Love Train

"Love Train" is a hit single by The O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached number one on both the R&B Singles and the Billboard Hot 100, in February and March 1973 respectively, and was certified gold by the RIAA.

It was The O'Jays' first and only number-one record on the U.S. pop chart. "Love Train" entered the Hot 100's top 40 on 27 January 1973, 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.

Recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios, 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.

Music video

The music video shows a group of people forming a 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". It was most likely filmed around the Northeast Corridor, as Long Island Rail Road MP75 railcars appear throughout the music video (in which the words "LONG ISLAND" are clearly visible), as well as Amtrak railcars and other railcars. Not much is known about the music video, although it was recorded in 1973.

Love Train (Holly Johnson song)

"Love Train" is the leading single, by former Frankie Goes to Hollywood singer Holly Johnson, from his 1989 debut album Blast.

The song was written by Holly Johnson.

Background

Released as Johnson's debut solo single on a major label, the song became Johnson's most successful single, becoming a hit throughout the world. In the UK the song peaked at #4, spending a total of 11 weeks on the chart, whilst in America, the song became Johnson's only solo appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, where "Love Train" peaked at #65.

The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in February 1989.

In a February 1989 interview with Johnson by Melody Maker, Johnson spoke of the song's lyrics. The author Steve Sutherland asked "Hasn't AIDS done it in for romance? Isn't writing songs about love and sex just moon and June stuff now, fantasies in the face of the horrific reality?" Johnson replied "Well, for me, 'Riding the Love Train' is the actual sexual act and I think it's realistic." Sutherland then stated ""Keep me up all night...", "Stoke it up..." - there's a lot of ooo-er innuendo in "Love Train" isn't there? Part of the thrill must have been to slip some darker purpose or more devious pleasure past the self-appointed censors of our morals, to, in some way, have polluted the mainstream." Johnson replied "If it doesn't work on two levels for me then I don't feel I've achieved the right balance in the song. If I feel that I haven't managed to write a populist tune and I haven't been able to slip some kind of twist into the lyric, then the song isn't good enough for me."

Love Train (Wolfmother song)

"Love Train" is a song by Australian hard rock band Wolfmother, featured on the 2006 international version of their debut studio album Wolfmother. "Love Train" was released as the fifth single from Wolfmother, on 7" picture disc, CD single and as a digital download, on 18 September 2006 by Island Records. It became a minor commercial success in the United Kingdom, reaching number 62 on the UK Singles Chart.

The music video for "Love Train" was directed by Jay Martin, who described it as a combination of "band portraits and epic, heroic performance." The CD single featured a live version of hit single "Woman" recorded at radio station Triple J, as well as the music video; a 12" picture disc version of the single was later released in 2007, featuring a number of remixes by English electronic band Chicken Lips.

"Love Train" was noted for being featured in an iPod advertisement. It was also featured in The Hangover Part II.

Track listings

Kid Creole and the Coconuts

Kid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created and led by August Darnell. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular a mix of disco and Latin American, South American, Caribbean, Trinidadian, and Calloway styles and conceptually inspired by the big band era. The Coconuts are a glamorous trio of female backing vocalists whose lineup has changed throughout the years.

Career

Thomas August Darnell Browder was born in The Bronx, New York City, USA on August 12, 1950. His mother was from South Carolina and his father from Savannah, Georgia. As an adult, Thom Browder began going by his two middle names as August Darnell.

Growing up in the melting pot of the Bronx, Darnell was exposed early on to all kinds of music". Darnell began his musical career in a band named The In-Laws with his brother, Stony Browder Jr., in 1965. The band disbanded so Darnell could pursue a career as an English teacher. Darnell obtained a master's degree in English, but in 1974 again formed a band with his brother Stony Browder Jr. under the name Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. Their self-titled debut release was a Top 40-charting album which was certified gold and was nominated for a Grammy.

The Cocoanuts

The Cocoanuts (1929) is the Marx Brothers' first feature-length film. Produced for Paramount Pictures by Walter Wanger, who is not credited, the musical comedy stars the four Marx Brothers, Oscar Shaw, Mary Eaton, and Margaret Dumont. It was the first sound film to credit more than one director (Robert Florey and Joseph Santley), and was adapted to the screen by Morrie Ryskind from the George S. Kaufman Broadway musical play. Five of the film's tunes were composed by Irving Berlin, including "When My Dreams Come True", sung by Oscar Shaw and Mary Eaton.

Plot

The Cocoanuts is set in the Hotel de Cocoanut, a resort hotel, during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Mr. Hammer (Groucho Marx) runs the place, assisted by Jamison (Zeppo Marx), who would rather sleep at the front desk than actually help him run it. Chico and Harpo arrive with empty luggage, which they apparently plan to fill by robbing and conning the guests. Mrs. Potter (Margaret Dumont, in the first of seven appearances with the Marxes) is one of the few paying customers. Her daughter Polly (Mary Eaton) is in love with struggling young architect Bob Adams (Oscar Shaw). He works to support himself as a clerk at the hotel, but has plans for the development of the entire area as Cocoanut Manor. Mrs. Potter wants her daughter to marry Harvey Yates (Cyril Ring), whom she believes to be of higher social standing than the clerk. This suitor is actually a con man out to steal the dowager's diamond necklace with the help of his conniving partner Penelope (Kay Francis).