AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Train

Artist:Train

Song:Hey, Soul Sister

Album:Greatest Hits

After the success of the 2001 top five single Drops of Jupiter, things didn't go so well for Train. When it looked like Pat Monahan was going to end the band, they scored another top five hit with the 2009 single Hey, Soul Sister. Train's big problem is a common one with bands and that is Monahan is a control freak. This drove guitarist Rob Hotchkiss from the band in 2003 as he wanted to contribute more songs to Train. Hotchkiss released a 2004 solo album but he doesn't appear to be in the music business anymore. Then bassist Charlie Colin was fired due to substance abuse. He is currently a member of The Side Deal. After the disappointing sales of the 2006 album For Me, It's You, Monahan decided to disband Train. He released the 2007 solo album Last of Seven. When that didn't sell, Monahan decided to reform train but strip it down to a trio with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and drummer Scott Underwood. The band name Train had equity. Pat Monahan had none. Swede Martin Terefe was brought in to produce. He had previously worked with Ron Sexsmith. Songwriters were brought in to work with Monahan. The single Hey, Soul Sister reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album Save Me, San Francisco was certified Platinum. So the reformation of Train was a big success. Monahan wrote Hey, Soul Sister with the Norwegian production duo Espionage (Espin Lind, Amund Bjorkland). They wrote Beyonce's Irreplaceable. Train also had success with the 2012 album California 37 and the top ten hit Drive By. Most of that album was also produced by Espionage. Train just released a new album AM Gold in Feb. 2022. Monahan wrote and produced with current band member Jerry Becker. It's unlikely that Monahan as a solo artist would have had the same success or longevity. And Monahan is the only original member of Train. So reforming Train turned out to be a very smart business move. Sony released a Train comp in 2018. It is available as a budget CD. Here's the video for Hey, Soul Sister by Train.