Customer Reviews

Long Black Train

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Long Black Train" is one of those songs that when I heard it come on the radio, I just dropped what I was doing and listened. Even after many listenings, I just haven't gotten enough of it. Josh Turner's voice is very mature and probably one of the best on country radio today. The rest of this recording reflects a great traditional country sound. Even if you just buy this album because of the title song, you can't go wrong with the rest of it. This young man has a bright future.

If this CD only contained the song "Long Black Train", it would be worth purchasing. What a song! When I heard it on the radio, I couldn't believe that I was hearing it on the radio.

Josh Turner's deep voice is so rich and pure. To me, it is the best kind of voice for real country music.

The cover of the late Jim Croce's "Don't Mess Around with Jim" is a pleasant little surprise. With Turner's deep Southern voice, you get the idea that you might be hearing Slim sing the song.

Yeah, I heard "Long Black Train." At first, I was appalled--I wondered how something like that could get on country radio. Then I slapped myself in the head, and realized I was hearing a pretty damn good song.

I have atoned for my initial mistake, and searched high and low for this album. I found it, gave it a listen--and now I'm reviewing it, because I figured I had a duty to tell you about this terrific CD.

The title track and "Backwoods Boy" are the two best, probably because they're Turner's two self-penned songs on this album. He also co-wrote "Jacksonville," which does deserve some honorable mention.

The other songs aren't entirely new ideas...but they don't have to be. Yes, "In My Dreams" and "Unburn All Our Bridges" are almost cliche; but heck, with a baritone like Turner possesses, do you even CARE?

There're some honky-tonkers, like "What It Ain't", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" (it seems everybody records this one nowadays, but hey, he does a terrific job), and "Good Woman Bad". They're some ballads, such as "I Had One One Time" (the best of these ballads, easily), "She'll Go On You" (a song that tells us to spend time with all the women in our life; again a cliche, but an interesting tune nonetheless), and "The Difference Between a Woman and a Man," penned by Bobby Braddock (I swear I've heard that somewhere before).

Produced by two of the best producers Nashville has to offer (Mark Wright and Frank Rogers), Josh Turner's debut CD, "Long Black Train," is not only promising--it's excellent! Turner easily has one of the best voices gracing radio today, and I can only pray that I'll be hearing his voice up at the top of the charts.

This is a really good CD. Just the right mix of up-tempo and slower songs. Very good voice, something you can listen to over and over. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I had only heard "Long Black Train" on the radio before buying the CD,and I am not disappointed at all with it. Highlights include "Long Black Train", "Backwoods Boy", and Jim Croce's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim". Great CD, recommend to anyone, new and real (ok, old) country fans alike.

I normally don't buy an album by a new singer soon after the record comes out. I want to listen to a few more records before I decide if I like that person's music. I must admit, though, that after seeing the "Long Black Train" video on Great American Country, I admire Josh Turner. He's a solid singer whose roots are firmly in traditional music, and now that I've listened to Long Black Train, I think it is a very good debut.

The title track "Long Black Train", in which the "long black train" is a symbol for temptation("That devil's a-drivin' that long black train", Josh writes), is reminiscent of Johnny Cash, a singer I listened to a lot when I was younger. "Long Black Train" was a major hit for Josh, and the video got a lot of airplay on both GAC and CMT. The wisecracking song "What It Ain't", where the speaker recalls past romantic failures and uses them to tell his buddy how not to start a relationship("I might not know what love is/But I know what it ain't"), was this record's second big hit. "Good Woman Bad" has the guy wondering why his lover is doing him wrong after all he's done for her("I treat that bad woman good/Lord, I need a good woman bad"). "Backwoods Boy" has Josh reminiscing about his youth in the backwoods of South Carolina("I'm a backwoods boy/Grew up on a dirt road"). "She'll Go On You" reminds us to take every opportunity to show our loved ones we care about them, because if we don't, they'll "go on you". "I Had One, One Time" is the wistful recollection of a guy who's lost everything and who is admiring what his friend has(job, car, and so on). The romantic ballads "Jacksonville" and "In My Dreams" and the pleading lost-love ballad "Unburn All Our Bridges" are well-done, emotional songs. Long Black Train could be a five-star record if it weren't for one song. Josh's remake of Jim Croce's classic song "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" drags this record down. Josh's rendition of "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" is well-done musically, and his singing is awesome. Josh's version of the Croce classic, however, misses the wisecracking that in my opinion made Jim's original not only a big pop hit but a really fun song. The song tells a great story, but here, Josh sounds as if he is not really enjoying himself but instead is merely acting like it.

In short, Long Black Train is not a perfect debut album, but it's a very good one. On this record, Josh has gotten off to a fine start. In the coming years, I think we'll be hearing a lot more of him on country radio.

