Members of original 1980s band Daniel Takes A Train are having to pinch themselves after their first ever chart Number One – nearly 40 years after they broke up! Their latest single Just Like Patsy Cline is ‘Top of The Pops’ in the latest Heritage Chart announced on Sunday by former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read and has risen higher even than singles released by more established acts such as Depeche Mode, Belinda Carlisle and Stereophonics. “We simply can’t believe it,” says singer Paul Baker, who by day runs a vintage lifestyle shop. “We’ve had singles in the Heritage Chart before, but we never expected to hit the top spot.” Other members of the band, all of whom are now in their fifties or early sixties, work as estate agents, business consultants or service engineers but have never taken their eyes off the bigger prize: a number one smash hit. Songwriter and guitarist Dan Synge, otherwise a publisher and university lecturer, says: “This is great news! Even after all these years we still enjoy writing and recording music together. It’s nice also for the band to get some recognition at last.” Just Like Patsy Cline was inspired by memories of listening to an old cassette tape of the legendary female country singer at a time when the band were rehearsing in a London coal cellar and struggling to get a record deal on the 1980s club scene. Record companies EMI and BMG courted the band briefly, and they were mentioned on Radio 1 and played some top West End venues including Ronnie Scott’s and the Astoria, but fame and fortune eluded the band. They went their separate ways in 1988. But after a chance reformation in 2018 ( an obscure German record label found their old video on YouTube and put out an LP of their long-rejected demo tapes), the band have since have been plugging away with a succession of new music releases. “It sounds crazy, but we never gave up on the dream which we first imagined in our early twenties,” adds singer Paul. “As the chorus to our single says: Just Like Patsy Cline I won’t give in!” The Heritage Chart Show available on radio and TV formats plays new songs by legendary musicians who were largely active before the year 2000. Chart positions are determined by votes from listeners in up to 100 countries.

No, original 1980s guitar pop band Daniel Takes A Train haven’t gone country and western with their latest single. Nor are they about to headline the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. But in just over three minutes of catchy, hook-laden power pop, Just Like Patsy Cline manages both to summon up the spirit of country music legend Patsy (famous for her timeless hits Walkin’ After Midnight and Crazy) and mourn the passing of a magical summer. And oh, what a summer it’s been! Hot on the heels of their recent hits Be Happy and The Hit Parade, the band’s cover of Al Stewart’s 1970s rock classic Year of the Cat broke into the top 5 (Heritage Chart UK) and before that, there were two number ones on the Fab Chart. They also appeared at the annual Heritage Chart Roadshow on Brighton Pier and recorded a cover version for a forthcoming album featuring tracks by Alan McGee’s cult 1980s group Biff Bang Pow! An accompanying video for Just Like Patsy Cline was shot this August at a studio housed in a former lightship on the River Thames, so it wasn’t so much a case of Daniel Takes A Train, but Daniel takes an ocean going vessel...in a cowboy shirt! So why not dig out the rhinestone and brush down your best Stetson for this highly infectious homage that brings to mind melodic alt rockers such as Prefab Sprout and Aztec Camera or the sparkling synth pop of Tears For Fears and A-ha?

The new single by original 1980s band Daniel Takes A Train went straight to number one in the new FAB Chart released Saturday 29 March. It's the band's 14th single release after getting back together in 2018, following their discovery by Firestation Records in Germany. An accompanying video out today was shot at Perry Vale Studios, London and captures the raw excitement of the real recording process. Proper old skool, and a refreshing change from singing into the iPhone!

https://www.fabchart.net/

The band is pleased to announce that their single Sleeping With The Enemy recently came first in the category for Best Music Video (Fab Chart). Thanks to everyone at Fab Chart for nominating us, and for those who voted. With a new single The Hit Parade out on Friday , it's turning out to be an exciting week for Daniel Takes A Train. Watch the winning video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=913vyC9AlT8

In their original incarnation, Daniel Takes A Train never had the thrill of making a hit single. After four years of slogging it out on London’s live club scene, gatecrashing the Brit Awards in 1987 and eventually going their separate ways in 1988, they didn’t even have a record contract let alone release any singles! But nearly four decades later and with a newly honed power pop sound, the reformed 1980s band have now written a song singing the praises of The Hit Parade? What’s that, you may well ask? Older readers might remember the term used by transatlantic voiced radio jocks when referring to the Top 40 singles charts. You know, the weekly run down of those 45rpm discs that teenagers would stack up on their portable players. Anyway, back to 2025 and it seems that there’s a revived interest in both vinyl record collecting and all things chart-related. And having recently scored a handful of hits on Mike Read’s Heritage Chart plus a number one on the FAB Chart, the band have been inspired by all this activity to write a tribute to the classic chart shows of yesteryear. And, who knows, maybe this time around they’ll make it into the Official Top 40 (they did briefly hold the #43 spot in 2008 with One Last Dream). An accompanying video was shot at Perry Vale Studios, London and captures the raw excitement of the real recording process. Proper old skool, and a refreshing change from singing into the iPhone!

The Hit Parade is out on Friday March 21 Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music and other leading platforms

In his thrilling new memoir Whatever Happened to the Teenage Dream? writer, journalist and Daniel Takes A Train guitarist Dan Synge gives an honest, warts and all account of what it’s like to fall in love with music and start a teenage band (or indeed several bands) spanning the eras of glam, punk, new wave and 80s pop. Daniel Takes A Train aka Stranger Than Paradise (famous for gatecrashing the 1987 Brit Awards) reckon they can join Duran Duran and Tears For Fears on the 1980s pop scene, but find it takes longer than expected to become the ‘Next Big Thing’. Thirty years to be precise! A wry and cautionary tale about trying to make it big and never letting go of one’s dreams.

“A fun and poignant read…hang on tight for a ride on the rock ‘n’ roll roller coaster!” Suzi Quatro “Possibly the best book about being in a guitar pop group.” Uwe Weigmann, Firestation Records

Order on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068530812

Original 80’s guitar pop band Daniel Takes A Train continue their resurgence with a revamp of one of their most popular live tunes. Honeymoon (The Love Hangover Mix) takes a simple Motown riff (well, you can’t hurry love), adds an incessant driving beat then breaks the barn doors down with a stern warning about marital infidelity. Hall and Oates meet The Coral. Produced the legendary Pat Collier (Perry Vale Studios) who produced the global smash Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.

Thanks to everyone for voting Sleeping With the Enemy into the Heritage Chart top 10. Our second top 10 this year....Much love xx

Hot on the heels of their surprise Top 3 hit Be Happy, Daniel Takes A Train are pleased to announce the release their brand new single Retro-phobe.
With tongue in cheek references to new and old technology, Retro-phobe is synth poppy blast of fresh air that explores the generational wars whilst urging listeners of all ages to simply hit the dance floor: “When the band strikes up their tune, it’s your time!” Be Happy, which has achieved almost 20,000 Spotify strreams and a coveted Top 3 position in DJ Mike Read’s Heritage Chart (UK), where it has been for seven consecutive weeks, at long last put the band alongside their 80’s heroes such as Lloyd Cole and Madness. “We’ve always wanted to be in the same chart as Duran Duran and Kajagoogoo. Now we’re now ahead of them!” said guitarist Dan in a recent interview with ITV news.
With its studio production reminiscent of ABC’s classic Lexicon of Love and forthcoming promo video which casts the band as ballroom entertainers, Retro-phobe is expected to introduce even more followers to this underrated outfit who have been going on and off since the mid-1980’s. With two albums already behind them since reforming in 2018, it seems there is no stopping Daniel Takes A Train!

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