"Love Train" is a song by English singer Holly Johnson, released on 9 January 1989[1] as the lead single from his debut solo album, Blast (1989). It was written by Johnson and produced by Andy Richards and Steve Lovell with additional production by Stephen Hague. The song reached No. 4 in the United Kingdom, spending 11 weeks on the chart, and was certified silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in February 1989. In the United States, the song reached No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Love Train" features a guitar solo from Queen guitarist Brian May and backing vocals from Don Snow and Lance Ellington. The single's B-side, "Murder in Paradise", is a non-album track exclusive to the single. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Marco Cerere, and Johnson performed the song on the UK music show Top of the Pops.[2]
Critical reception
On its release, Terry Staunton of New Musical Express picked "Love Train" as "single of the week" in the issue of 7 January 1989. He described it as "the most out-and-out pop song Holly's ever sung" and predicted it would reach the UK top 5. He wrote, "'Love Train' is four minutes of bouncy bliss which finds him in fine voice. Pretty corny lyrics about stoking it up and getting on board roll off the tongue and into our hearts as a nation goes apeshit on the dancefloor."[3] Jerry Smith of Music Week praised it as "a strikingly elegant dance track" and noted Johnson's "soaring vocals" are "encased in a shimmering designer sound that should ensure success".[4]
In a review of Blast, Steve Sutherland of Melody Maker commented, "Blast is essentially a dance LP. There are exceptions but mostly it's smart, ankle-shuffling stuff like the cute mini-masterpiece of pneumatic innuendo, 'Love Train'."[5] Johnny Dee of Record Mirror described the song as "the perfect commercial pop song".[6] American newspaper Record-Journal wrote, "Best songs are cuts such as 'Love Train,' where Holly shows that soul and dance music are not necessarily exclusive of each other. If Simply Red had any energy these days, this is how Mick Hucknall would sound."[7] In May 1989, Billboard picked the song as "new and noteworthy". They pointed out the song's "lyrical hook and percolating rhythm charm".[8]
^Love Train (US cassette single sleeve). Holly Johnson. Uni Records. 1989. UNIC-50023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Train (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Holly Johnson. MCA Records. 1989. MCAT 1306.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Train (UK CD single disc notes). Holly Johnson. MCA Records. 1989. DMCAT 1306.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Train (UK cassette single sleeve). Holly Johnson. MCA Records. 1989. MCAC 1306.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Train (European mini-CD single disc notes). Holly Johnson. MCA Records. 1989. 257 693-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Train (US remix 12-inch single vinyl disc). Holly Johnson. Uni Records. 1989. UNI-8018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
