I find the place I most enjoy listening to music is on the open road. Something about the peacefulness and repetition of it allows my mind to be most receptive to inspiration. This makes me tend to gravitate toward songs that have a certain motion to them. Songs to get you from point A to B. Songs you can get lost to, and with. Of all the “travel songs,” train songs seem to usually be the best … with, perhaps, honorable mention to horseback. But for our purposes, let’s go with trains! — R. Finn
Jimmie Rodgers — “Waiting for a Train”
Of course, you can’t have a playlist about trains without mention of “The Singing Brakeman” himself! Perhaps the first rock star, and rightfully so, Jimmie is the complete package. His guitar playing is deceptive. On the surface simple, but elegant and deep. His voice is always the perfect highway companion, and his lyrics worth the price of admission alone. Hard-hitting lyrics, nothing spared. Organized with poetic precision. He makes sleeping in a boxcar and the hobo’s life sound ideal. He could be singing about dying from T.B. and it feels like chicken soup. Jimmie is the greatest, and this one of his best.
Muddy Waters — “All Aboard”
McKinley Morganfield, “King of the Delta Blues.” I love everything he ever did, but this era is my favorite. From the opening harmonica choo choo and the “All Aboard” call, I’m already in. Don’t know where this train is going, but I’ve bought a one-way ticket. Underneath that intoxicating rhythm is a tale of a “mean old Frisco” taking Muddy’s baby away. Must have been some kind of woman.
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