Just some considerations
Train Kept A Rollin' (as covered by Yardbirds and later Aerosmith)
Long Train Runnin' (The Doobie Brothers)
Fast Train (April Wine)
A Passage To Bangkok (Rush)
Last Train To Clarksville (The Monkees)
Crazy Train (Ozzy)
John Robbie
___________________________________________
Love this Bob. Thank you for doing what you do.
To add to your list....
Phish’s more well known Back on the Train....
youtu.be/XJlha93DgvE
And their lesser known but haunting version of Train Song sung by bassist Mike Gordon...
youtu.be/p8FnMDakG4U
Be well....
Mike Novick
___________________________________________
"The City of New Orleans"
Arlo Guthrie
Does anybody remember this was written by Steve Goodman? Does anybody remember Steve Goodman?
I remember...saw him at the earl of old town. amazing grace in evanston. probably a half dozen other places.
He was great, spontaneous, super entertaining!
Had an engaging smile.
He often played with John Prine. Thankfully still alive.
The chicago folk scene was incredible!!
The good old days.
Glad you gave Goodman credit for the song!
a miller
___________________________________________
Also don’t forget Elvis’ “Mystery Train” or anything by Grand Funk Railroad
John Zambetti
___________________________________________
Steve Goodman has been in the news over the last few years, so yes, we remember him.
When the Cubs won the World Series in 2016 (Steve was a long suffering Cubs fan), you could hear his two songs, "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" and "Go Cubs Go" at every celebration.
Last year, Steve's good friend, John Prine, was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Here are Steve and John performing "Souvenirs", plus a bonus solo song by Steve. youtu.be/aOTbg39-I5Q
Ken Coffey
Waukesha, WI (home of the inventor of the solid body electric guitar)
___________________________________________
Hey, Bob... Love it, but you forgot Warren Zevon’s “Nighttime at the Switching Yard” and Savoy Brown’s “Hellbound Train.” Also, “Train Train” and “Train Kept a Rollin’.”
Dave Wood
___________________________________________
Yes yes yes. That record of Wendy's is wonderful. I mean hell, we cut "Mad Mad Me" and "Vaudeville Man" on Maria Muldaur's first album when Wendy was what? Sixteen? Seventeen? Just sayin', creatives like Wendy and Billie Eilish, they're born with it.
And Steve Goodman: among the sweetest people on the planet. I sang BGs on a John Prine album he produced in the '70s; we had a blast.
And "Two Trains Runnin'" among my favorite records ever. Well, I gotta say: EVERYTHING on Dixie Chicken.
What about any bluegrass or country singer doing "Wabash Cannonball"...? From Wikipedia: The song "The Wabash Cannonball" is part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list. It is the oldest song on the list. Hank Snow, Willie Nelson, Carter Family, Roy Acuff, etc. Maybe I'm going too far back...
gPresto
___________________________________________
Train, Train by Blackfoot.
open.spotify.com/track/5bSpsKGoGKXOOfg7F3ZtKz?si=kooog_hIQeqaTRT6kLXAiQ
Never cared much about this band. But this is great redneck rock. I should know- GA born and bred. Check out the harp solo at 2:05.
- Bruce Gow
___________________________________________
Downbound train is the best on that album!!!! Great call! Bruce is my favorite and has been since I was ten (1979). My counselors at my Jewish summer sports camp Bauercrest loved Bruce and I taped their cassette taped bootlegs. A wire connecting our two “boxes”. Loved him ever since.
Winny from Massachusetts
___________________________________________
Hi Bob,
...A few more Train songs for you on my Boats, Trains, Planes and Automobiles playlist
open.spotify.com/playlist/4TnGuk9WZQZ4IQ1EgLotDN?si=IK2N-d-uTJSVtjzEyTlc4g
including Train Song by Murray McLauchlan and Big Train by John Fogerty.
Bruno
Mississauga
___________________________________________
Steve Goodman
Great performer
Ask people in Chicago...they remember
Ask john prine..or david Allen Coe
Steve cowrote You never even call me by my name
He was a Witty live performer
Toy Caldwell should get more credit, I agree
Btw..love Wendy Waldman ..
