train songs rehashed

[Anonymous]

"Life is a Mountain Railroad"

Gospel tune we picked up in a Mobile Chapel some years ago. We would butcher it by switching railroad terms to trucking terms cuz not all knows about trains. =)

Take care!

Lee

[jchnhtfd]

And of course there's the Kingston Trio's 'The Train that goes Tomorrow' if you want to get your head twisted gently (and humourously!).

[Anonymous]

I may not have the lyrics exactly right, but Bruce Springsteen's "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" starts like this--"Well we're still racing out at the trestles..."

The Blues Brothers' version of "She Caught The Katy" is darn good!!!

[rixflix]

country schmountry here's a returning thread.

[cherokee woman]

Thanks Carl:

I had totally forgotten about "Locomotion".

"EVERYBODY'S DOING A BRAND NEW DANCE, COME ON BABY, DO THE LOCOMOTION'!

[Anonymous]

what about the LOCOMOTION by Little Eva also by Grand Funk Railroad[8D]

[eolafan]

Try as I might, I just can't shake the "railroad song" in my mind that was the commercial for "Good 'N Plenty" candy..."Choo Choo Charlie was an engineer......love my Good 'N Plenty".

[domefoamer]

So many train songs, so few trains to ride...
I don't think there's ever been a bad train song. What's so musical about a train? Everything! Diesel locomotives beat out a deep groove like nothing else but a Fender bass. Ride behind steam instead, and brushes keep the time on a hi-hat cymbal. One jazz tune puts both of those rhythms together, "Last Train Home" by Pat Metheny. The beat goes on and on without any breaks or flourishes, just like a piece of fine machinery. After several instrumental verses of sitar guitar and piano, a chorus of singers sweeps past like a passing train. The tune opens with an engine whistle and fades with a crossing bell. If you have even the slightest tolerance for jazz, it's a keeper. There other train songs thrughout jazz. Anybody remember some?
On a different note, I'll never forget a live Lynerd Skynrd concert (is that spelled right? Who cares?) in Memphis, during their heyday. The stage was set right in front of some tracks. As they played their big hit, "Free Bird," a fast freight barreled past from stage left to right. Whether a lucky break or a crafty showbiz trick, it was some of the best special effects I ever saw at a rock show!

[rixflix]

She Caught the Katy (and left me a mule to ride).....Taj Mahal [tup] even the title rocks
Steel Rail Blues.....Hank Williams [tup] go to a lonesome bar, buy a beer, put a quarter in the slot and groove
Last Train to Clarksville.....The Monkees
Rainy Night in Georgia.....Brooke Benton [tup] very soulful
Midnight Train.....Spencer Davis Group.....so-so but check out their cover of Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts" [tup]
Freight Train Boogie.....Doc Watson
Alabama Bound ..... " "
Southbound..... " " Doc and friends can do a train song [tup] for these
Blue Railroad Train..... " "
The Wreck of Old Number 9 "
Wabash Cannonball.....Doc "
Mean Old Southern.....The Blues Project
Rock Island Line.....Leadbelly
Leavin' Memphis, Frisco Bound.....Jesse Fuller
The Monkey and the Engineer..... " " [tup] one man band Fuller leaves the engineer with a worried mind, and the dispatcher, and.....
Grand Central.....Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Kelly, et al
The Hobo Song.....Old and in the Way (J.Garcia & friends)
Hobo.....Linda Ronstadt
Panama Limited.....Tom Rush [tup] all-time guitarred train effects tune
Reuben's Train.....The Dillards.....maniacally fast mandolin from Dean Webb
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry.....Bob Dylan [tup] "Don't the brakeman look good ma, ridin' down the double E. Don't my gal look good ma, when she's after me."
Two Trains Running.....Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Train Time.....Cream
Last Steam Engine Train.....Leo Kottke
Clickety Clack.....Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Catch That Train.....John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.....ever hear Mayall's torchy piano on "Marsha's Mood"? [tup]
Mystery Train..... " "
Streamline..... " "
Orange Blossom Special.....Nitty Gritty Dirt Band w/ Vassar Clements
Smokestack Lightning.....Yardbirds
Train Kept a'Rolling..... "
Midnight Special.....Johnny Rivers....at LA's Whiskey a Go Go !!!

Keep in mind that many of these tunes have been recorded by others and some of these are not by the principle artist. They were culled from about a third of my LP(yeah, yeah) collection last night and I'll post more later.The earlier poster was right; you could spend a long time digging this stuff up. Sort of like an Alan
Lomax lifetime mission thing, which reminds me that I've hardly begun with the Delta bluesmen.

I'm tired now, so see ya later.

