movie-soundtrack|title= TOMMY LEE Records 'Love Train' For Movie Soundtrack|date= January 19, 2006|access-date= April 30, 2025|work= Blabbermouth.net}}
"Love Train" was sampled in the 1973 break-in record, "Super Fly Meets Shaft" (US #31).{{cn|date=August 2023}}
An Australasian cover was recorded in 1973 by Dalvanius Prime.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dalvanius-The-Fascinations-Love-Train-Chapel-Of-Love/release/1864267|title=Dalvanius & The Fascinations – Love Train / Chapel Of Love|year=1973 |publisher=Discogs}}{{better source needed|date=August 2023}}
Australian children's music group The Wiggles covered the song for their 25th studio album, Racing to the Rainbow.
Pop culture
The song was featured in the popular long-running Coors Light series of commercials featuring the Silver Bullet Express train from approximately 2005-11, returning as a Super Bowl and March Madness ad in 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/history-of-the-chill-train | title=How Coors Light's beer train became an icon | date=7 February 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.marketingdive.com/news/coors-light-super-bowl-lviii-ad-chill-train-gen-z/705244/ | title=Coors Light's silver bullet train returns for Super Bowl with seats for fans }}{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2024 |title=Coors Light Super Bowl ad gives fans a chance to ride on its silver beer train |url=https://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/coors-light-super-bowl-commercial-gives-fans-chance-ride-beer-train/2537986 |website=Adage}}
It has also been referenced in the seventh part of the popular Japanese manga series, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, as part of the main antagonist Funny Valentine's ability, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap: Love Train.{{Cite web |title=D4C Love Train |url=https://jojowiki.com/D4C_Love_Train |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia - JoJo Wiki |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t2413849|pure_url=yes}} Song review] on AllMusic
- {{YouTube|SsYOAIR4L_w|The O'Jays – Love Train}}
{{The O'Jays}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Philadelphia International Records singles
Category:Songs about Philadelphia
Category:Songs written by Leon Huff