Always a good read, thanks LC
___________________________________________
Strangely. I have a TRAIN playlist going on Spotify
open.spotify.com/playlist/2fi4x7o8eDhR3o5JnyAtGz?si=_suPs6kSTayAXzX4hm-Dog
Nanci M. Walker
___________________________________________
One After 909...???
stoned
___________________________________________
Every Chicago Cub fan remembers Steve Goodman.
Wileen Dragovan
___________________________________________
From station to station Back to Dusseldorf City Meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie
Tom Quinn
___________________________________________
Guy Clark - Texas 1947
Just a consideration.
Great list.
Thanks
Ted Lindsay
___________________________________________
Train Song by Phish. A masterful folk tune with beautiful harmonies.
Meditesh Rock
___________________________________________
Two more:
Rock Island Line- Lonnie Doneghan
(Inspired the Beatles’ One After 909)
Last Train Home- Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays
David Lowrey
___________________________________________
I listened endlessly to Wendy’s “Main Refrain” in the late 70’s and had the pleasure of meeting her doing an In-store Taylor guitar promotion when I managed the Minneapolis Guitar Center 15 years ago. The Fishin in the Dark writers story is a classic of where great song ideas come to For genius writers like Wendy.
Secondarily , I have a track of “You Can Close Your Eyes” in the can that I did with Russ Kunkel, Lee Sklar, Waddy ( The original session band for James) and Foo Fighters violinist Jesse Greene recorded In Burbank 5 years ago but not yet completed.
I have a standing invitation relayed by Peter Simon before he passed from my friend Sally Taylor to find a time when she, her brother Ben, her Mom, and I can all meet at Carly’s home studio on the Vineyard to finish it as a chorus of four. Needless to say I am excited for the opportunity.
Sally told me that her Dad wrote the song as a lullaby for her , and that he cane into her room before departing on any tour or trip and sang it to her “in case anything happened to him” traveling so that that would be her last memory of him.
Touching for sure. I think there will be a convergent time this Summer to complete my cover with Sally, Ben , and Mama C.
Best,
Zannman- Minneapolis
___________________________________________
Saw Steve Goodman at a pub in DC after he lost his hair from chemo. He died not long after.
When I ran into John Prine at ORD we talked about them playing the “Stompin 76” festival.
He said he still misses him.
Myiyes
___________________________________________
If you want to rock things up, here's TRAIN, TRAIN by Ricky Medlocke and Blackfoot,
which got a ton of airplay. Rickey's now with Skynyrd.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBP15lRprPs
Beau Phillips
___________________________________________
Thanks Bob. A couple of “ Train” songs I missed.
How about “ Catch A Train” by Free on Free At Last. On the same lp is “ Traveling Man” with a definite train groove at the end of the song , along with some fantastic Andy Fraser bass playing.
Alan Childs
___________________________________________
"Downtown Train" by Tom
The man with the incredible voice - where has he been lately?
And who remembers that he went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2011 ?
Stuart Taubel
___________________________________________
There was a contest a few years ago (not sponsored by the Cubs) to write a better Cubs song. The winner made “Go Cubs Go” sound like a cross between “Hey Jude” and Beethoven’s 5th.
Steven Monk
___________________________________________
Train Train by Blackfoot
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
Tino Perez
___________________________________________
I forgot “Two Trains Running” by The Blues Project, Butterfield Blues Band, Muddy Waters
Toby Mamis
___________________________________________
You left out Warren Zevon’s “Nighttime in the Switching Yard”.
Danny Cohen
___________________________________________
Howdy Bob,
"City of New Orleans," and many other Steve Goodman cuts were often
aired on KFAT, Gilroy when I was a deejay there.
Cheers,
Deadwood Dick
www.deadwooddick.com
___________________________________________
Hey Bob,
How about Joni's 'Just Like This Train.' One of my favorite songs. She creates such vivid pictures.
