"Last Train to Heaven" is a song written by Paul Kelly for the album, ''

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'' (September 1986), which was performed by his group, Paul Kelly & the Coloured Girls. It was re-written as "Last Train", a dance-orientated remake, and is the first single released by

Christine Anu Christine Anu (born 15 March 1970) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She gained popularity with the cover song release of the Warumpi Band's song " My Island Home". Anu has been nominated for 17 ARIA Awards. Early life Anu was bo ...

. Anu and Kelly performed "Last Train" as a duet, which was issued on 20 September 1993 and peaked at No. 93 on the Australian

ARIA In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...

Singles Chart in the following month. It was listed at No. 61 on national radio, Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1993.

Background

In 1986 Paul Kelly wrote "Last Train to Heaven" as the lead track of the debut album, ''

'', by his group Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls. The album was issued in September that year on

Mushroom Records Mushroom Records was an Australian flagship record label, founded in 1972 in Melbourne. It published and distributed many successful Australian artists and expanded internationally, until it was merged with Festival Records in 1998. Festival Mu ...

while Kelly was living in Sydney. Early in the 1990s Anu and Kelly met each other when she was a dancer with Bangarra Dance Company and he was touring Queensland. During 1992 while still at her dance company Anu started singing backing vocals with Neil Murray's group, The Rainmakers. Murray encouraged her to sing lead vocals and she signed with the White Label, a subsidiary of Mushroom Records. By early 1993 Kelly had relocated to Los Angeles and signed with

Vanguard Records Vanguard Recording Society is an American record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York City. It was a primarily classical label at its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, but also has a catalogue of recordings by a n ...

to tour the United States as a solo artist. Kelly had stayed in the US for nine months and upon his return to Australia he was contacted by Mushroom Records to collaborate with Anu. With record producers, Angelique Cooper and Peter Crosbie, Kelly co-wrote "Last Train", as a dance remix of "Last Train to Heaven". As a duo Anu and Kelly recorded "Last Train" with Anu on lead vocals, Kelly on acoustic guitar and backing vocals and guest artist MC Opi's toasting. Anu praised Mushroom Records " ey were really helpful in giving me my first song to record (Paul Kelly's 'Last Train'), and there was always the idea of we're going to get together and write songs — collaborate with other people for experience sake". On 20 September 1993 the single was released on

White Label A white label record is a vinyl record with white labels attached. There are several variations each with a different purpose. Variations include test pressings, white label promos, and plain white labels. Test pressings Test pressings, usua ...

(an alternative

label), which peaked at No. 93 on the Australian

Singles Chart in the following month. It was listed at No. 61 on national radio station, Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1993. In an interview with ''

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'' Anu reflected on working with Kelly, "I'm in reverence just being in the presence of this man, knowing so many of the songs that have touched my heart have come from him". "Last Train" was nominated for an

ARIA Music Award The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austra ...

at the 1994 ceremony for 'Best Video', Note: User may be required to access archived information by selecting 'The History', then 'By Year', '8th Annual ARIA Awards (1994)', and 'Option Show Nominations'. which was directed by Paul Elliot and Sally Bongers. It also provided Anu with a nomination for 'Breakthrough Artist – Single' and a nomination for Cooper as 'Producer of the Year'. On 29 July 1995 Anu promoted her debut album, ''

Stylin' Up ''Stylin' Up'' is the debut album by Australian singer Christine Anu, released on 1 May 1995 by Mushroom Records. A deluxe edition was later released with six live tracks. The album was certified platinum in 2000. The album fuses a blend of pur ...

'' (June 1995), with a gig at The Metro in Sydney. The performance was recorded and included as a bonus live disc for the international release of the album, the disc included a live version of "Last Train". Anu collaborated with Kelly again for her second album, ''

Come My Way ''Come My Way'' is the second studio album by English singer Marianne Faithfull. It was released simultaneously with her album ''Marianne Faithfull'' on 15 April 1965 by Decca Records. The double release was a result of different creative dire ...

'' (September 2000), where she recorded his track, "Beat of Your Heart", and the pair co-wrote " Jump to Love" together with Stuart Crichton.

Music and lyrics

"Last Train to Heaven" was described as a "mesmerizing gospel/reggae rocker" by ''

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'' reviewer, Steve Hochman.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's Mike DeGane found the lyrics were "sparse and repetitive" while the steel guitar conjured up a "hollow, distant feeling".

Track listing

Personnel

* Christine Anu – vocals * Paul Kelly – acoustic guitar, backing vocals * Janette Oparebea Nelson (MC Opi) – toasting Guest Artist Recording details * Producing and arranging – Angelique Cooper, Peter Crosbie * Recording – Angelique Cooper * Programming – Peter Crosbie, Angelique Cooper * Mixing – Peter Cobbin

Charts

References

External links

"Last Train" Video
{{authority control 1993 debut singles Christine Anu songs Paul Kelly (Australian musician) songs Songs written by Paul Kelly (Australian musician) 1986 songs