They played soulful, funky pop jazz and were initially signed to Phonogram Records' Mercury imprint. The first came to notice of the UK music and style press when they hooked up with photographer Andy Warhol for the video of the 1986 single Misfit. This featured the band in New York and at one point featured Ben Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot dancing down a side street whilst Andy Warhol referenced Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by dropping pieces of white card in time to the music (an efect that would also be copied by INXS in the Mediate of 1988).
Their debut album Keep Your Distance entered the British charts at number one in May 1987, and stayed in the Top Ten for 13 weeks, however the release of that album's "Free" lost some of the momentum by limping to only Number 56 in the UK charts.
The bands second album Getahead was lead by an upbeat funky track called "Name and Number". Even though this record only reached Number 14 in 1989, the "Hey How You Doin'" refrain would find itself in the Top Ten two years later as part of the De La Soul song "Ring Ring Ring (Hey Hey Hey)".
After the lack-leisure performance of Getahead and second single First Place, Curiosity (as they were now billed) found themselves dropped from Mercury Records. However three years after the release of that single they returned to the UK Top Ten as a three piece on RCA Records, with a cover of Johnny Bristol's Hang on in There Baby. However the band's follow ups (covers of I Need Your Lovin' and Gimme the Sunshine) flopped in the UK, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets.
In the 2000s the band reformed for an appearance on a National Lottery midweek show on BBC 1 and since then Ben Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot has toured under the name Curiosity Killed the Cat on a number of 1980s revival packages.
Since Curiosity disbanded, Ben has, by request, continued to perform both live and in the studio and has recently teamed up with dance supremos "Element" (AKA Bimbo Jones) who have already produced remixes for the likes of Deep Dish, Usher and The Bodyrockers. They are also the co production duo responsible for "Meck's" "Thunder In My Heart Again".
Band members
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (vocals; * 19 May 1965)
Julian Brookhouse (guitar; * 15 May 1963)
Nick Thorp (bass; * 25 October 1964)
Miguel Drummond (drums; * 27 January 1964)
Long Train Runnin'
Curiosity Killed the Cat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See them long trains run, and you watch them disappear
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ove
You know I saw miss Lucy down along the tracks
She lost her home and her family and she wonâ˛t be coming back
Without love, where would you be right now
Well the Illinois Central
And the Southern Central Freight
Got to keep on pushin' mama
You know theyâ˛re running late
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ve
Well the Illinois Central
And the Southern Central Freight
Got to keep on pushin' mama
You know they're running late
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ve
Well the pistons keep on turning
And the wheels go round and round
The steel rails are cold and hard
For the miles that they go down
Without love, where would you be right now
Without lo-o-o-ve ooh
Where would you be now
Mmm, got to get you, baby baby, wonâ˛t you move it down?
Wonâ˛t you move it down?
Baby, baby, baby, baby, won't you move it down?
When the big train run
When the train is movinⲠon I got to keep on movin'
Keep on movinâ˛
Won't you keep on movin�
Gonna keep on movin'
The song "Long Train Runnin'" by Curiosity Killed the Cat is a cover of the Doobie Brothers' classic hit. The lyrics of the song appear to be telling a story about watching long trains disappearing into the distance and how love is an essential part of one's life. The track opens with the singer talking about watching long trains run down the tracks that are half a mile from his location, and he sees them disappear in the distance. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of love and asks the question, "Without love, where would you be now?" to underline the vital role that love plays in our lives.
Later on, the singer talks about seeing Miss Lucy along the tracks, who has lost her home and family, and she won't be coming back. The song seems to suggest that the long trains represent the journey of life and the importance of love in helping us cope with the struggles and hardships along the way. The Illinois Central and Southern Central Freight are referred to, stressing that they need to keep on pushing- metaphorically emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience in one's life when moving forward towards their goals.