I'm new to your blogs and have really been enjoying them.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Donna Giardina
___________________________________________
From his/Bob live feed grammy’s performance.
Worth listening to for this: “this is one of your songs about traaaaaiiiins.”
music.apple.com/us/album/train-of-love/192704152?i=192704215
It’s a good ‘un
Judd Marcello
___________________________________________
Rufus Thomas - The Memphis Train
Greg McLoughlin
___________________________________________
Great selection of songs. If you want to add a non-rock song, listen to "Daddy What's A Train" by U. Utah Phillips.
About Steve Goodman: I was introduced to him by Fred Walecki at Fred's Westwood Music in 1972. Very nice guy. I mentioned that I'd just purchased John Denver's latest album "Annie's Song" which had "The City of New Orleans" on it. I said I was surprised to see on the record that John Denver had co-written the song. Steve immediately said "No he didn't. My attorneys and his are discussing that right now". According to Steve, John had made some minor changes to make it more "up-beat" and thought that made him a co-writer.
It was a huge loss when Steve died. I saw him several times in concert, usually with John Prine.
Norm Willis
___________________________________________
Bob,
I know you're getting a million of these but no "Casey Jones"?
Kim Cooke
___________________________________________
Nice Bob, but missing from the list the beautiful "Southbound Train" by Graham Nash and David Crosby and also "Mystery Train" by The Band...
All the best,
Cob Carlson
___________________________________________
I’ll give you three you missed though one is pretty obscure…….
Blackfoot “Train Train” arguably their biggest song.
Little Feat “Red Streamliner” a Bill Payne gem off of
Time Loves A Hero. The best song on that album in my opinion.
And last but not least..
The Holmes Brothers cover of Tom Waits “Train Song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=71LmHeKv4yc
if this don’t get ya……..
Best,
Jack
Jack Randall
President
The Kurland Agency
___________________________________________
You forgot a few....
Here are 2 of my faves from Canadian Artists.
"Night Train", same name different song by Bruce Cockburn
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgAlL6gSvxo
There is also a stripped down version somewhere
The other is "I like Trains" by Fred Eaglesmith
This is the studio version:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd34Ioye5v4&t=65s
There also many live versions all over youtube
Fred has been touring for decades and should be much
more well known
I met him a few years back doing sound production at a small show
and became an instant fan.
2 years after that I did another show for him, and when he found out
I also print T-Shirts, I became his merch guy.
He has a great catalog of songs from the heart about the working man etc.
You probably would enjoy Alcohol and Pills, among many.
He now tours as duo with wife Tiff Ginn, a great artist in her own right.
Cheers
Mitch Nixon ( the Sound Guy, T-Shirt Guy....what ever you need Guy LOL! )
___________________________________________
You left a classic "Train" themed song off the list:
The Band w. Paul Butterfield "Mystery Train"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-fmqOU8_Uo
Thanks,
Mike H
___________________________________________
No “One After 909”??
Not much of a list then!
Dennis Pelowski
___________________________________________
Here's another great song about a galloping horse. ???
www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS760US760&sxsrf=ALeKk00o0n-z-eOmvBkYyya-qaVLu7zHlA%3A1582671243819&ei=i6VVXpDOMYHs9AOM152IAg&q=poco+legend+youtube&oq=poco+legend&gs_l=psy-ab.1.8.0l10.2
John Hartmann
___________________________________________
C'mon
"Play aTrain Song"
-Todd Snider
???????
Richard Bruehl
___________________________________________
Hi Bob; Good list. I would have had James Brown's Night Train instead of Winwood's.
open.spotify.com/track/4OMreMBdFMvXg4nyh6KIAB?si=l_2-rdmxR_S-XM7Ft_ILvA
Also, not really your taste, I suspect but I'd surely have Midnight Train to Georgia.
All the best,
Mike Craig
___________________________________________
Guy Clark (probably better known for LA Freeway, which of course is more dangerous than a train) had Texas 1947. One of the really great train songs.
