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City of New Orleans(train that is....and a chap named J. Cash)

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City of New Orleans(train that is....and a chap named J. Cash)
Posted by jondrd on Thursday, March 9, 2006 5:42 PM
A video with Johnny Cash [8D] singing of the City of New Orleans. [tup] [:D]
Click on the below address and you should get there.

http://www.videocodezone.com/videos/j/johnny_cash/city_of_new_orleans.html


If this has already been posted, forgive the duplication.



Jon
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 9, 2006 6:54 PM
wow! i watched it over and over.it brought tears to my eyes.
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Posted by TomDiehl on Thursday, March 9, 2006 10:03 PM
Too bad they don't tell you when that was recorded. Johnny looked a bit young there.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown
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Posted by ereimer on Thursday, March 9, 2006 10:34 PM
i've been a Johnny Cash fan since the 70's but i have to say that wasn't his best work , the song doesn't really suit his style (or vice versa)

it was interesting to see though , thanks for the link
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Posted by SSW9389 on Friday, March 10, 2006 5:45 AM
Johnny Cash's uncle was an engineer for the COTTON BELT. The uncle used to give him cab rides when Johnny was a little fella in the early '30s. The house where Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas was next to the COTTON BELT mainline. Kingsland is just South of Rison if you look for it on a map. If you can find it give a listen to "Ridin on the Cotton Belt" as Johnny Cash relates in song his father's hobo days.
COTTON BELT: Runs like a Blue Streak!
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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 10, 2006 8:26 AM
Couldn't be much before the early/mid 70's since that's when the song was written. It's starting to become a "who HASN'T done that song" kind of thing. Gotta say, for all the versions I have, I never knew Johnny Cash did it too.
All that train riding probably explains his signature playing style.

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Posted by jondrd on Friday, March 10, 2006 8:42 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by katys-gram

wow! i watched it over and over.it brought tears to my eyes.


Yes, the late Johnny Cash and the plaintive tone of the lyric, "Good Morning America, how are you?" And a name train with passenger count/car you could probably count on one hand.



Jon
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Posted by cwclark on Friday, March 10, 2006 8:57 AM
that was a good video...as much as i like Johnny cash,...I still like Willie Nelson's version better...chuck

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Posted by Pruitt on Friday, March 10, 2006 10:10 AM
Arlo Guthrie's version is my favorite.
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Posted by orsonroy on Friday, March 10, 2006 10:43 AM
^^^^^ I'll second that; the original version of the song is still the best, and the only one recorded when the CoNO was still around to mourn...

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 10, 2006 11:26 AM
The late, great Steve Goodman wrote that song and was probably the first to record it. As much as I like Steve's music, the way he did that tune was just a bit too bright and bouncy for me.

Anthony
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 10, 2006 9:29 PM
QUOTE: Arlo Guthrie's version is my favorite.
I would have to agree completely. Actually I never knew Cash sang it. (I'm from TX and can't stand country music [8D] )
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 10, 2006 10:52 PM
According to the liner notes in a Steve Goodman CD I have, His City of New Orleans was copyrighted in 1970. I remember hearing it a few times on some of the alternative radio stations in Chicago at the time. It became nationally known when Arlo G. recorded it in 1972 (according to the notes) at Steve G's suggestion. Also said the notes, Steve was inspired when he rode the actual City of New Orleans (pre-Amtrak).
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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 10, 2006 10:54 PM
I think the best version I have is Randy Scruggs and John Prine. The Steve Goodman version I have is I think an early demo or something, the words aren;t the same, but I do like the faster tempo.

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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Posted by Texas Zepher on Saturday, March 11, 2006 12:31 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker
I think the best version I have is Randy Scruggs and John Prine.

I woke up the other morning to a version by Willie Nelson. I didn't know he had ever recorded it. It was OK. The best part was the guitar ditty that was choo chooing in the background.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 11, 2006 9:51 AM
I believe it was from a television show Johnny Cash did in the late 70's,early 80's,about trains and train songs.
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Posted by Bill H. on Saturday, March 11, 2006 10:33 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

Too bad they don't tell you when that was recorded. Johnny looked a bit young there.


http://www.rhino.com/retrovid/VideoKeeper.lasso?Artist=Johnny%20Cash&Partner=

Johnny Cash: Ridin' The Rails - TV SPECIAL (1974)

Available on home video for the first time, Ridin' The Rails is a nostalgic look at the history of the American railroad through the song and story of the legendary Johnny Cash. Reenactments of historic railroading moments are movingly narrated by Cash and superbly embellished by his music. Includes outtakes from the original 1974 program.

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