The group was originally founded in Munich by producers and songwriters Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze. "Silver" is actually Sylvester Levay's nickname. Using female session vocalists for their first recordings, they scored a hit single in the United Kingdom in 1974 with the song "Save Me", and realised they would need to find a public face for what was at the time only a studio group.
They recruited vocalists Linda Thompson (real name Linda Übelherr, who would be billed on her solo records as Linda G. Thompson), Penny McLean (real name Gertrude Wirschinger) and Ramona Wulf (real name Ramona Kraft). As "Silver Convention" they scored two major U.S. hit singles. "Fly, Robin, Fly" whose complete lyrics consisted of only six words, spent three weeks at number 1 in 1975, and won the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Their follow-up hit "Get Up and Boogie" spent three weeks at number 2 in 1976. Michael Kunze actually wrote the lyrics on the two first albums under the pseudonym Stephan Prager. During this time the three singers released their own solo work. McLean and Thompson achieved hit singles with "Lady Bump" and "Ooh What a Night" respectively. Wulf's solo effort was only a moderate success.
Silver Convention represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 with a song entitled "Telegram", finishing 8th, just after Dream Express. The entry had only English lyrics, but was allowed to enter in spite of the language rule being reintroduced this year, because the song was chosen to represent Germany before the reintroduction was announced.
With a new producer (John Davis) and a revised line-up of singers (Suzie McClosky aka Zenda Jacks, Rhonda Heath and Ramona Wulf) Silver Convention hit it big in the clubs in 1978 with the LP "Love in a Sleeper". The 12" single release from the LP was "Spend the Night With Me" backed with "Mission to Venus".
The further singles released by the trio attempted to duplicate the sound that had made them briefly successful, but the singles "Tiger Baby" and "No No Joe" were only minor hits.
Levay also worked with Giorgio Moroder, and Kunze went on to work with Jim Steinman. The solo careers of the three singers faded quickly and they left the music business.
Love in a Sleeper
Silver Convention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is just a night away
Got a ticket for a train
I don't wanna take a plane
Wanna be close to you
In a section just for two
Are you ready to go?
Baby, yea-ea-eah
Let's take the night train
Ooh, take a night train
Let's make all night long
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Hear the rhythm of the rolling wheels
And rock me, rock me right
We're making love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Ahhh
Let's go down to L. A.
There is just a night away
Let it flow, let it come
While the train keeps moving on
Baby, come on
Let's take the night train
Let's take the night train all night long
Let's make all night long
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Hear the rhythm of the rolling wheels
And rock me, rock me right
We're making love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Ahhh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Let's make love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Let's make love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Hear the rhythm of the rolling wheels
And rock me, rock me right
We're making love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Hear the rhythm of the rolling wheels
And rock me, rock me right
We're making love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
The lyrics to Silver Convention's "Love in a Sleeper" describe a couple's journey on a train to Los Angeles, where they plan to spend the night together in a private compartment for two. The singer expresses excitement about being near their partner and not wanting to travel by plane. As the train moves, they feel the rhythm of the rolling wheels and use it as a backdrop to their lovemaking in the sleeper car.
The song's lyrics celebrate the power of train travel and suggest that it provides a romantic adventure that simply can't be matched by other modes of transportation. The mention of Los Angeles implies that the trip is a getaway of sorts, and the focus on the intimate cabin for two highlights the couple's desire for privacy and closeness. The repetition of the phrase "love in a sleeper" throughout the song reinforces the romantic content and sets a seductive tone.
One interesting aspect of the song is that it features a disco beat and was released in 1978, which was near the height of the disco era. It was written and produced by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay, who were a successful German duo that had already made a name for themselves with their work on other disco hits. Additionally, "Love in a Sleeper" was part of Silver Convention's fourth album, Madhouse, which included other disco hits such as "Spend the Night With Me" and "Magic Mountain."
Line by Line Meaning
Let's go down to L. A.
Let's go to Los Angeles.
There is just a night away
It's just one night away.
Got a ticket for a train
I have a train ticket.
I don't wanna take a plane
I don't want to fly.
Wanna be close to you
I want to be near you.
In a section just for two
In a two-person compartment.
Are you ready to go?
Are you ready to leave?
Can't you hear the whistle blow?
Can't you hear the train whistle?
Baby, yea-ea-eah
Expressing endearment.
Let's take the night train
Let's take the train at night.
Ooh, take a night train
Expressing excitement.
Let's make all night long
Let's enjoy the entire night.
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Having intimate relations in a train compartment.
Hear the rhythm of the rolling wheels
Hearing the sound of the train moving on the track.
And rock me, rock me right
Moving back and forth rhythmically.
We're making love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Continuing to have intimate relations in a train compartment.
Ahhh
Expressing pleasure.
Let it flow, let it come
Let it happen naturally.
While the train keeps moving on
As the train continues to travel.
Baby, come on
Expressing desire.
Let's take the night train all night long
Let's enjoy the entire night on the train.
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Expressing excitement.
Let's make love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Let's have intimate relations in a train compartment.
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Intimate relations in a train compartment.
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Intimate relations in a train compartment.
Love in a sleeper, love in a sleeper
Intimate relations in a train compartment.
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Having intimate relations in a train compartment.
Hear the rhythm of the rolling wheels
Hearing the sound of the train moving on the track.
And rock me, rock me right
Moving back and forth rhythmically.
We're making love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Continuing to have intimate relations in a train compartment.
Love in a sleeper, ooh ooh
Having intimate relations in a train compartment.
Contributed by Allison R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Iván dario Cuervo alarcon
Es increíble que una bella rola como está no tenga comentarios es magestuosa tiene instrumentación voces preciosas todo para ser lo que fue en su época y lo que sigue siendo en nuestros recuerdos esto si es música no la porquería de hoy en día
Ernesto Esteva
Yo crecí con la música disco mis papás ponían sus acetatos es por eso que me gusta.