{{Short description|2019 EP by Meghan Trainor}} {{About|the EP by Meghan Trainor|the song by The O'Jays|Love Train}} {{Good article}} {{Use American English|date=September 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox album | name = The Love Train | type = EP | artist = Meghan Trainor | cover = Meghan Trainor - The Love Train (Original).png | border = yes | alt = A cover artwork with the title of the EP and Trainor's name in capital letters underneath the red penned train and several heart shapes against white background | caption = Original cover artwork | released = {{Start date|2019|2|8}} | genre = * Dance-pop * R&B<!-- Do not add genres without a reliable source. --> | length = 19:58 | label = Epic | producer = * Andrew Wells * Chris Gelbuda * Tyler Johnson * Meghan Trainor | prev_title = Thank You | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = Treat Myself | next_year = 2020 | misc = {{Extra album cover | type = EP | cover = Meghan Trainor - The Love Train.png | alt = The title of the EP and the name of the Trainor are written in capital letters over her, staring straight ahead against a pink background | caption = 2021 re-issue cover art }} {{Singles | type = EP | single1 = All the Ways | single1date = February 11, 2019 }} }}
'''''The Love Train''''' is the second extended play (EP) by the American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. It was released by Epic Records on February 8, 2019. All of the material on the EP was produced by Andrew Wells, Chris Gelbuda, Tyler Johnson and Trainor. Critics described the lyrics as romantic as they were inspired by Trainor's marriage to Daryl Sabara.
"All the Ways" was released to radio as the lead single of ''The Love Train'' on February 11, 2019. Trainor described the EP as a predecessor to her then upcoming third major-label studio album, ''Treat Myself''. It peaked at number 10 on the US Digital Albums chart and number 37 on the US Top Album Sales chart.
==Background and composition== Trainor initially announced that her third major-label studio album, ''Treat Myself'', would be released on August 31, 2018. However, it was delayed to January 25, 2019, and removed from iTunes that month.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nied |first=Mike |title=Change Of Plans: Meghan Trainor Announces 'The Love Train' EP |url=https://www.idolator.com/7694567/meghan-trainor-announces-the-love-train-ep |website=Idolator |date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190205122451/http://www.idolator.com/7694567/meghan-trainor-announces-the-love-train-ep |archive-date=February 5, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On February 4, 2019, Trainor announced the release of an EP, called ''The Love Train'',<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Acevedo |first=Angelica |title=Meghan Trainor Announces New EP 'The Love Train' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/meghan-trainor-announces-the-love-train-ep-8496589/ |magazine=Billboard |date=February 5, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206122501/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8496589/meghan-trainor-announces-the-love-train-ep |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Meghan Trainor Überrascht Fans Mit 'The Love Train'-EP |url=https://www.bigfm.de/news/28296/meghan-trainor-ueberrascht-fans-mit-the-love-train-ep |publisher=BigFM |language=German |date=February 5, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015325/https://www.bigfm.de/news/28296/meghan-trainor-ueberrascht-fans-mit-the-love-train-ep |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> which she described as a teaser for ''Treat Myself.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Feeney |first=Nolan |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/meghan-trainor-love-train-ep-daryl-sabara-treat-myself-album-interview-8497232/ |title=Meghan Trainor On 'The Love Train' EP and Her Songwriting Evolution: 'This Is What I Want My Music to Sound Like' |magazine=Billboard |date=February 8, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2019}}</ref> A dance-pop and R&B EP,<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name="DN">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/culture/review-meghan-trainor-s-the-love-train-consists-of-generic/article_26f90668-331c-11e9-8e99-0bf4d43a7f9a.html |title=Review: Meghan Trainor's 'The Love Train' Consists of Generic Love Songs |newspaper=The Daily Nebraskan |date=February 18, 2019 |access-date=August 27, 2019}}</ref> ''The Love Train'' was inspired by Trainor's marriage with Daryl Sabara.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Nied |first=Mike |url=https://www.idolator.com/7696651/meghan-trainor-the-love-train-ep-stream |title=Loved-Up Bops Aplenty! Stream Meghan Trainor's 'The Love Train' Here |date=February 8, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |website=Idolator |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190209154649/http://www.idolator.com/7696651/meghan-trainor-the-love-train-ep-stream |archive-date=February 9, 2019}}</ref> Epic reissued the EP with three additional tracks on February 12, 2021, with the AJ Mitchell duet version of the track "After You", that was available on her third studio album ''Treat Myself'', and "Throwback Love" and "Goosebumps" from the Target deluxe edition of her second studio album ''Thank You'' (2016).<ref name="ABC">{{cite web |last=Dresdale |first=Andrea |title=New Music Friday: Surf Mesa, Meghan Trainor, Noah Cyrus |url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2021/2/12/new-music-friday-surf-mesa-meghan-trainor-noah-cyrus.html |publisher=ABC News Radio |access-date=February 13, 2021 |date=February 12, 2021}}</ref>