Blessed be Jean Shepard in all His works.


Captain Video aka Rixflix

Over and Out!!!

[Anonymous]

Maybe soemone already posted it...

Somewhere down the crazy river - Robbie Robertson

Makes me think of trains

[ironhorseman]

Lookie what I found here:

http://www.trains.com/content/dynamic/articles/000/000/000/286hxeem.asp

[Anonymous]

Acouple of my favorites are;
Rock Island Line
Wreck of old 97
Last train to San Fernando

[techguy57]

Pardon me boys, we've forgotten the "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"! Thanks to Glen Miller and the Big Band Era.

Mike

[Anonymous]

FOUND SOME MORE


Tuesdays gone Lynrd Skynrd (train roll on tuesdays gone)

train kept a rollin Aerosmith

dont stop belivein Journey (She took the midnight train goin anywhere)

Hey Jim this ones for you
Goin to Kansas city (might take a plane might take a train)
Also there a song about the frisco my dad said it back from the 40's
dont know the name.[:)]

[Anonymous]

My favorite Would be
Crazy train By Ozzy

Highway to hell by AC/DC

Goin to California By Led Zeppellin


Did You know---- Led Zeppellin Was Recently voted Still # 1 greatest RnR Band
# 2 AC/DC #3 Ozzy/ Black Sabbath
AS Of 1-1-04 AC/DC Back In Black Sold Over 25 million copies In the U.S. alone
I Own 2 records Unopened AC/DC Back In Black And Highway To Hell
And The 5 Disc Set AC/DC BONFIRE

[Anonymous]

Here are some more Classic Rock & Roll songs:

Crazy Train - Ozzy
Last Train to Clarksville - Monkees
Marrakesh Express - CSN
On the 5:15 - The Who

[ironhorseman]

That song "I'm A Train" sounds familier. Does it go something like: "Look at me I'm a train on the tracks I'm a choocha-train" or something close to that? Some college buddies and I used a digital camera and made a 30sec video of my model railroad. I had an old jumbo post card of a country setting, we used my desk lamp, and I set my model train tracks up and put a white truck pick-up with a little guy on it or behind on the tracks like a MOW. I even put a little tree in there, too. (All HO scale). We took a 5sec shot of no action and multiplied it 5 times on the computer. The last 5sec shot is of train coming by and running him over! POW! Using the computer we layered a song over the 30sec clip. It starts out instumental and then singing starts "Look at me I'm a train on the track I'm a choocha-train" then just as he gets run over the words of the song go "look at me I'm goin' somewhere I'm a choocha-train" and that's the end of the video.

I sent it to a bunch of friends but never saved a copy for myself so I don't know if it still exists. This was about 3 years ago. If I find it I'll make it available for everyone somehow.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

"I'm a Train" - the Kings Singers. I recall it being used together with video of an articulated as shown on good ol' Captain Kangaroo....

Larry
thank you thank you thank you I have wondered about that for a long time.I remember captain kangaroo too.[:)]
stay safe
Joe

Still haven't gotten a CD with the song, haven't even tried finding the video. I do have the words, though.

[JoeKoh]

While were in 70s rock we cant forget the doobie brothers long train runnin'
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

"I'm a Train" - the Kings Singers. I recall it being used together with video of an articulated as shown on good ol' Captain Kangaroo....

Larry
thank you thank you thank you I have wondered about that for a long time.I remember captain kangaroo too.[:)]
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Southern Pacific / Neil Young

Arlo Guthrie's City of New Orleans puts Willie Nelson in the second section...[swg]

I'd have to say that Arlo's rendition puts some really heartfelt pathos into the song. "This train's got the disappearin' railroad blues." I'd have to credit Steve Goodman with writing a damned good song, and one that I can actually play on my own six-string.

There's one, not really a train song, but it's on the "Highwayman" album, "Like Desperadoes Waiting for a Train."

But, yes, Boxcar Willie!

Is there something about the Illinois Central that makes people write songs about it? "Casey Jones", "City of New Orleans".......

[Anonymous]

The Beatles - One After 909 - Let it Be

[cherokee woman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

you cant have any train songs without boxcar willie and wabash cannonball.
stay safe
Joe

How about Roy Acuff singing Wabash Cannonball? And what about Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironhorseman

I don't think I have any one favorite train song. I like 'em all. I have one of the albums Altonfan is refering to. "Mystery Train: Classic RR songs vol 2" very excellent. Johnny Cash's rendition of Casey Jones and Steve Goodman's City of New Orleans are the reason's I bought that one.

