Time to shake things up a bit. Nothing CB likes more than a good train song (car song, girls name song also). On my musical journey I have heard so many and they never fail to catch my ear. I could mouth off about all the ones I dig but that’s what I’m trying to avoid. So here’s the deal folks. A little diversion if you want one from things that are going on. Truth be known, I’m getting tired of my own bullshit. And that’s no bullshit.
So what I’m asking for is your favorite train song. That’s it. What I’d like to do is get you to say a few lines (as many lines as you need to say it) or not. Up to the individual. It doesn’t even have to be your favorite. Maybe just one that comes to mind, a fond memory, something you heard lately. Maybe a few you want to mention. I just have a feeling that you’re sitting on some gems and itching to pull the throttle and let that train out of the barn and let it highball down the tracks.
Get on board. CB’s pulling out. All passengers welcome.
Lets let Bob Seger get us rolling.
People, get ready
There’s a train a-coming
You don’t need no ticket
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don’t need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
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Get on board with that Aph. I dig both the Curtis and the Stewart/Beck versions. Classic. Perfect for the times or any times. Thanks.
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The blues is endless like work, and the “Mystery Train” also doesn’t leads anywhere; it has no goal because it has no direction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_eE0NPArEY
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Get on Fox. Another absolute must “CB Train Song”. Butterfield and The Band did it justice on the Last Waltz.
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Nothing against the Paul Butterfield version CB, but you have to listen how Elvis sings the lines, how he lets the locomotive pull and the rattling of the wheels, painful goodbye and hope of reunion, arriving and leaving collide.
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The Elvis version was the start of big things and yes he sung it with everything he had. It’s still the one. I think the Butterfield/Band version was a homage to him and what he started.
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This is one of his best songs, that’s why some call him The King.
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Elvis is driving the train
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„Coming do-hown the be-hend“.
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Here I sit with Mighty Trains on tv while the boy puts track together in front of me. I instantly had too many in my head (Downbound Train, Train in Vain, Train Kept a Rollin) to choose from so I asked him as he’s the resident expert – he said “Land of Hope and Dreams”. I dig it; Bruce swaps the car and motorcycle as a vehicle for escape with a big old gospel-style train hurtling to a destination of ‘who knows where but it’s better than here’ so “grab your ticket and your suitcase, Thunder’s rollin’ down this track“
Also fitting as when it was reworked for the record Springsteen added in a bit “People get ready”…
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Listening to it right now. Very fitting Tony. Bruce likes to get moving.
“This train carries saints and sinners, this train carries losers and winners, this train carries whores and gamblers …”. I’m getting on. The big Man blowing from a flat deck. Great choice Tony. A few shivers listening to it.
The other 3 you noted are in my bag . Good ones
Love the image of your boy putting his train set together, Enjoy that. Later and thanks for rolling in.
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I like Midnight Train to Georgia and as a kid it was Chattanooga Choo Choo.
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That’s what I mean about train songs. ‘Midnight To Georgia. Does that tell a story or what. Chattanooga gets in the brain. ‘I got my fare and a trifle to spare” Thanks for getting on board 2loud.
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Love Aerosmith’s version of Train Kept A Rollin at the end of Live Bootleg! Stellar!
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Oh yeah deKE. That’s a killer. I love their version. The opening riff sets the tone. ‘With a heave and ho ..”
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The first one that popped into my head is Casey Jones, by the GD. That whole album, Workingman’s Dead, is great. Especially late at night, when lights are low.
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Take that throttle away from Jones, Neil. We want to get where were going in one piece. It’s a good one from a good record. Thanks for jumping on. Getting some very cool tunes. More to come.
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Pat Metheny Group, “Last Train Home.” Evocative. Give it a listen.
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Just jumped onto it Doc. I know this tune but didnt know the title. Very good change of pace. Amazing what a good musician can say with no words. The music is telling the tale. The drum driving it. Its moving CB. Thanks for climbing on Doc.
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CB has inspired the good doctor to perhaps make the album it came from a Featured Album. There is nothing like that long, lonesome train whistle. Except maybe a beer.
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Inspiration is good. I think I’ll put that on my spin list this week. No, I will put it on my spin list.
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He even throws a whistle in at the end. That does the trick for me. I love that stuff.
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Metheny’s great. Havent heard much from home in a while. Used to live around here, maybe still does, not sure. I believe he was touring Europe but that’s gotta be on hold.
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I cant help it with the train references but maybe Pat jumped on the last train home.
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To our other discussion, John Barleycorn would be nice if not Low Spark
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Yes. There’s a great new version Winwood cut. Just him. Looks like at his home studio. Has this guy lost anything over the years. No. Hey it’s a wanna be train song. Below
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Got three for you CB – #1 by far “5:15” by the Who – a manic song that gets the juices flowing and makes you feel like you’re actually gong somewhere, too. #2 “City of New Orleans” – Arlo Guthrie – that one is really all about the train – sets a mood and makes me feel like I’m 14 again listening to it on some shitty little radio. #3 “Two Trains” – Lowell George/Little Feat – mostly because Lowell is a guy who needs to be remembered and brought up whenever possible. What a loss! I loved his music and his attitude. Imagine the music he might have made for us.