And Georgia on a Fast Train is one of Billy Joe Shaver’s best.
I've been to Georgia on a fast train honey
I wasn’t born no yestday
Got a good Christian raisin' and an eighth grade education
Ain't no need in y'all a treatin' me this way…
Jim Warren
___________________________________________
Lots of good stuff here, Bob. Train songs fill a large amount of well done songs. Here are a few trains that I favor:
Desperados Waiting for a Train - Guy Clark; also version by Jerry Jeff Walker
Train to Birmingham - John Hiatt; favorite version by Kevin Welch
Last Train to Amsterdam - Ray Wylie Hubbard
Trains I Missed - Walt Wilkins
New Delhi Freight Train - Little Feat; also version by Terry Allen
I Like Trains - Fred Eaglesmith
Train Ride - Lyle Lovett
Georgia on a Fast Train - Billy Joe Shaver
This Train Is Bound for Glory - Woodie Guthrie
bowman
___________________________________________
TRAIN LEAVES HERE THIS MORNING ...GENE CLARK (BYRDS)
Don de Brauwere
___________________________________________
"Traintime"
From the Cream album Wheels of Fire.
Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker
Departed giants.
R. Pina
___________________________________________
If there's another train collection...
"Gone Dead Train"
Writers: Jack Nitzsche and Russ Titelman
Performer: Randy Newman
Album: Soundtrack of Performance
"If Love Was a Train"
Writer: Michelle Shocked
Performer: Michelle Shocked
Album: Short Sharp Shocked
John Scott G
___________________________________________
Two Trains was with me on my cross-country train trip.
And on my road trip to the Grand Canyon with ashes of my human best friend
and my sweet dog.
I think I shared with you previously we saw them in the mid-70’s at the
underground Boston club Paul’s Mall.
www.setlist.fm/setlist/little-feat/1973/pauls-mall-boston-ma-53dba775.html
We stayed for both sets. Second set we sat directly behind Billy Payne. There had
been a noticeable shift in energy when the band came out for the second set.
Must’ve been that cocaine they loved so much.
By the time they got to Tripe Face Boogie I thought the club was going to
simply explode and take us all along for the trip.
An epic, life-changing evening.
Jane Hoffman
___________________________________________
Bob: nice Rhino Bucket reference. Great outfit. Bad timing indeed. And props for Down Bound Train - the true gem on Born in U.S.A. Love from the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Kurt Lambeth
___________________________________________
Hey Bob, what about Night Time in the Switching Yard by Warren Zevon?
-Miles Johnson
Tulsa, OK
___________________________________________
All good Bob, but you forgot the classic :
Locomotive Breath (The Live Version)
Jethro Tull
Regards,
India (aged 14)
___________________________________________
"Night Train"
Steve Winwood
Bob,
Thanks for keeping the Winwood flame burning. Such genius, such neglect.
The two-minute intro alone is a wonder, Winwood plying the A and D major scales, brilliantly exploring and expanding the theme, playing all the instruments—guitar, synth, piano, bass, drums—and then that voice! Brilliant and perfect. The video shows it all. He looks like a kid, skinny, detached—but already at 32 is a veteran of three great bands who had played with Muddy Waters, Hendrix, Clapton, Harrison, the Dead. And still touring!
Les Jacobson
___________________________________________
Hell yes I remember Steve Goodman. Great songwriter. Chicken Cordon Blues. You Never Even Call Me by My Name. A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request. To name a few.
Dave Thorn
___________________________________________
What a great selection (esp. "Riding on a Railroad", which I first heard in a live version on a compilation called the Bitter End Years). Another favorite train song of mine: “Train Song” by Tom Waits, not to be confused with “Downtown Train”, also great and by Tom Waits, and later covered by Rod Stewart.
Andrew Cohen
___________________________________________
Train A Comin’ - Steve Earle
Rodney Rowland
___________________________________________
More Trains ….
Paul Simon : Train In The Distance
The best song on his underrated, under-noticed HEARTS & BONES album.
Originally it was going to be a Simon & Garfunkel album.