But all time favorites are (as of right now) (this will change again someday of course!):
1. Orange Blossum Special - Johnny Cash version
2. City of New Orleans - 1st Steve Goodman version, 2nd CW McCall version
3. Casey Jones - Johnny Cash version
4. The Ballad of John Henry's Hammer - Johnny Cash (8min long!)
5. Steel Rails - Alison Krauss
----------------------------------------
6. The Wabash Cannonball - by whoever. (I'm sure there's a Johnny Cash version out there)
7. Engine Engine #9 - Roger Miller
8. King of the Road - Roger Miller
9. Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash (live at Folsom version)
10. Rock Island Line - Johnny Cash version (I know Johnny Horton made it famous)
----------------------------
And that's my top ten for now. I think I'm basing that on what I've played most frequently most recently.

Other favorites - Train of Love by Johnny Cash, Wreck of Ol' 97, Big Rock Candy Mountain (Harrry McClintock version), City of New Orleans (Seldom Scene version a bluegrass band, heard on Appalachian Stomp vol 2) Orange Blossom Special done by the Stanley Brothers (that's some fast fiddle playin!).

Oh, and before I forget, Gordon Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy. That'd be #11 on list right now but it'll make back into my personal top 10 someday.

Also there was a crazy song done by the Red Star Rangers called More Than Johnny Cash loves trains. They guy sings about how he loves his girl more than Johnny Cash loves trains. Good for laugh.

I guess I should get all my CDs and tapes and audio files together and make a complete list of what I've got.

PS- SLIC--> "Can't You See" was also done by Waylon Jennings. I like his version best. Why am I not surprised you picked this one? [(-D] (based on the 1st line of the song)

I forgot Waylon Had A version I found out from my dad that Waylon Jennings was one of the crickets from Buddy Holly and the crickets thats Interesting to know
And no matter what I say When most people learn I was a young Hoboe they usually
start singing Johhny Cash's Fulsom Prison Blues
I hear that train A comin he's comin round the bend
an i aint seen the sunshine since I dont know when.
And lets not forget His Daughter Roseanne Cash And her Song
(my baby thinks hes a train)[8D]

[ironhorseman]

I don't think I have any one favorite train song. I like 'em all. I have one of the albums Altonfan is refering to. "Mystery Train: Classic RR songs vol 2" very excellent. Johnny Cash's rendition of Casey Jones and Steve Goodman's City of New Orleans are the reason's I bought that one.

But all time favorites are (as of right now) (this will change again someday of course!):
1. Orange Blossum Special - Johnny Cash version
2. City of New Orleans - 1st Steve Goodman version, 2nd CW McCall version
3. Casey Jones - Johnny Cash version
4. The Ballad of John Henry's Hammer - Johnny Cash (8min long!)
5. Steel Rails - Alison Krauss
----------------------------------------
6. The Wabash Cannonball - by whoever. (I'm sure there's a Johnny Cash version out there)
7. Engine Engine #9 - Roger Miller
8. King of the Road - Roger Miller
9. Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash (live at Folsom version)
10. Rock Island Line - Johnny Cash version (I know Johnny Horton made it famous)
----------------------------
And that's my top ten for now. I think I'm basing that on what I've played most frequently most recently.

Other favorites - Train of Love by Johnny Cash, Wreck of Ol' 97, Big Rock Candy Mountain (Harrry McClintock version), City of New Orleans (Seldom Scene version a bluegrass band, heard on Appalachian Stomp vol 2) Orange Blossom Special done by the Stanley Brothers (that's some fast fiddle playin!).

Oh, and before I forget, Gordon Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy. That'd be #11 on list right now but it'll make back into my personal top 10 someday.

Also there was a crazy song done by the Red Star Rangers called More Than Johnny Cash loves trains. They guy sings about how he loves his girl more than Johnny Cash loves trains. Good for laugh.

I guess I should get all my CDs and tapes and audio files together and make a complete list of what I've got.

PS- SLIC--> "Can't You See" was also done by Waylon Jennings. I like his version best. Why am I not surprised you picked this one? [(-D] (based on the 1st line of the song)

[tree68]

"I'm a Train" - the Kings Singers. I recall it being used together with video of an articulated as shown on good ol' Captain Kangaroo....

[locomutt]

CW & I caught an episode of "MATLOCK" the other day,
Randy Travis was guest star; He And Andy(Ben) sang
"Waitin on that New River Train"
Needless to say that it was GOOD!

[Anonymous]

Who could forget Rodger Miller (king of the road)
third boxcar midnight train destination Bangor Maine

Great full dead - Casey Jones

John Fogerty's Blue moon swamp album (Southern Streamline)
Ridin on that Southern Streamline

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

you cant have any train songs without boxcar willie and wabash cannonball.
stay safe
Joe

[8D]You damn right