The album kicks off with “Here Comes That Train Again,” a lively number written by Stephen McCarthy, and performed by Stephen McCarthy and Carla Olson. You likely know Stephen McCarthy from his work in bands like The Long Ryders and The Jayhawks. Carla Olson has worked with a large number of artists, and also has a solo career. She also produced this album. There is a Byrds influence heard on this track. “But I hope to see/One day that train’s coming back to me.” Paul Marshall, from I See Hawks In L.A., plays bass on this track. And speaking of I See Hawks In L.A., the album’s second track is from Robert Rex Waller, Jr., that group’s lead vocalist. It’s a cover of Rank And File’s “The Conductor Wore Black,” which was written by Chip Kinman and Tony Kinman, and originally included on the band’s 1982 debut LP, Sundown. Chip Kinman plays guitar on this new version, and Paul Marshall is on bass. It’s another lively country song featuring some really nice work on guitar. And Rick Hemmert’s drum work toward the end feels like a train chugging along the tracks.
“Mystery Train” is a song that has been covered by a lot of artists over the years. I think the first version I heard was by Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders. I’ve heard it done as folk, country, blues, rock, and it just always work. There are two versions of “Mystery Train” on this album. The first is by Rocky Burnette, and it features some great stuff by Mickey Raphael on harmonica. And again, that rhythm seems to recreate the movement of a train. Rick Hemmert is on drums, and Paul Marshall is on bass. There is also some delicious work by Garry Goldberg on piano. It is a fun rendition. Then Peter Case, a fantastic songwriter himself, here covers the traditional gospel number, “This Train.” In addition to vocals and guitar, he delivers some good work on harmonica. Jesse DeNatale joins him on backing vocals. This is a really nice rendition.
John Fogerty covers “City Of New Orleans,” which is Steve Goodman’s most famous song, though most folks know it mainly because of Arlo Guthrie’s rendition. John Fogerty adds a playful introduction, saying “Well, good morning, America, how are ya?” This track is a family affair, with Shane Fogerty on vocals and guitar, Tyler Fogerty on bass and vocals, and Kelsey Fogerty on guitar. Mickey Raphael joins them on harmonica. This is an excellent, low-key rendition; John Fogerty doesn’t give it anything that isn’t needed. Dustbowl Revival then delivers a fun, cheerful rendition of “Marrakesh Express,” written by Graham Nash and originally included on the debut LP from CSN. I like that work from the horn section, which at one point near the end acts like a train whistle, which is just wonderful. Matt Rubin is on trumpet and Ulf Bjorlin is on trombone. And then just before the end, there is a cool percussion section.
Kai Clark gives us a great rendition of his father’s “Train Leaves Here This Mornin’,” this track featuring some good work by Byron Berline on fiddle and by Kevin Post on pedal steel. Kai’s wife, Amber Clark, provides some backing vocals. This track was originally included on Kai Clark’s Silver Raven, released in 2020. That’s followed by Gary Myrick’s rendition of “Train Kept A-Rollin’.” The first version I ever heard of this song was that by Aerosmith, a band I couldn’t get enough of when I was a kid. It was on the second Aerosmith cassette I ever bought, Get Your Wings (Greatest Hits was the first Aerosmith purchase I made). This version by Gary Myrick seriously rocks as well, and features some great stuff on guitar.
Bill Morrissey is someone I used to see and listen to quite frequently in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Massachusetts, and then I kind of lost track of him and somehow had no idea of his connection with Dave Alvin. Well, on this disc Dave Alvin plays “Southwest Chief,” a song credited to the two of them. It’s one of my favorite tracks. I just love to hear Dave Alvin sing. “Folks that I’ve known and loved keep crossing my mind/As the train keeps rolling, making up lost time/And I’m remembering my dear friend, Bill Morrissey/We were going to write a song, but it never came to be.” So, wait, did they write it together or not? Well, either way, it’s a great song. Johnny Lee Schell plays guitar, Paul Marshall plays bass, and Ben Lecourt is on drums. There is some beautiful playing on this track. That’s followed by Alice Howe’s rendition of “500 Miles.” This is a song I heard a lot growing up. My parents often played Peter, Paul & Mary records, and this song was on at least a few of them. Alice Howe delivers a gorgeous rendition. She is backed by some talented musicians, including Dave Pearlman on pedal steel, Daniel Friedberg (known as Freebo) on bass and acoustic guitar, Jeff Fielder on electric guitar, and John Molo on drums. That is a ridiculous amount of talent to fit onto a single track.
