‘Americana Railroad‘, a collection of songs celebrating the history of trains, has been scheduled for release via Renew/BMG on June 17th. The collection includes popular songs by Graham Nash, Gene Clark, and Jimmie Rodgers as well as traditional songs and lesser-known Americana music. The compilation features a wide selection of performers including John Fogerty, Dave Alvin, Alice Howe, and Stephen McCarthy. Prior to Americana Railroad’s June 17th CD and digital release, it was issued as a limited edition vinyl piece for Record Store Day in November 2021. The album can be preordered from your favourite local music store or at https://americanarailroad.lnk.to/Album
Producer and performer Carla Olson observed that “Growing up in Austin, Texas during the 1950s the fascination with trains was the stuff childhood dreams were made of. Walking home from school the temptation to put your ear to the track to hear if the train was close was a daily routine. We lived five blocks from the railway and heard the whistle of the trains well into the night. For some the call was a way to escape small town blues, for others thoughts of exotic destinations lured many to hop a freight and disappear over the horizon. The Americana Railroad album is a collection of both history and metaphor for your listening and thought provoking pleasure.”
Executive David Hirshland noted, “When Saul brought this to me for possible release by Renew / BMG it instantly made sense. There is such a deep history of trains in the American musical canon I felt that we should expand the project and get more artists on board. Every artist we subsequently approached was eager to join in.”
Tracklist:
1. Here Comes That Train Again (Stephen McCarthy) – Stephen McCarthy & Carla Olson
2. The Conductor Wore Black (Chip Kinman, Tony Kinman) – Robert Rex Waller Jr with Chip Kinman on guitar
3. Mystery Train (Herman Parker, Sam C. Philips) – Rocky Burnette with Barry Goldberg on piano
4. This Train (traditional, arranged by Sister Rosetta Tharpe) – Peter Case
5. City Of New Orleans (Steve Goodman) – John Fogerty with Mickey Raphael on harmonica
6. Marrakesh Express (Graham Nash) – Dustbowl Revival
7. Train Leaves Here This Morning (Gene Clark, Bernie Leadon) – Kai Clark with Byron Berline on fiddle
8. Train Kept A-Rollin’ (Tiny Bradshaw, Howie Kay, Sydney Nathan) – Gary Myrick
9. Southwest Chief (Dave Alvin) – Dave Alvin
10. 500 Miles (Hedy West) – Alice Howe
11. People Get Ready (Curtis Mayfield) – Deborah Poppink
12. Steel Pony Blues (Dom Flemons) – Dom Flemons
13. Runaway Train (John Stewart) – John York
14. Waiting For A Train (Jimmie Rodgers) – Paul Burch & Fats Kaplin
15. Freight Train (Elizabeth Cotton) – AJ Haynes of Seratones
16. Whiskey Train (Keith Reid, Robin Trower) – Carla Olson & Brian Ray
17. Mystery Train (Herman Parker, Sam C. Phillips) – James Intveld with Barry Goldberg on Hammond B3 organ
18. Midnight Rail (Steve Young) – Robert Rex Waller Jr with Todd Wolfe on guitars
19. I Remember The Railroad (Gene Clark) – Stephen McCarthy & Carla Olson