In conclusion, the song "Long Train Runnin'" appears to be about making one's way through the hardships of life and managing to keep moving, with love serving as a beacon of hope and motivation throughout the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Down around the corner, half a mile from here
Around the bend, not too far away
See them long trains run, and you watch them disappear
Observe the trains go by, fading out of sight
Without love, where would you be now
Love is necessary for existence
Without lo-o-o-ove
Love is essential
You know I saw miss Lucy down along the tracks
I spotted a woman named Lucy by the rails
She lost her home and her family and she won't be coming back
She had nothing and no one to return to
Well the Illinois Central
The Illinois Central Railroad
And the Southern Central Freight
Also, the Southern Central Freight Railroad
Got to keep on pushin' mama
The train needs to keep moving, mother
You know they're running late
They're behind schedule
Well the pistons keep on turning
Cylinders constantly revolve
And the wheels go round and round
The wheels spin endlessly
The steel rails are cold and hard
The tracks are made of unforgiving metal
For the miles that they go down
For the length that they stretch on for
Mmm, got to get you, baby baby, won't you move it down?
I need you to come with me, please hurry
Won't you move it down?
Please come along
When the big train run
During the operation of the large locomotive
When the train is movin' on I got to keep on movin'
I must continue moving as the train departs
Keep on movin'
Don't stop moving
Won't you keep on movin'?
Won't you continue to move forward with me?
Gonna keep on movin'
I'll keep on moving
Writer(s): Tom Johnston
Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sidmar Soares
Down around the corner, half a mile from here
See them long trains run, and you watch them disappear
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ove
You know I saw miss Lucy down along the tracks
She lost her home and her family and she won't be coming back
Without love, where would you be right now
Without lo-o-o-ove
Well the Illinois Central
And the Southern Central Freight
Got to keep on pushin' mama
You know they're running late
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ve
Well the Illinois Central
And the Southern Central Freight
Got to keep on pushin' mama
You know they're running late
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ve
Well the pistons keep on turning
And the wheels go round and round
The steel rails are cold and hard
For the miles that they go down
Without love, where would you be right now
Without lo-o-o-ve ooh
Where would you be now
Mmm, got to get you, baby baby, won't you move it down?
Won't you move it down?
Baby, baby, baby, baby, won't you move it down?
When the big train run
When the train is movin' on I got to keep on movin'
Keep on movin'
Won't you keep on movin'?
Gonna keep on movin'
mickfizz1
This cover version of this timeless tune is produced by Phil Harding and is found on disc one of the 2 cd album!
Jude
Nice one! HUGE fan of CKTC and Ben. Never knew this existed. Thank you internet!
Alexa
Awesome,Ben. Love,love, love! đđđ
Franklin Honeyestewa
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Ben V-Pierrot
Yeah not too bad a version of this classic- I like the cool approach as opposed to the normal heated cover!
aldhous
This is a lot better than it should be.
Music Brokers
I guess that's a compliment? If so, thanks, a lot of hard work went into these remakes by some very special artists. - The MB Team
aldhous
@Music Brokers It is indeed. Just noting that covers are always dangerous territory, and particularly when the original was such an iconic slab. But nicely done.
Music Brokers
@aldhous well thank you. It took a lot of humility to have such great artists take the work of OTHER greats in hand and put their spin on it, so we are very glad to hear it is to your liking!! Take care - The MB Team
Sidmar Soares
Down around the corner, half a mile from here
See them long trains run, and you watch them disappear
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ove
You know I saw miss Lucy down along the tracks
She lost her home and her family and she won't be coming back
Without love, where would you be right now
Without lo-o-o-ove
Well the Illinois Central
And the Southern Central Freight
Got to keep on pushin' mama
You know they're running late
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ve
Well the Illinois Central
And the Southern Central Freight
Got to keep on pushin' mama
You know they're running late
Without love, where would you be now
Without lo-o-o-ve
Well the pistons keep on turning
And the wheels go round and round
The steel rails are cold and hard
For the miles that they go down
Without love, where would you be right now
Without lo-o-o-ve ooh
Where would you be now
Mmm, got to get you, baby baby, won't you move it down?
Won't you move it down?
Baby, baby, baby, baby, won't you move it down?
When the big train run
When the train is movin' on I got to keep on movin'
Keep on movin'
Won't you keep on movin'?
Gonna keep on movin'