Sunday, January 29, 2006

Train songs update

A Meeting At Dusk - David A. Oram (Custom)
Artist: David A. Oram

Oh, wow. I owe an enormous thank you to all the nice people who sent train songs my way since I put out the appeal earlier this week. I have 80 tracks at this point. My dad's going to be thrilled (and a little overwhelmed). If you're curious to see what I've collected, here's the list. And if you're one of the people who contributed songs, feel free to email me for a track or two.

They're all fantastic, but these are a couple favorites from my collection and reader's contributions:

I Hate That Train They Call the M&O - Lucille Bogan

Devils Train - Crooked Fingers

Yonder Comes a Freight Train - Laura Cantrell

Train Ride in G - Mason Williams

Truck Train Tractor - The Pastels

Waiting On a Train - Steve Forbert

Betting On Trains - Hem

This Train - The Staple Singers

Train to Rainbow City - The Pyramids

I was so intrigued by that Pyramids song, I did a little digging on the band. Didn't find a lot, except that they were a British ska act of the late 60s that once played back-up to Prince Buster. Eddy Grant produced " Train to Rainbow City," which was apparently The Pyramids' only (UK) charting song. There's a little more information at this blog.

Also check out the train songs currently hosted by other mp3 blogs (but hustle--not sure how long they'll be up):

The Caboose of Train Songs - Dave Lang's Big Mountain Indian Plain at Songs: Illinois
Seat On This Train - Tom Freund at Puddlegum
The Train Song - Elsie & Gene Jaggers at The Record Robot
The Train Singer's Song - The Band of Blacky Ranchette at Big Rock Candy Mountain
Two from Norman Blake at Old Blue Bus

8 Comments:

Blogger evan said...

Arcade Fire did a great train song last year, too.

6:59 PM  
Blogger kickpleat said...

i really meant to respond to your earlier call out for train songs. here's a couple more....too late to add to your list: love in vain by robert johnston, and my favorite (& also the last song on our wedding cd!) funky future train by king kong! i love that pyramids song btw!

8:21 PM  
Blogger thevitaminkid said...

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that no one contributed The City Of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie, which was a top 40 hit in the early seventies. Great train song. Actually, the song was written by Steve Goodman. I would have sent Arlo's and Steve's recordings of it, but they are on vinyl, and I'm kind of slow transferring things from vinyl. Another favorite is Night Train To Munich by Al Stewart.

12:48 AM  
Blogger Rod Warner said...

How about Pete Morton, superior Brit singer/songwriter - Another Train - here...

3:45 AM  
Blogger The DoorKeeper said...

More Train Songs over at with a few more to follow ;~) Great idea!

8:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cptn Beefheart's "click clack" is the best ever train song, and I have a particular affection for train From Kansas City by the Shangri Las (so I mean them?)

anyway - thanks,

Jon
http://southcoasting.blogspot.com

4:18 PM  
Blogger Amy said...

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings just released a collection of classic railroad songs. It's a lot of older artists, and is very interesting indeed. They've got sound clips and info at their website. Just thought you might enjoy it!

4:03 PM  
Blogger The DoorKeeper said...

2 and a 1/2 pounds of bacon just posted the wonderful 'L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore' by Michelle Shocked. Hear it if you don't know ;~)

10:44 AM  

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