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Train of Thought (A-ha song)

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Train of Thought

| cover = Cover-train-big.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = a-ha

| album = Hunting High and Low

| B-side = "And You Tell Me" (demo version)

| released = 24 March 1986{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Robin |date=22 March 1986 |title=Index: We're Getting There! |magazine=Record Mirror |page=2 |issn=0144-5804}}

| recorded = 1985

| studio =

| genre =

| length =

  • 4:14 (album version)
  • 4:17 (single remix)
  • 7:04 (U.S. mix)
  • 8:34 (dub mix)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Pål Waaktaar

| producer = Tony Mansfield

| prev_title = The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Hunting High and Low

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|7vdOgObQvz8|"Train of Thought"}}}}

}}

"Train of Thought" is a song by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, released in March 1986 as the fourth single from their debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The lyrics for this song were based on the existentialist authors and poets Gunvor Hofmo, Knut Hamsun and Fyodor Dostoevsky – Pål's favourites at the time.

It was a-ha's third consecutive top-10 single in the UK, reaching number eight. It was not a pop hit in the United States, but a 12-inch single featuring a remix of the song appeared on the Hot Dance Club Play charts. The single sold 500,000 copies worldwide. Another remix by Steve Thompson was released in 1986.

Music video

The music video was directed by Candice Reckinger and Michael Patterson. The video concept was designed by the same producers who brought "Take On Me" into the video mainstream. The black-and-white footage and animation in the "Train of Thought" video actually predated the "Take On Me" single, and was the inspiration for the animation in the "Take On Me" video. It originated as Patterson's student film at CalArts called Commuter, which went on to influence a generation of MTV videos.

Most of the video was the old animated footage, interspersed with live parts with a-ha filmed during a break in the band's tour.

Track listings

7-inch single: Warner Bros. / W 8736 United Kingdom

  1. "Train of Thought" (remix) – 4:14
  2. "And You Tell Me" (original version) – 1:51
  • Track 1 is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.
  • Track 1 is also known as "remix 7″ version" and is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.

12-inch single: Warner Bros. / W 8736 T United Kingdom

  1. "Train of Thought" (U.S. mix) – 7:04
  2. "And You Tell Me" (original version) – 1:51
  3. "Train of Thought" (remix 7″ version) – 4:14
  • Track 1 is also known as "Steve Thompson mix".
  • Track 3 is also known as "remix" and is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.

7-inch single: Reprise / 928 736-7 Europe

  1. "Train of Thought" (album version) – 4:14
  2. "And You Tell Me" (demo version) – 1:51
  • Track 1 is mixed by Alan Tarney and produced by Tony Mansfield.

12-inch single: Reprise / 0-20455 New Zealand

  1. "Train of Thought" (Steve Thompson mix) – 7:04
  2. "Train of Thought" (dub version) – 8:31
  3. "Train of Thought" (remix) – 4:14
  4. "And You Tell Me" (demo version) – 1:51
  • Track 1 is also known as "U.S. mix".
  • Track 3 is also known as "remix 7″ version" and is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.

Note:

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Train of Thought"

scope="col"| Chart (1986)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|edition=illustrated|page=13|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

| 47

{{single chart|Flanders|22|artist=a-ha|song=Train of Thought|rowheader=true|access-date=26 May 2021}}
scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-05-17.pdf |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=3 |issue=19 |date=17 May 1986 |page=12 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 10

{{single chart|Ireland2|5|song=Train of Thought|rowheader=true|access-date=26 May 2021}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|28|artist=a-ha|song=Train of Thought|rowheader=true|access-date=26 May 2021}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|8|artist=a-ha|artistid=26315|rowheader=true|access-date=26 May 2021}}
{{single chart|West Germany|14|songid=11915|artist=a-ha|song=Train of Thought|rowheader=true|access-date=26 May 2021}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{A-ha}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1985 songs

Category:1986 singles

Category:A-ha songs

Category:Songs written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

Category:Song recordings produced by Tony Mansfield

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Animated music videos

Category:Adaptations of works by Knut Hamsun

Category:Adaptations of works by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

{{1980s-single-stub}}