"(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" is a single by the English

ska Ska (; , ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a w ...

and

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...

band Madness. Released in October 1986 shortly after the band announced they were to break-up, it was their last single prior to reforming in 1992. It spent nine weeks in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 18. The song first appeared on an album on the band's 1986's '' Utter Madness'' greatest hits compilation, issued one month after its single release. The song was written by

Suggs Graham McPherson (born 13 January 1961), known primarily by his stage name Suggs, is a British singer-songwriter, musician, radio personality and actor. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the ska band Madness, which ...

about

apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, with its chorus "It's black and white, don't try to hide it" and the line "The station master's writing with a piece of orange chalk / One hundred cancellations, still no one wants to walk" (in reference to the South African flag).

Mike Barson Michael Barson (born 21 April 1958) is a British multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer. In a career spanning 45 years, Barson came to prominence in the late 1970s as the keyboard player for the band Madness. Early years Barson wa ...

reunited with the other members of the band to record this song, although he did not appear in the music video. A Christmas flexi-disc record containing the 'band demo' of the song was sent out to Madness fan club (M.I.S.) members, featuring farewells and thanks from each member of the band (except Barson).

Critical reception

Upon its release, Anna Martin of '' Number One'' stated: "Reminiscent of the classic sound of " Grey Day" and " The Sun and the Rain", the chorus follows in the great tradition of sing-a-long-ability and ends in a big, sweeping crescendo that signals the end." Simon Mills of ''

Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...

'' related the song to the band's recent material of that time: "Their "farewell single" is more of the same doomy stuff about an unfortunate bunch of folk who are all waiting for this train that never comes. Life's like that isn't it?"

Track listing

7": Virgin / JAZZ 9 (UK)

* Side one # "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" – 3:41 * Side two # "Maybe in Another Life" – 3:00

12": Virgin / JAZZ 9 12 (UK)

* Side one # "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" – 3:41 # "Maybe in Another Life" – 2:59 * Side two # "Seven Year Scratch" – 8:39

Charts

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Waiting For The Ghost Train 1986 songs 1986 singles Madness (band) songs Songs written by Suggs (singer) Song recordings produced by Clive Langer Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley Zarjazz singles Songs about trains Works about apartheid in South Africa