Formed in 1963 in Birmingham after the Welsh guitarist Spencer Davis encountered vocalist and organist Steve Winwood (then aged 14 and still at school), and his bass playing brother Muff Winwood performing at a pub, the Golden Eagle, as the Muff Woody Jazz Band. He recruited them and Pete York on drums to form the Rhythm and Blues Quartette, which performed regularly in the city. In 1964, they signed their first recording contract after Chris Blackwell of Island Records saw them at an appearance in a local club; Blackwell also became their producer.
The group's first professional recording was a cover version of Dimples, but they came to success at the end of 1965 with Keep on Running, the group's first number one single. In 1966 they followed this with Somebody Help Me and When I Come Home. For the German market the group released "Det war in Schöneberg, im Monat Mai" and "Mädel ruck ruck ruck an meine grüne Seite" (the first is from a 1913 Berlin operetta, the second is a Swabian traditional) as a tribute single for that audience, Spencer Davis having studied in West Berlin in the early 1960s.
By the end of 1966 and the beginning of 1967, the group released two more hits, Gimme Some Lovin' (which was re-released in a live, nine-minute version by Steve Winwood's Traffic in 1971) and I'm A Man. These tracks proved to be their two best-known successes, especially in the U.S.
In 1967, Winwood left to form Traffic; his brother Muff moved into the music industry as A&R man at Island Records. In a so-called joint venture, the soundtrack to the film Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush featured both the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic.
Despite the Winwoods' departure, the Spencer Davis Group continued performing and released more singles, though not repeating earlier successes. These included Time Seller in July 1967; the b-side, Don't Want You No More, also received radio airplay.
This was followed by "Mr. Second-Class" in late 1967, which was heavily played on Radio Caroline (at that time one of the two remaining pirate radio ships off the British coast) and the group's last minor hit, "After Tea", in 1968. The latter song was released at the same time by the German band The Rattles, providing competition that led finally to a temporary stop to all activities of the band. Davis continued working, however, producing some jazz-oriented albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Although short-lived, The Spencer Davis Group - particularly its incarnation with Steve Winwood - was influential, with many of the band's songs covered by other artists over the years. Notable among these are Chicago's 1969 version of "I'm a Man," The Allman Brothers Band's 1969 take of "Don't Want You No More," Three Dog Night's 1970 recording of "Can't Get Enough of It," and The Blues Brothers' 1980 recording of "Gimme Some Lovin'."
Midnight Train
The Spencer Davis Group Lyrics
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Well midnight train, won't you hurry on down that track
'cause you took away my baby, now you gotta bring her back
I've been standing at this station, singing the blues all day
I've been standing at this station, singing the blues all day
Well I ain't going nowhere since you took my baby away
The night is cold standing here in the rain
The night is cold standing here in the rain
But I ain't gonna move 'til I see my loving baby again
Midnight train, can see you coming along
Midnight train, can see you coming along
Ah, there's my baby, glad you've got her aboard
The Spencer Davis Group's song "Midnight Train" is a bluesy, soulful tune about a man who is heartbroken after his girlfriend has left him on a train. The singer pleads with the train to bring his girlfriend back, as he's been standing at the station, singing the blues all day. The lyrics evoke feelings of desperation, as he's willing to stand out in the cold rain until he sees his "loving baby" again. There's a sense of urgency in the repetition of the phrase "hurry on down that track" as he's anxious to be reunited with his lost love. The song captures the pain of lost love and the desire to hold onto what was once had.
Line by Line Meaning
Well midnight train hurry on down that track
The singer is requesting the midnight train to quickly move along the railway track
Well midnight train, won't you hurry on down that track
The singer is making another plea for the train to hasten on its way
'cause you took away my baby, now you gotta bring her back
The singer directly addresses the train, blaming it for taking their loved one and demanding her return
I've been standing at this station, singing the blues all day
The artist has been standing at the station, sad and upset, for an extended amount of time
Well I ain't going nowhere since you took my baby away
The artist declares that they will not leave the station until their baby returns
The night is cold standing here in the rain
The singer notes the unpleasant weather conditions, standing outside in the rain
But I ain't gonna move 'til I see my loving baby again
Despite the weather, the singer remains steadfast in their commitment to waiting for their partner's return before leaving
Midnight train, can see you coming along
The artist sees the train approaching in the distance
Midnight train, can see you coming along
The artist emphasizes that the train is indeed approaching
Ah, there's my baby, glad you've got her aboard
The artist expresses joy upon seeing their partner on the train and thanks the train for bringing her back
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Robertson
mighty tune