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 RoadMP75 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.
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."
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.
People all over the world Join hands Start a love train, love train People all over the world Join hands Get on the love train, love train The first stop that we'll make Will be england Tell all the folks in russia, In china, too (get on board) Don't you know It's time to get on board (it's time to get on board) Let this train keep on ridin', Ridin' on through Ridin' on through People all over the world Join hands Start a love train, love train People all over the world Join hands Get on the love train, love train All of you brothers Over in africa (come on now, people) Tell all the folks in egypt, In israel, too Please don't miss this train At the station 'cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you Sorry for you People all over the world Join hands Start a love train, love train People all over the world Join hands Get on the love train, love train People all over the world Join hands Start a love train, love train People all over the world Join hands Get on the love train, love train People all over the world (repeat with following ad lib) Start it up, start it up Come on, people We're gonna ride, ride Sisters and brothers, come on Start a love train
Step inside the Victorian train station on the market for £975,000 after its conversion into a quirky four-bedroom house. The two-acre plot, located in Telford, Shropshire, comes with two converted train carriages overlooking the River Severn.
If I’m not in the England training camp at Pennyhill Park in Surrey, Cam and I will walk Otis to a coffee shop first thing ... My first training session was with a boys’ team when I was seven and I absolutely loved it ... Harlequins training starts at 1pm.
I loved working with Doug Liman and then obviously to work with Jake Gyllenhaal, someone I grew up just admiring and rehearsing “Donnie Darko” in my room as an 11-year-old and wanting to be him ... I love being able to do that training.
“With a foundation built on years of dedicated training, Marrin has developed a rare versatility, seamlessly moving between diverse dance genres, from classical ballet to contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and beyond.
Her main mansion oozes space and aesthetic appeal while my own house would probably be considered “homey.” She goes to stunning events and parties, while my big night out might be going to the brewery I love by the train station.
Shelly didn’t give many details in her voicemail ... “My father said to me, ‘If you’re going to umpire, you need to get trained properly.’ And I went with him for a weekend clinic in San Bernardino. That was my first official training. I just loved it.” ... .
Then I suddenly realised that I hadn’t picked up my flute when I got off the train that day ... I lost my Kindle – and the person who found it loved my book collection ... I raced to the train station to ask if it had been handed in.
... been identified, either by radar or by trained spotters and law enforcement ... Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt.
... reports from trained spotters and law enforcement ... Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries.
but even more, I love Austen for daring to write a heroine who is snobbish, meddling, a stranger to her own heart ... It is the novel I love most ... He loves her youth, her naivety, her malleability. She loves his authority and his looks.
What else was a young Parisian raised by ecologist parents and who has an equal love for maths, science and art to do? So after training at London’sArchitectural Association, he established his design studio in Hackney.
