Search - Various Artists :: Train 45: Railroad Songs Of The Early 1900s

Various Artists
Train 45: Railroad Songs Of The Early 1900s
Genres: Country, Blues, Folk, Pop, Classical

Track Listings (26) - Disc #1
1. RIDING ON THAT TRAIN 45 - Steve Ledford/Wade Mainer/Zeke Morris
2. WRECK OF THE 1256 - Curly Fox
3. WRECK OF THE 97 - The Arizona Wranglers
4. TRUE AND TREMBLING BRAKEMAN - The Lullaby Larkers
5. RAILROAD STOMP - Jolly Two
6. HE IS COMING TO US DEAD - G.B. Grayson/Henry Whitter
7. THE LIGHTNING EXPRESS - Gene McNulty
8. RED AND GREEN SIGNAL LIGHTS - G.B. Grayson/Henry Whitter
9. OLD RUBEN - Wade Mainer/Sons of the Mountaineers
10. DEPOT BLUES - Crowder Brothers
11. K.C. RAILROAD BLUES - Andrew Baxter/Jim Baxter
12. TRAIN WHISTLE NIGHTMARE - Joe 'Cannonball' Lewis
13. PINE KNOT CANNONBALL - George Edgin
14. MCABEE'S RAILROAD PIECE - Palmer McAbee
15. RIDING THE ELEVATED TRAIN - Lew Childre
16. TIME TABLE BLUES - Captain Appleblossom
17. PULLMAN PASSENGER TRAIN - Pullman Porters Quartette
18. ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL - Jerry and Sky
19. POOR LITTLE LIZA, POOR GIRL - Jomer and Jethro
20. JERRY, GO ILE THAT CAR - Harry McClintock
21. SECTION GANG SONG - T.C.I. Section Crew
22. ROCK ISLAND LINE - Convicts of Cummins Farm, Gould, AR
23. THE LONGEST TRAIN - Convicts of Bellwood Prison Camp, Atlanta, GA
24. GOLDEN STATE GOSPEL TRAIN - Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet
25. DEATH OF JOHN HENRY - Uncle Dave Macon
26. RAILROAD BLUES - Sam McGee

CD Details

All Artists: Various Artists
Title: Train 45: Railroad Songs Of The Early 1900s
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Rounder Select
Original Release Date: 10/13/1998
Release Date: 10/13/1998
Genres: Country, Blues, Folk, Pop, Classical
Styles: Bluegrass, Classic Country, Traditional Folk, Instruments, Strings
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 018964114329

Synopsis

Amazon.com

If you think popular music is a fickle mistress, blame America's railroads. These days the rails inspire little more than hackneyed romantic metaphors, but in the early years of the recording industry, they constituted a formidable, pervasive fad and set a precedent for topical songwriting that will likely never go out of fashion. Train 45, the fourth volume in an ongoing series, collects some of the most charming and evocative railroad songs from the first half of the 20th century. Though meticulously remastered, these old 78 sides still sound scratchy and muted--just as they should. After all, it's hard to picture a railside hobo (the original inspiration and audience for many of these songs) listening to a CD in the first place. He'd sooner use it for a shaving mirror. --Matt Hanks

CD Reviews

Historical recordings of a bygone age

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of train songs has been collected from the archives. There are no re-recordings here, so you are unlikely to recognise many of the artists listed here unless you are an expert in early American folk music.You are unlikely to have much more success in recognising song titles, as even a lot of these are obscure - but you should at least recognise Wreck of the old 97, Orange blossom special and Rock Island line. Even these classics are presented here in the way they were written. If you are used to hearing rousing versions of Orange blossom special played at breakneck speed, the mid-tempo Jerry and Sky version will show you what it was intended to sound like.Wabash Cannonball has not been included, but three songs based on it have been - they are Poor little Liza poor girl, Train whistle nightmare and Pine Knot Cannoball. The very detailed liner notes explain that Poor little Liza poor girl qualifies because of the manner in which the unfortunate Liza died.Because the recordings were all made in an age when trains were important, they are more authentic than modern covers. To enjoy this, it helps if (like me) you enjoy early American folk music as well as trains."

Train 45 is a Must-Own for the Railroad music buff

Joan H. Young | Scottville, MI United States | 04/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album collects almost an hour of original recordings of songs which remind us of the hard and dangerous life of the railroaders, with a sprinkling of humorous songs to keep it from becoming truly morbid. As you listen to this you really begin to catch the feelings of the railroad era. The enclosed flyer includes information about each song."

Classic stuff - real music

J. SYKES | Suburban Hell, Denver, CO USA | 06/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just borrowed this from a local library. It's an awesome cd. Reminds me in part of Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston, etc. and also the type of sound atmospheres that certain train-loving jazz artists were trying to get to (Duke Ellington, etc.); you definately feel as if you are moving when listening to some of the tunes.Any fan of early, authentic American folk music will be very pleasantly surprised at this gem."