The opener and lead single, "All the Ways" is a love song, inspired by the work of ABBA.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=Thompson |first=Rita |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8462082/meghan-trainor-all-the-ways |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622002052/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8462082/meghan-trainor-all-the-ways |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |title=Meghan Trainor Debuts Melodic New Track 'All The Ways' |magazine=Billboard |date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2019}}</ref> Mike Wass of ''Idolator'' described the song as having "cute synths" and a "pure-pop sensibility".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wass |first=Mike |url=https://www.idolator.com/7681869/meghan-trainor-all-the-ways-review |title=Meghan Trainor Lays Down The Law On 'All The Ways' |date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |website=Idolator |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019041146/https://www.idolator.com/7681869/meghan-trainor-all-the-ways-review}}</ref> "Marry Me" is a ukulele-driven song about Trainor's desire to make things official with her significant other.<ref name=":2" /> Trainor said that she wrote the song in a hotel room with Sabara.<ref name=":0" /> "I'm Down" has been described as a "dancefloor" anthem with a "big" chorus.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> "After You" is a piano ballad that sees the singer pleading for her lover to stay by her side.<ref name=":2" /> Wass described "Foolish" as having "frantic beats"; lyrics include "They say that fools rush in. But I, oh I, I wanna be foolish with you".<ref name=":2" /> "Good Mornin{{'"}} is an "atmospheric" song featuring Trainor's father playing the organ.<ref name=":2" />
==Promotion== Several music videos were released to promote ''The Love Train'', one per day during a week. On February 10, 2019, a music video for "I'm Down" was uploaded to Trainor's YouTube account.<ref>{{cite AV media |last=Trainor |first=Meghan |author-link=Meghan Trainor |title=I'm Down (Video By Ryan Trainor) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LXYklN6784 |via=YouTube |type=Music video |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 10, 2019}}</ref> One day later, the music video for "Foolish" was released. It was edited by her brother Ryan Trainor and features footage from Meghan and Sabara's wedding reception.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Acevedo |first=Angelica |title=Meghan Trainor Debuts Fun Video for 'Foolish' with Footage from Her Wedding |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/meghan-trainor-video-foolish-wedding-footage-8498028/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ernsberger |first=Parry |title=Meghan Trainor's 'Foolish' Video Includes Wedding Footage From Her Big Day With Daryl Sabara |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/meghan-trainors-foolish-video-includes-wedding-footage-from-her-big-day-with-daryl-sabara-15946045 |magazine=Bustle |date=February 12, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910024408/https://www.bustle.com/p/meghan-trainors-foolish-video-includes-wedding-footage-from-her-big-day-with-daryl-sabara-15946045 |archive-date=September 10, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On February 12, the music video for "After You", directed by Charm La'Donna, was released. It features dancers Kaycee Rice and Sean Lew.<ref>{{cite web |last=Atad |first=Corey |title=Meghan Trainor Spotlights Two Amazing Young Dancers in New 'After You' Music Video |url=https://etcanada.com/news/418431/meghan-trainor-spotlights-two-amazing-young-dancers-in-new-after-you-music-video/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213211220/https://etcanada.com/news/418431/meghan-trainor-spotlights-two-amazing-young-dancers-in-new-after-you-music-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |work=Entertainment Tonight Canada |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 12, 2019}}</ref> On the following day, the music video for "Good Mornin{{'"}} was released. It was directed by Baxter Stapleton and also featured two dancers.<ref>{{cite AV media |last=Trainor |first=Meghan |author-link=Meghan Trainor |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uXoRU-i3R4 |title=Good Mornin' |type=Music video |via=YouTube |date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=May 26, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260410234940/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uXoRU-i3R4 |archive-date=April 10, 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> On February 14, the music video for "Marry Me" was released. Created by Toon53 Productions, it also featured Trainor's wedding footage.