"Downtown Train"
Single by Tom Waits
from the album Rain Dogs
Released	1985
Label	Island
Writer(s)	Tom Waits

"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 and features the boxer Jake LaMotta.

Rod Stewart recorded a cover version that became a #3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after being released as a single in late 1989, and was also a #1 single on the album rock and adult contemporary charts.^[1] The song went to #1 in Canada and made the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart in 1990. Stewart also received a Grammy nomination for the song in the category Best Male Pop Vocal performance.^[2] Stewart's cover featured the slide guitar playing of Jeff Beck, who also appeared on the music video.

Other artists who have covered "Downtown Train" include Mary Chapin Carpenter, who included it on her debut album Hometown Girl in 1987; and Patty Smyth, who released a version that same year that reached #95 on the Billboard Hot 100. Everything But the Girl also produced an acoustic cover of the song. Bob Seger also recorded a cover version of "Downtown Train" in 1989, but it was never released because Stewart's version had been released earlier.

The Swedish artist Moneybrother released a Swedish version of the song; it is included on his album Pengabrorsan. Austrian hardcore/punk band Rentokill recorded a cover of the track for their 2009 EP The O.S.E.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• AllMusic.com track review

v • d • e Tom Waits Major releases Closing Time • The Heart of Saturday Night • Nighthawks at the Diner • Small Change • Foreign Affairs • Blue Valentine • Heartattack and Vine • One from the Heart • Swordfishtrombones • Rain Dogs • Franks Wild Years • Big Time • Night on Earth • Bone Machine • The Black Rider • Mule Variations • Blood Money • Alice • Real Gone • Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards • Glitter and Doom Live Compilations Bounced Checks • Anthology of Tom Waits • The Asylum Years • The Early Years, Volume One • The Early Years, Volume Two • Beautiful Maladies • Used Songs, 1973-1980 Notable songs "Jersey Girl" • "Downtown Train" • "Heartattack and Vine" • "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You" • "Ol' '55" • "Young at Heart" • "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)" • "Way Down In The Hole" Tours Real Gone Tour • The Orphans Tour • Glitter and Doom Tour Related Kathleen Brennan • Greg Cohen • Marc Ribot

v • d • e Rod Stewart singles 1970s "It's All Over Now" (1970) · "Maggie May" (1971) · "Reason to Believe" (1971) · "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1971) · "Handbags and Gladrags" (1972) · "You Wear It Well" (1972) · "Angel" (1972) · "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)" (1972) · "Twistin' the Night Away" (1973) · "Oh! No Not My Baby" (1973) · "Farewell" / "You Send Me" (1973) · "Mine for Me" (1974) · "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything" (1974) · "Sailing" (1975) · "This Old Heart of Mine" (1975) · "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" (1975) · "The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)" (1976) · "Get Back" (1976) · "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (1977) · "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (1977) · "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" (1978) · "Hot Legs" (1978) · "I Was Only Joking" (1978) · "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (1978) · "Ain't Love a Bitch" (1979) 1980s "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" (1980) · "Young Turks" (1981) · "How Long?" (1982) · "Baby Jane" (1983) · "That's What Friends Are For" (1983) · "Some Guys Have All the Luck" (1984) · "All Right Now" (1984) · "People Get Ready" (1985) · "Love Touch" (1986) · "In My Life" (1987) · "Twistin' the Night Away" (1987) · "Forever Young" (1988) · "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" (1989) · "Downtown Train" (1989) 1990s "It Takes Two" (1990) · "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (1990) · "Rhythm of My Heart" (1991) · "The Motown Song" (1991) · "People Get Ready" (1991) · "Your Song" (1992) · "Ruby Tuesday" (1993) · "Have I Told You Lately" (1993) · "Reason to Believe" (1993) · "People Get Ready" (1993) · "All for Love" (1993) · "Lady Luck" (1996) · "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (1997) · "Ooh La La" (1998) · "Rocks" (1998) · "Cigarettes and Alcohol" (1998) · "Faith of the Heart" (1999) 2000s "These Foolish Things" (2002) · "They Can't Take That Away from Me" (2003) · "Time After Time" (2003) · "What a Wonderful World" (2004) · "Blue Moon" (2004) · "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (2005) · "I've Got a Crush on You" (2005) · "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" (2006) · "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" (2006)