That didn’t happen, but if it had, this would’ve been that record’s “Only Living Boy In New York.”
And like that track, it gets better with each hearing…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCFTHhcvRT0
Chuck Berry : Downbound Train
One of Chuck Berry’s best unheard songs…it wasn’t a single, it wasn’t a hit, and it doesn’t have an identifiable Chuck Berry
feel to it. It’s also darker than dark, about a man finding himself on a train being driven by the devil straight to hell.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcB9NGwkHrM
Tony Joe White : The Train I’m On
From an album by the same name from 1972, produced by Jerry Wexler & Tom Dowd. You can hear Wexler finding the sound & the players he'd eventually use on Dylan’s Slow Train album. But it never got any better than this. You can feel Tony Joe White there on the train and watching the locomotive disappear into the distance. Both at once. Wave goodbye.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edsur2x6yyw
OK Savant : Where The Railroads Run On Time
My old band : Sara Lee on bass, Steve Holley on drums, Larry Saltzman on guitar, Leslie Winston on keyboards, Brian Cullman singing & playing rhythm.
This song got us signed to Columbia/Sony. And then it all went kablooey. Still sounds good though.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BCLFzrTpdE
Tom Waits : Downtown Train
That’s the dirty little secret…for all the boho posturing and all the mumbling, Waits is not above turning out beautiful pop songs now and then…it’s nearly impossible to get "Ol’ 55" out of your head, and this one’s no different. And go back to “Jockey Full Of Bourbon” or “San Diego Serenade”or “Soldier’s Things” if you need more proof.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLtZKkCIVmI
Brian Cullman
___________________________________________
I realize your “train” playlist wasn’t meant to include every single train song, but as I’ve been following you for years now, and thinking back to all the wonderful music you’ve championed, I’m kinda shocked that you’d not include this gem:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXmZmAIl600
Along those same lines, and although I prefer the above, there is also this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxjk4Ck4vMA
But I’m also kinda surprised that this one didn’t make your cut:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRtvqT_wMeY
And this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUzBgeI5dpc
Finally, I always enjoyed “Hearts and Bones”, so there’s always this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCFTHhcvRT0
Anyway, thanks for the inspiration!
John Van Nest
___________________________________________
But no "Everybody Loves a Train" off Los Lobos Colossal Head album? What a groove. Go ahead and call us insane, but we all love a train. Like we love the woefully underrated Wolves.
And you had to at least consider Joni's "Just Like this Train" from Court & Spark? Boxcars are bangin in the yards!
Settle down into the clickety clack.
Cheers
Bob Scott
___________________________________________
"Night Train" by Bruce Cockburn
-- Bill O'Neill
___________________________________________
I recommend you to listen to “Northern Bound Train” by Pete Droge. One of my favorites.
youtu.be/c_lMH-oucqE
As matter of fact, his first album (which includes this track) is pretty damn good.
Tom Petty had him opening for him during one of his 1990s tours.
Scott Sechman
___________________________________________
What? No ZION TRAIN by Bob Marley? SMH.
Best,
Kia Kamran
___________________________________________
Thanks for the kind words about Toy Caldwell and "Can't You See." Yesterday was the 27th anniversary of Toy's passing. Toy was a great guitarist, performer and songwriter. RIP Toy.
Best,
Casey
F. Casey Del Casino
Del Casino Law
___________________________________________
Don’t forget Savoy Brown! This tune makes it onto a lot of my playlists - an all time favorite. Great road trip tune!
Marty Jorgensen
NorCal
"Hellbound Train": youtu.be/N6TkCLDcC7o
___________________________________________
Long Time Between Trains
Susan Werner
Pat Long
___________________________________________
Train Kept a Rollin (All night long) Aerosmith
Carrie A. Russell, JD, PhD
___________________________________________
What about "Train Leaves Here This Morning"? Written by Bernie Leadon and Gene Clark. Recorded by the Eagles on their debut album. Also recorded by Dillard & Clark and found on their album "The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark."
