Ry Cooder: Boomer’s Story
‘Just bury me down beside the railroad, so I can hear the trains go by.’ And so the title track of Ry’s classic 1972 LP concludes our season of train … Continue readingRy Cooder: Boomer’s Story
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Cat Stevens: I’ve Found a Love
I always thought Cat Stevens (born Steven Demetre Georgiou, now known as Yusuf Islam) was underrated both as a singer and a song-writer. This great track is from his 1967 … Continue readingCat Stevens: I’ve Found a Love
Little Feat: New Delhi Freight Train
Excellent cover of the Terry Allen song, highlight of the 1977 Time Loves a Hero album. And here’s the man himself on the album Lubbock (on everything) which didn’t appear … Continue readingLittle Feat: New Delhi Freight Train
Randy Travis and Josh Turner: Long Black Train
A bit of gospel never did anyone any harm. Written by Turner, this was the title track of his 2003 debut album.
Paul Simon: Train in the Distance
From the 1983 album Hearts and Bones. And here’s a live version from 2008.
In praise of Spam
DESPITE its being ridiculed in a Monty Python sketch (here’s a Lego version) which led to its adoption as a term for junk mail, I have always been inordinately fond of … Continue readingIn praise of Spam
Jethro Tull: Locomotive Breath
A real period piece, this. A 1982 live version of the song from 1971’s Aqualung. Ian Anderson sweats for England.
Michael Nesmith: Medley – The Back Porch and a Fruit Jar Full of Iced Tea
The first part of which is The FFV – Bill Monroe’s story of a train crash. ‘So the very last words poor Georgie cried were, “Nearer my God to thee”.’
Harry Nilsson: As Time Goes By
This is one of my favourite songs, and I love this version on Nilsson’s 1973 album A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night. The orchestration by Gordon Jenkins is terrific, almost … Continue readingHarry Nilsson: As Time Goes By
Keith Whitley: Daddy Loved Trains
‘Number two diesel fuel flowed through his veins, Mama loved Daddy but Daddy loved trains.’ From Whitley’s 1995 album Wherever You Are Tonight.