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roth |first=Madeline |title=Meghan trainor used her real wedding footage for new 'marry me' video |url=https://www.mtv.ca/meghan-trainor-marry-me-video-daryl-sabara-wedding/ |publisher=MTV Canada |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 15, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043752/https://www.mtv.ca/meghan-trainor-marry-me-video-daryl-sabara-wedding/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hines |first=Ree |title=Meghan Trainor's wedding makes up her 'Marry Me' music video |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/meghan-trainor-s-wedding-makes-her-marry-me-music-video-t148880 |work=Today |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423221626/https://www.today.com/popculture/meghan-trainor-s-wedding-makes-her-marry-me-music-video-t148880 |archive-date=April 23, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> One day later, the music video for "All the Ways" was released. Directed by Brian Petchers, it stars Bailee Madison.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fuentes |first=Tamara |title=Exclusive: Meghan Trainor's 'All the Ways' Music Video Stars Bailee Madison Looking Fire AF |url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a26345656/bailee-madison-meghan-trainor-all-the-ways-music-video/ |magazine=Seventeen |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425192711/https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a26345656/bailee-madison-meghan-trainor-all-the-ways-music-video/ |archive-date=April 25, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Love Train'' was also promoted through a press release, which drew controversy because of its "graphic nature and bizarre phrasing", with sexually ambiguous terms such as "wet", "junk" and "bangin{{'"}} being used, according to Andrew Trendell of ''NME''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |title=People are pretty baffled by this bizarre and super-horny Meghan Trainor press release |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/people-pretty-baffled-bizarre-super-horny-meghan-trainor-press-release-2449255 |magazine=NME |access-date=March 4, 2019 |date=February 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218184757/https://www.nme.com/news/music/people-pretty-baffled-bizarre-super-horny-meghan-trainor-press-release-2449255 |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
"All the Ways", which was initially released as a promotional single for ''Treat Myself'' on June 20, 2018,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/meghan-trainor-announces-new-album-treat-myself-8461763/ |title=Meghan Trainor Announces New Album, ''Treat Myself'' |magazine=Billboard |last=Tornow |first=Sam |date=June 19, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620012756/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8461763/meghan-trainor-announces-new-album-treat-myself |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> was serviced to hot adult contemporary radio as the lead single from the EP on February 11, 2019, after Epic announced the album was delayed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases |url=https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases |publisher=AllAccess |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203210304/https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases |archive-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/meghan-trainor-treat-myself-review-2603850 |title=Meghan Trainor – ''Treat Myself'' Review: Pure ''High School Musical'' (Without the Fun Basketball Scenes) |magazine=NME |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203222851/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/meghan-trainor-treat-myself-review-2603850 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Described as "fun" and "danceable" by ''Billboard'', the song was originally used in a 2018 Target marketing campaign.<ref name=":1" /> It peaked at number 16 on the US Adult Top 40 chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Meghan Trainor Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meghan-trainor/chart-history/atf/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref> Upon release, ''The Love Train'' peaked at number 10 on the US Digital Albums chart and number 37 on Top Album Sales.<ref name="U1" /><ref name="U2" />
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="Allmusic" >{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-love-train-mw0003251303 |title=''The Love Train'' — Meghan Trainor |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref> }}
''Idolator'' author Mike Wass described the EP as "overflowing with lush production and endearing sentiment" and "a major success".<ref name=":2" /> Radio.com's Kyle McCann wrote that the EP "gives fans a few bops to vibe to", and added "we're feelin' each of the six songs".<ref>{{cite web |last=McCann |first=Kyle |title=Meghan Trainor Releases 6-Track EP ''The Love Train'' Featuring Her Wedding Song |url=https://www.radio.com/blogs/kyle-mccann/meghan-trainor-releases-6-track-ep-love-train-featuring-her-wedding-song |publisher=Radio.com |access-date=March 3, 2019 |date=February 8, 2019}}</ref> In a mixed review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called ''The Love Train'' a "breezy stopgap EP", further describing it as a "celebration of romance" coming from Trainor, "who had reason to extol the virtues of love". He added that the press release was "ridiculously overheated" and "carnal," also stating that the EP is "heavy on soaring ballads and persistent dance-pop that don't quite fit into the trends of the late 2010s."<ref name="Allmusic" />
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = Standard edition | total_length = 19:58 | extra_column = Producer