Ben Fierro
___________________________________________
Hitchcock railway , terrific cut
I need to hear that tonight
Thanks for zapping my memory .
Tom Rush is still great live , we in New England are lucky he is a local guy
Gerry
___________________________________________
Great playlist! I loved the guitar work on Hitchcock Railway...Henry McCullough and Clarence White or so Wikipedia says...Leon Russell on keys! I might suggest Los Lobos, "That Train Don't Stop Here Anymore," a great musical ride, a perfect blend of a missed train and love lost, done and gone, down that track!
Another great train song is 70s Everly Bros, "I'm On My Way Home Again." This song is why I love Clarence White's guitarwork so much. www.youtube.com/watch?v=41f8AFx1TDM
Chip Lovitt
___________________________________________
You can’t have a playlist like that and not include Lucero – Union Pacific Line
open.spotify.com/track/7MEzKirbaU6IdJUVUviyPP
I am still uncertain how Lucero flies under the radar they are such a solid band
Chad Washington
___________________________________________
Great playlist!
I love all these artists, but my favorite is Tom Rush. I used to get my friend Albert Spevak to drive me up to Rockport when I was at Brandeis, trying to figure out all his fingering on Rockport Sunday (and other songs). And I have most of his early albums. (When he went to Columbia, I hated those albums, even though I worked there.)
And then a few months ago, Tom played an acoustic set at the Rubin Museum in Manhattan (and I sat in the front row, so close I could almost reach out and touch his fingers on the frets). He was great, and of course, played “Panama Limited.” I got a chance to chat with him afterwards, which was nice.
Best,
Debbie
___________________________________________
What about Night Train by James Brown? Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight? Last Train to Clarksville? Mystery Train by Elvis? Train Kept-A Rolling by The Yardbirds? I guess I’ll have to make my own playlist…
Also, here’s MY favorite version of Hitchcock Railway: youtu.be/Dt5RhzKtZA4
Cheers,
Jeremy Shatan
___________________________________________
SOUTHERN PACIFIC - Give Uncle Neil some loving
Or the DEAD - I wish I was a headlight on a north-bound train - I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain
Sincerely
Michael Karff
___________________________________________
One of the best, “Royal Station 4/16” Melissa Etheridges 2nd album! Great song and a great performance from her.
Irv Berner
___________________________________________
I love it that you included “Panama Limited.” Tom played here in Middlebury a couple months ago and yes, he still nails it.
- Greg Dennis
___________________________________________
Back on the Train
Phish
rollicking
Jonas Kelly
___________________________________________
Never would have guessed Rhino Bucket would pop up on a list of yours. Glad it did. Truly an overlooked band
100% right on Downbound Train. Best cut on the record
Thanks
Dana Gore
___________________________________________
I can name many,,, but.
It takes a lot to laugh...It takes a train to cry..would be at the top of the list
Brian Lukow
___________________________________________
I saw you’ve already got ‘Downtown Train’ in there. I’d add - or maybe swap it out for - Bruce’s version of ‘Land Of Hope & Dreams’, Bob. From about 2000, I believe. Got me through a *very* dark and hopeless moment in my life, that song... and came at a point when I really did feel I was riding a ‘downbound train’ on a one-way ticket.
Cheers, and keep on doing what only you can do. More power to ya.
Paul Murphy
___________________________________________
What about Mystery Train?
Harold Love
___________________________________________
I didn’t catch on that you were collecting train songs,
When I had my daughter, we she was 4 we tripped on this, by an children’s educator, who plays Library’s. and it is HAUNTINGLY AMAZING you’d have to have no soul to not like this,
Charlie Hope “Train Song”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKlHABc8HTE
Not sure if you were looking just for suggestions,
But I bet you can put Charlie HOPE on the MAP with this,
She’s amazing For some reason I get really emotional listening to the song.
She actually sounds like a train coming down the tracks from a distance. right at you!
If you’re like me you’ll listen to this ten times in a row.