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“5:15”. What a great tune and a “train song” to boot. The Who at the top of their game.”Out of my brain on a train”
Arlo slows it down but it still works. Telling a story. The images are fantastic. So many good lyrics on this one.
‘2 Trains’I was just listening to this one. Might have been on a certain radio show. I’m gong to get a Lowell T shirt made. and spread the word. Every April first is now LG day. Great choices. I want to get on everyone of those high steel rollers. Man am I getting a playlist or what.
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Hey CB. What an innovative post!
My two picks are the following:
‘Long Train Coming’ – Doobie Brothers
‘Runaway Train’ – Kasey Chambers
I hope all is good with you and your family during lockdown.
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How come these trains all sound so good. Have to have the harmonica on a train song. The Doobies did it right.
Matt I’ve never heard Kasey before. Just listened to the song. Fantastic. I guess CB will have to explore more of young Kasey’s work. Glad you jumped on board and brought your friends.
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The harmonica on a train song! Yes indeed. Haha. Kasey is a wonderful Australian country artist whose songs have featured on my blog. Thank you for your kind words CB. Check out Kasey’s ‘Nullabour song’ if you like the more mellow/reflective Country sounds. Cheers.
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Is it possible that no one – even CB himself – thought of this one?
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Probably one of the first Train songs I ever heard. Jack gets a workout. I loved that guy.
“Train time baaaaby”. Sounds real good to me. Jack and the boys are the train for sure. Ginger is driving that song.
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Far be it from the Doc to tell Yukon CB what to do. But now that you’ve opened this window, maybe put together a ‘CB Spotify list ‘o favorite train songs’ and share it in a future post.
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Ill talk to my agent
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Vinnie Boom Botz
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Hey, have you by any chance watched The Crown on Netflix? Good series, solid acting, cinematography.
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No I havent but I’ll take it on recommendation. Are becoming a Monarchist?
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Hardly. They seem like a bunch of wankers. But they sure are entertaining.
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Listened to the Winwood ‘Barleycorn’ solo. Doesn’t even really need a band does he?
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No Steve is one talented guy. He’s been doing it for a long time.
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Yeah, man, nice rocker by Bob Seger.
I definitely know more than two train songs, but currently, only two come to my mind: “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield (love the man), which he recorded with The Impressions in 1965. Just a beautiful tune!
Last Train to Clarksville, the debut single by The Monkees. I know, perhaps an unusal choice. There’s a simple explanation. I just blogged about The Monkees. 🙂 And it’s actually a great tune!
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I think the first comment by Aphoristical included the Mayfield tune. Yes it’s a beautiful one.
Hey ‘Clarksville is a good tune and it fits this take perfectly. I just heard another version a while ago by Cassandra Wilson. Jazzified. Thanks for hopping on the train Christian.
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Train kept a Rollin’ by Johnny Brunette, for me CB.
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Burnette!! Damnit autocorrect!!
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Both Brunette and Burnette do killer versions
“With a heave and a ho I just couldnt let her go”.
I could stick this one in so many of my fave genres but “Train Songs’ is what I asked for and this is one of the best. You even have a train name. “Leaving on the 1537”. Thanks for hopping on.
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I think it might actually be about raunchy sex and not really trains at all. Sorry.
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Okay. Alright. CB can get on that. He’s adaptable. So let me get this straight, it’s a train that provides those services? Can I still get a cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee?
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Last train to San Fernando
Last train to San Fernando
If you miss this one
You’ll never get another one
Iddy Diddy Dum Dum…
Not my favourite train song but the first to jump into my mind
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2nd tune which I much prefer is Chattanooga Choo Choo! Make of my choices what you will. 😁
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Chattanooga is a good one. Another passenger mentioned it. So many good versions. Just glad you hopped on.
I listened to your Oct 16 show today. another good one. Going to give 6ix Toys some more time.
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Thanks for the comment on October 16. Re Chattanooga lots of versions I chose the one that came to mind at that time.
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It looks like a lot of the good train tunes have already been claimed… but it seems like I can still slip in one of my person favs. No one could lay down a groove like Jimi.
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Get on board Mars. This tune is a killer.
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My two are…. Mystery Train by Elvis and John Fogerty’s Big Train From Memphis.
Great idea for a post.
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Yeah had a real good response and you just added to it. Fogerty’s is a good one.
I just started tuning into a internet radio station out of NYC. He stopped by here and riffed on the idea for one of his shows. He played some real good tunes. Hey thanks for jumping on board. Always good to have another music/film guy drop by. Later Badfinger.
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Tommy Hunter – Travellin Man
he also sang – Them Train Songs – at The Grand Ol Opry
He did a lot of duets on his TV show, with Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and singers like that, that favoured train songs.
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Tommy Hunter. A good Canadian kid. You must be from the “Frozen North” Buff.
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