Deborah Poppink delivers an interesting and unusual rendition of “People Get Ready.” I don’t think this song would have occurred to me when making a train compilation, but of course it fits. This version features some excellent vocal work, both by Deborah Poppink and Brad Jones. And is that a kalimba we hear halfway through? Why, yes, it is. Deborah Poppink plays kalimba, banjo and piano on this track. That’s followed by “Steel Pony Blues,” another of the disc’s highlights, with just guitar and harmonica supporting the vocals. And there is a nice extended instrumental section in the middle. This is an original song written by Dom Flemons, but sounding like a traditional number. A different version of this song was included on his 2018 album Black Cowboys. John York (who was briefly a member of The Byrds) covers John Stewart’s “Runaway Train,” this version featuring some nice work by Marty Rifkin on pedal steel. Then we get a delicious rendition of Jimmie Rodgers’ “Waiting For A Train,” a song about being poor and trying to hop a train to get home. This recording is by Paul Burch on vocals and guitar, and Fats Kaplin on dobro. I especially love that work on dobro.
No train compilation would be complete without Elizabeth Cotten’s “Freight Train.” Here we have a beautiful rendition by AJ Haynes, sounding almost like a lullaby and featuring some incredible vocal work. This is one of the album’s best tracks. You might know AJ Haynes from her work in the band Seratones. Fellow Seratones member Travis Stewart plays bass on this track, and Josiah Ramblin is on guitar. I heard the story of how Elizabeth wrote this song while still in her childhood from Fur Dixon & Steve Werner, when they used to cover it occasionally. By the way, in the liner notes, Elizabeth Cotten’s name is misspelled as “Cotton.” Then we get into a heavier blues rock sound with a cover of Procol Harum’s “Whisky Train” (here listed as “Whiskey Train”), a song written by Keith Reid and Robin Trower, and included on the band’s 1970 album Home. Here it is performed by Carla Olson & Brian Ray, and they deliver a strong, lively, and fairly faithful rendition.
The disc’s second rendition of “Mystery Train” is by James Intveld. The two versions show how different approaches to the song can succeed equally well. This one is a bit slower and features some good work by Barry Goldberg on organ (he plays piano on the first version). Paul Marshall plays bass on both versions, delivering a different bass line on each one, and Rick Hemmert plays drums on both versions, delivering a different beat. Interestingly, James Intveld plays guitar on both versions. So, essentially the same group delivers two very different versions, both of which are wonderful. Then we are treated to a second vocal performance by Hawks front man Robert Rex Waller Jr., this time on “Midnight Rail,” a song written by Steve Young. I’ve mentioned this before, but Rob Waller has one of the best voices in music, and this track really gives you a sense of where he’s coming from and what he’s capable of. It is yet another of this disc’s highlights. Fellow Hawks member Paul Marshall plays bass on this track, and Todd Wolfe is on slide guitar. Carla Olson plays guitar, and Rick Hemmert is on drums. This fantastic disc wraps up with “I Remember The Railroad,” the album’s second Gene Clark song, this one performed by Stephen McCarthy & Carla Olson. They opened the album, and they close it as well. This track has a sweet vibe, and includes some really nice work by Jesse Owen Wells on fiddle. I also love Stephen McCarthy’s work on mandolin.
CD Track List
- Here Comes That Train Again – Stephen McCarthy & Carla Olson
- The Conductor Wore Black – Robert Rex Waller Jr
- Mystery Train – Rocky Burnette
- This Train – Peter Case
- City Of New Orleans – John Forgerty
- Marrakesh Express – Dustbowl Revival
- Train Leaves Here This Mornin’ – Kai Clark
- Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Gary Myrick
- Southwest Chief – Dave Alvin
- 500 Miles – Alice Howe
- People Get Ready – Deborah Poppink
- Steel Pony Blues – Don Flemons
- Runaway Train – John York
- Waiting For A Train – Paul Burch & Fats Kaplin
- Freight Train – AJ Haynes
- Whiskey Train – Carla Olson & Brian Ray
- Mystery Train – James Intveld
- Midnight Rail – Robert Rex Waller, Jr.
- I Remember The Railroad – Stephen McCarthy & Carla Olson
Americana Railroad is scheduled to be released on CD on June 17, 2022. It was also released on vinyl as a limited edition double album on the Black Friday version of Record Store Day last year.
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