ALSO as a HUGE Blackfoot fan, you have to include
Train Train
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBP15lRprPs
BUT even better,
Blackfoot “Railroad Man”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoDPlGIfemU
Enjoy
John
--
John Warden
Rive Video Promotion
___________________________________________
Bob, of course we remember Steve Goodman. Yes, the people whose lives he touched will eventually all die. But those of us who still remain, we remember and treasure him.
Tom Moore
___________________________________________
Tom Rush. Yes!!
But...no train playlist could be complete without
Monsters of Folk
“The Sandman, The Brakeman And Me”
A stand-out lullaby about falling asleep on a rolling train from the 2009 self titled debut that brought Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), M. Ward (She & Him), and Jim James (My Morning Jacket) together for one of the best albums of the last decade.
Cody Chapman
___________________________________________
Great songs here Bob, I'm going to pop in on this afternoon.
I'd like to chuck a song onto the rails, Two Gallants - The Train That Stole My Man
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHkq-LJyXRs
By the time the vocals kick in the shimmering rumble of the distant locomotive and lonely windswept vista is effortlessly evoked. You can feel the dust blowing up against your calves and the sweat-stained shirt sticking to your back.
I think a while back you wrote about how there's some things that 'The Algortihm' just won't be able to predict. Sure, if I listen to ten rap tracks it can find me more rap tracks from a similar area or era. But what about other, less tangible aspects?
I think about distance. Not just miles but deep, deep emotional gaps that both sides want to cross but the chasm is too gaping. Something bigger than yards. I don't know why, but I yearn for it in a lot of art. When The Doctor and Rose are on the other side of a wall on the screen, but a universe apart in reality. The twinning of souls who are always apart in Makoto Shinkai's masterpiece 'Your Name'. This song does similar, in another time and place this family could be together, but in this time and place they can't.
Maybe it's that feeling of an itch you can't quite scratch. A desire to constantly have something to reach for. I don't know.
Anathema - Untouchable brings up these feelings too. I can't put a finger on why, but I sometimes wonder what algorithm is going to pick it out based on the previous things I've mentioned? I'd rather you find me ten things that make me feel like this than similar sci-fi shows, anime films, folk ballads and rock epics.
Andy Vale
___________________________________________
I gotta say: any train playlist should include Blackfoot's "Train, Train" open.spotify.com/track/5bSpsKGoGKXOOfg7F3ZtKz?si=YbH4xKVCTSSEiwHrux_4Ow
That is a head-out-of-the-window freedom chasing classic.
Stay human!
K
___________________________________________
Great list, you missed:
Train Song - Tom Waits.
Probably the greatest song about the despair that alcoholism brings.
Night Train - Guns 'N Roses
Taking no prisoners pure hard rock decadence. Apparently when they mastered Appetite they were referencing the juggernaut that is Back in Black.
Louis Warner
___________________________________________
WTF, No James Brown "Night Train?"
Michael Providence
___________________________________________
music.apple.com/us/playlist/train-songs-newburys-others/pl.u-yZyVlNVsYBXA1J
Grant Fowler
___________________________________________
plenty of 'em:
open.spotify.com/playlist/593DI3FELrDcn8UzPVlU3U?si=2NXsv_P8Rhm3fI3ZteRJOg
John Hughes
___________________________________________
@MrChuckD: A rap song Nighttrain by @PublicEnemyFTP if you need a hiphop rep @siriusxmvolume @Lefsetz off t.co/QorwQOAZK3
___________________________________________
Love the trains playlist, especially the mention of Wendy Waldman..
But even more, I love the Babka, along with sundry other delicacies, that arrived today from Zabars.
Thanks for reminding me of two of life’s essentials.
Dan Beach
Orlando
___________________________________________
Hi Bob. You must write a book called “ The Right band at the wrong time”
If Griel Marcus can whittle down Rock & Roll to 10 songs, you surely can shine a light on those that have not reached Valhalla & never will. Having said all of that you’re probably too busy reading three books at once.
Michael Des Barres.
--
Visit the archive: lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, Unsubscribe
To change your email address this link
