Downtown Train

"Downtown Train"
"Downtown Train"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album The Best of Rod Stewart
Released	November 1989
Length	4:40
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Tom Waits
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn
Rod Stewart singles chronology

"Downtown Train"
"Downtown Train"
Single by Tom Waits
from the album Rain Dogs
B-side	"Tango Till They're Sore"
Released	November 1985
Recorded	1985
Studio	RCA (New York City)
Genre	Rock;
Length	3:53
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Tom Waits
Producer(s)	Tom Waits
Tom Waits singles chronology

"Downtown Train" is a song by Tom Waits released on his album Rain Dogs in 1985. The promo video for the song was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, it features boxer Jake LaMotta and Neith Hunter.

Quick Facts Single by Tom Waits, from the album Rain Dogs ...

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Quick Facts Single by Rod Stewart, from the album The Best of Rod Stewart ...

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Rod Stewart recorded a cover version that became a number-three hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after being released as a single in late 1989, and was also a number-one single on the album rock and adult contemporary charts. The song went to number one in Canada and made the top ten on the UK Singles Chart in 1990. Stewart received a Grammy nomination for the song in the category Best Male Pop Vocal performance.^[3] Originally released as a non-album single, Stewart's version of "Downtown Train" was included on some editions of his 1991 album Vagabond Heart.

Bob Seger also recorded a version of "Downtown Train" in 1989 before Rod Stewart recorded his version. Seger claimed that on a trip to London he told Rod Stewart he had recorded a version of "Downtown Train" and then one month later Rod Stewart recorded his version. Rod Stewart and his management have denied that Rod Stewart stole the idea from Bob Seger. Seger decided not to release his version in 1989 as originally planned but instead re-recorded it in 2011 for his album Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets.^[4]

Patty Smyth released a version in 1987 that reached number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. The promo video for the song was directed by David Fincher.

Tom Waits – vocals, guitar
Michael Blair – percussion
Robert Quine – guitar
G. E. Smith – guitar
Mickey Curry – drums
Tony Levin – bass
Robby Kilgore – organ

Patty Smyth version

More information Chart (1987), Peak position ...

Chart (1987)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[5]	95
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[6]	40

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Rod Stewart version

More information Chart (1989–1990), Peak position ...

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[7]	29
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[8]	1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[9]	1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[10]	25
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[11]	16
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[13]	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	42
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	30
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	10
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[18]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[19]	1
West Germany (GfK)^[20]	39

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[21]	5
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[22]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[23]	37
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[24]	18

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Bob Seger version

More information Chart (2011), Peak position ...

Weekly charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[25]	17

Year-end charts

Chart (2011)	Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[26]	46

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[1]
"The 30 Best Tom Waits Songs". Spin. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
[2]
"Rod Stewart - Downtown Train/The Killing of Georgie (Part I And II)". 45cat.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
[3]
Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 355.
[4]
"Bob Seger to Debut 'Downtown Train' Single Monday". Billboard.
[5]
"Patty Smyth Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[6]
"Patty Smyth Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[7]
"Rod Stewart – Downtown Train". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[8]
"Top RPM Singles: Issue 6644." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[9]
"Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6641." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[10]
"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 10. March 10, 1990. p. V. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
[11]
Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
[12]
"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Downtown Train". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[13]
"Tipparade-lijst van week 9, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
[14]
"Rod Stewart – Downtown Train" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[15]
"Rod Stewart – Downtown Train". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[16]
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[17]
"Rod Stewart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[18]
"Rod Stewart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[19]
"Rod Stewart Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[20]
"Offiziellecharts.de – Rod Stewart – Downtown Train" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[21]
"Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[22]
"Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
[23]
"Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
[24]
"Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
[25]
"Bob Seger Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
[26]
"Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

AllMusic.com track review

[1] [1]
"The 30 Best Tom Waits Songs". Spin. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2024.

[2] [2]
"Rod Stewart - Downtown Train/The Killing of Georgie (Part I And II)". 45cat.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

[3] [3]
Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 355.

[4] [4]
"Bob Seger to Debut 'Downtown Train' Single Monday". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Patty_Smyth-5] [5]
"Patty Smyth Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Patty_Smyth-6] [6]
"Patty Smyth Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Australia_Rod_Stewart-7] [7]
"Rod Stewart – Downtown Train". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-8] [8]
"Top RPM Singles: Issue 6644." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-9] [9]
"Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6641." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[10] [10]
"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 10. March 10, 1990. p. V. Retrieved August 16, 2020.

[11] [11]
Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.

[sc_Ireland2_-12] [12]
"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Downtown Train". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[13] [13]
"Tipparade-lijst van week 9, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_Rod_Stewart-14] [14]
"Rod Stewart – Downtown Train" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_New_Zealand_Rod_Stewart-15] [15]
"Rod Stewart – Downtown Train". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_UK_-16] [16]
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Rod_Stewart-17] [17]
"Rod Stewart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Rod_Stewart-18] [18]
"Rod Stewart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Rod_Stewart-19] [19]
"Rod Stewart Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[sc_West_Germany_Rod_Stewart-20] [20]
"Offiziellecharts.de – Rod Stewart – Downtown Train" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[21] [21]
"Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[22] [22]
"Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

[23] [23]
"Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

[24] [24]
"Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2021.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Bob_Seger-25] [25]
"Bob Seger Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2011.

[26] [26]
"Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

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Downtown Train

Patty Smyth version

Rod Stewart version

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Bob Seger version

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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Patty Smyth version

Rod Stewart version

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Bob Seger version

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Wikiwand in your browser!

Rod Stewart version

Other recordings

Personnel

Charts

See also

References

External links