Train of Thought (A-ha song)

"Train of Thought"
Single by a-ha
from the album Hunting High and Low
B-side	"And You Tell Me" (demo version)
Released	24 March 1986[1]
Recorded	1985
Length	4:14 (album version) 4:17 (single remix) 7:04 (U.S. mix) 8:34 (dub mix)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Pål Waaktaar
Producer(s)	Tony Mansfield
A-ha singles chronology
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." (1985) "Train of Thought" (1986) "Hunting High and Low" (1986)
Music video
"Train of Thought" on YouTube

"Train of Thought" is a song by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, released in March 1986 as the fourth single from their debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The lyrics for this song were based on the existentialist authors and poets Gunvor Hofmo, Knut Hamsun and Fyodor Dostoevsky – Pål's favourites at the time.

It was a-ha's third consecutive top-10 single in the UK, reaching number eight. It was not a pop hit in the United States, but a 12-inch single featuring a remix of the song appeared on the Hot Dance Club Play charts. The single sold 500,000 copies worldwide. Another remix by Steve Thompson was released in 1986.

Music video

The music video was directed by Candice Reckinger and Michael Patterson. The video concept was designed by the same producers who brought "Take On Me" into the video mainstream. The black-and-white footage and animation in the "Train of Thought" video actually predated the "Take On Me" single, and was the inspiration for the animation in the "Take On Me" video. It originated as Patterson's student film at CalArts called Commuter, which went on to influence a generation of MTV videos.

Most of the video was the old animated footage, interspersed with live parts with a-ha filmed during a break in the band's tour.

Track listings

7-inch single: Warner Bros. / W 8736 United Kingdom

1. "Train of Thought" (remix) – 4:14
2. "And You Tell Me" (original version) – 1:51

• Track 1 is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.
• Track 1 is also known as "remix 7″ version" and is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.

12-inch single: Warner Bros. / W 8736 T United Kingdom

1. "Train of Thought" (U.S. mix) – 7:04
2. "And You Tell Me" (original version) – 1:51
3. "Train of Thought" (remix 7″ version) – 4:14

• Track 1 is also known as "Steve Thompson mix".
• Track 3 is also known as "remix" and is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.

7-inch single: Reprise / 928 736-7 Europe

1. "Train of Thought" (album version) – 4:14
2. "And You Tell Me" (demo version) – 1:51

• Track 1 is mixed by Alan Tarney and produced by Tony Mansfield.

12-inch single: Reprise / 0-20455 New Zealand

1. "Train of Thought" (Steve Thompson mix) – 7:04
2. "Train of Thought" (dub version) – 8:31
3. "Train of Thought" (remix) – 4:14
4. "And You Tell Me" (demo version) – 1:51

• Track 1 is also known as "U.S. mix".
• Track 3 is also known as "remix 7″ version" and is remixed by Alan Tarney and John Hudson.

Note:

• The original version of "Train of Thought" produced by Tony Mansfield can be found on the Hunting High and Low album.

Charts

Chart performance for "Train of Thought"

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2]	47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3]	22
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[4]	10
Ireland (IRMA)[5]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6]	28
UK Singles (OCC)[7]	8
West Germany (GfK)[8]	14

References

1. Smith, Robin (22 March 1986). "Index: We're Getting There!". Record Mirror. p. 2. ISSN 0144-5804.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 13. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. "a-ha – Train of Thought" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
4. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 19. 17 May 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Train of Thought". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
6. "a-ha – Train of Thought". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
7. "a-ha: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
8. "Offiziellecharts.de – a-ha – Train of Thought" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.