| title1 = All the Ways | writer1 = {{hlist|Meghan Trainor|Andrew Wells|Jacob Kasher Hindlin}} | extra1 = Wells | length1 = 2:55
| title2 = Marry Me | writer2 = Trainor | extra2 = Chris Gelbuda | length2 = 3:36
| title3 = I'm Down | writer3 = {{hlist|Trainor|Wells|Tyler Johnson|Joshua Kear}} | extra3 = Wells | length3 = 3:16
| title4 = After You | writer4 = {{hlist|Trainor|Johnson|Anders Mouridsen}} | extra4 = Johnson | length4 = 3:26
| title5 = Foolish | writer5 = {{hlist|Trainor|Wells|Hindlin|Gamal Lewis}} | extra5 = Wells | length5 = 3:19
| title6 = Good Mornin{{'-}} | note6 = featuring Gary Trainor | writer6 = {{hlist|Trainor|Wells|Daryl Sabara}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Wells|Trainor}} | length6 = 3:26 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Digital reissue<ref name="ABC" /> | extra_column = Producer | title7 = After You | note7 = featuring AJ Mitchell | writer7 = {{hlist|Trainor|Johnson|Mouridsen|Justin Trainor}} | extra7 = Johnson | length7 = 3:26 | title8 = Throwback Love | writer8 = {{hlist|Trainor|Kevin Kadish}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Ricky Reed|Kadish}} | length8 = 3:13 | title9 = Goosebumps | writer9 = {{hlist|Trainor|Eric Frederic|Gamal Lewis|Eric Tobias Wincorn|Joe Spargur|Robert Riley|Charles White|Billy Ball}} | extra9 = Reed | length9 = 3:41 | total_length = }}
===Notes=== * All track titles are stylized in all caps.<ref name="Notes" /> *''The Love Train''{{'}}s reissue was initially released with the solo version of "After You" missing from the track list, and some digital platforms displaying the original 2019 album artwork instead of the re-issued one.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3qi8aN7UG8ANGqcq1Dsjv9 |title=''The Love Train'' |publisher=Spotify |year=2019 |access-date=May 26, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''The Love Train'' by Meghan Trainor |publisher=Amazon Music |url=https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08WCCPSMD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812074009/https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08WCCPSMD |access-date=October 4, 2025 |archive-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> Both of these issues were corrected in subsequent re-uploads to digital music platforms.
==Personnel== Credits are adapted from the liner notes.<ref name="Notes">{{cite AV media notes |author=Anon. |year=2019 |title=The Love Train |others=Meghan Trainor |publisher=Epic Records}}</ref>
{{div col}} * Meghan Trainor{{snd}}songwriting (1–6), lead vocals, production (1–3, 5–6), percussion (6), backing vocals (1–3, 5–6) * Andrew Wells{{snd}}songwriting (1, 5–6), production (1, 3, 5–6), engineering (1, 3, 5–6), bass (1, 3, 5–6), guitar (1, 3, 5–6), synthesizer (1, 3, 5–6), programming (1) * Jacob Kasher Hindlin{{snd}}songwriting (1, 5) * Chris Gelbuda{{snd}}production (2), acoustic guitar (2), engineering (2), ukulele (2), backing vocals (2) * Tyler Johnson{{snd}}songwriting (3–4), production (4), keyboards (4), piano (4), recording engineer (4), backing vocals (3), programming (4) * Joshua Kear{{snd}}songwriting (3), backing vocals (3) * Anders Mouridsen{{snd}}songwriting (4), guitar (4), piano (4) * Gamal Lewis{{snd}}songwriting (5) * Daryl Sabara{{snd}}songwriting (6), percussion (6), backing vocals (1, 5, 6) * John Hanes{{snd}}engineering * Bo Bodnar{{snd}}engineering (1, 3–6), percussion (6), backing vocals (1, 3, 6) * Randy Merrill{{snd}}mastering * Şerban Ghenea{{snd}}mixing (1, 3–6) * John Whitt, Jr.{{snd}}synthesizer (1) * Mitch McCarthy{{snd}}mixing (2) * Greg Magers{{snd}}recording engineer (2) * Rob Humphries{{snd}}drums (3) * Dan Higgins{{snd}}saxophone (3) * Drew Taubenfeld{{snd}}guitar (5) * Gary Trainor{{snd}}organ (6), percussion (6), piano (6), featured artist (6), backing vocals (6) * Ryan Trainor{{snd}}percussion, backing vocals (1) * Kelli Trainor{{snd}}percussion (6), backing vocals (1, 6) * Kameron Alexander{{snd}}percussion (6), backing vocals (6) *Nick Lobel – programming (4) *The Vultures – production (4), band leader (4){{div col end}}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Chart performance ! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|BillboardDigital|10|artist=Meghan Trainor|rowheader=true|access-date=February 20, 2019|refname="U1"}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|37|artist=Meghan Trainor|rowheader=true|access-date=February 20, 2019|refname="U2"}} |}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release dates and formats ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{Ref.}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States | February 8, 2019 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2"|Epic | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-love-train/1451377072 |title=''The Love Train'' by Meghan Trainor |publisher=Apple Music (US) |date=February 8, 2019 |access-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719083323/https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-love-train/1451377072 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | February 12, 2021 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} {{small|(re-issue)}} | align="center"| <ref name="ABC"/> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Meghan Trainor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Love Train, The}} Category:2019 EPs Category:Meghan Trainor albums Category:Epic Records EPs