Wow! Josh's voice is truly breathtaking. His deep, rich voice is enough to give anyone the chills. But, it's not only his voice that I enjoy, but more importantly the music that he sings. His songs show such emotion and he sings straight from the heart.
In his first big hit, "Long Black Train", Josh uses a long black train as a metaphor to temptation. He warns us to avoid the Devil's dark "train" of sin by clinging to the Lord, because there is victory in Him. I love the great message to this song. Josh sings about his convictions and about things he believes strongly in and can relate to. In "Backwoods Boy" he describes not only himself, but also many other young men who live in rural areas and build their lives around the hunting season. My brother absolutely loves hunting and says that "Backwoods Boy" is his signature song. I would have to agree.
In "I Had One, One Time", Josh sings about a homeless man who lost everything he ever had. It really makes you sit back and count your blessings and realize how fortunate we are even though sometimes it doesn't seem like it. His new big hit that is heard on the radio is "What It `Aint." In this track, Josh explains that real love isn't about lies, adultery, or money. He sings about situations that "can make a grown man faint."
Truly, Josh's unique, deep voice combined with lyrics revealing good messages make him a stand out artist. These qualities interest not only country music lovers, but also Christian and gospel lovers. I would recommend this CD, Long Black Train, to anyone, regardless of your music preference. I surely would have to say that Josh is on the right "track"!

Country enthusiasts will enjoy the sounds that come from the deep bass vocals of Josh Turner. Known for his hit "Long Black Train," it is no wonder that this album turned Platinum in November 2004. It still remains in the Top 100 Billboard Chart for Country Album for over 70 times.

The album opens up with the roaring Long Black Train, giving the listener a ride of tradition sounds while deplicting that Train as a metaphor for temptation. The train slows down as the notes in guitar and vocals slow down at the end. With a strong message to not go with the Devil's ways, this is a true song that young and old can sing along to.

One of the strong love songs on the album is "In My Dreams." You can just imagine living in the country, giving your husband a glass of water for a kiss as he is working hard in the garden. The song portrays true emotions that only one in love could ever feel.

"What It Aint" met some success, reaching in the Top 40 on the radio. A different uplifting beat approach over the woes of falling in and out of love.

"I Had One One Time" truly shows Turner's vocal talents, whether you listen to it on the album or live in concert. Showing the heartache and coming from the prospective of another character, someone that use to have it all, from materialistic things to love, this song makes you really think about what is important in your life.

"Jacksonville" highlights a character falling in love while in Jacksonville and wanting to stay a few more days. You can feel the breeze of the ocean with the melodic sounds in the song and feel like you are in a swing when you hear Turner say "rock and roll you're holding me, rocking in your arms."

"Backwoods Boy" is a true autobiographical song about Josh that many country folks could relate to. Hearing Josh sing with his deep vocals, you know that he comes from deep in the hills of South Carolina.

"Unburn All Our Bridges" is one of the tracks that you would listen to if you have relationship problems. Not one of the stronger tracks, but is still a good one.

Turner shows his musical influences by singing "You Don't Mess Around with Jim". Country music traditional is shown through this upbeat song that you know that Turner had fun recording this track.

"She'll Go On You" is definitely one of those songs that you realize that a woman can grow on a man's heart. Never let them go indeed.

Jennifer Lopez's Movie "Unfinished Life" suppose to have had the "Good Woman Bad". That is, until the movie was scrapped to being put into the public's eyes. Good upbeat song that has a hint of John Anderson or Mel McDaniel in the background. Turner showcases how the character attracted a bad woman, but he wants a good woman that follows the good ways like himself. Looks like in real life, Turner has found his good woman.

"The Difference Between a Woman and a Man" shows that Turner can put pure emotion into a song, especially when he has experienced true love.

Overall, "Long Black Train" proves Turner's vocal talents outweigh any newcomer in the country music world. He has the staying power to remain in country music for a lifetime, rather than some new artists, like Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and others. Country music was raised on its true country roots, and Turner proves that he is pure country. This album is well worth getting and well worth every penny.

I ordered this CD as part of a package deal in which I had to choose 6 free CDs. Although I liked Josh, "Long Black Train" was the last one I chose, and the last one I listened to. I had NO IDEA that it would be possibly the greatest CD I'll ever own. Rarely do I find an album that I love THIS much. EVERY track is amazing, fast or slow, happy or sad. Josh's voice is indescribable and the lyrics definitely tug at the heart. It's REAL country music, so expect nothing less. It's hard to pick a favorite. "In my Dreams" is beautiful, and so is "She'll go on You." I've loved "What it Ain't" ever since it came out, and "Backwoods Boy" always makes me smile (Josh's accent is so adorable.) BUY IT, and good luck trying to take it out of the CD player after you've fallen in love with it.

Josh Turner is one of the most distinctive vocalists to emerge from the smoke of Nashville in the past several years. His baritone will bowl you over. This makes it slightly painful to hear him enter the Nashville machine. This is a good album, but it's a pretty by-the-books outing as far as male country debut albums go. The title track starts things off at a high mark, and all stuff that follows fails to live up to it. "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" comes close; an interesting cover selection, very well-matched to Turner's voice. His voice barrels through the Croce lyrics, and we get some sense of how good Turner would be if his material were always of that quality (and the quality of the "Long Black Train" track). Keep your eye on the kid, and hope for better next time.

J.T.'s debut album is enjoyable from start to finish. "Long Black Train" touches the heart, as does "She'll Go On You". "Backwoods Boy", which happens to be my personal favorite, is fun and reminds me of home. J.T.'s songs have a tendency to ring true. You hear the lyrics, start singing along, and then you're transported to... somewhere else. That is the truly great thing about music, anyway, isn't it? Not only that, but his voice is all his. 100% natural. Lots of deep, strong, pitch-perfect notes throughout every song, and that is a rare thing to find, these days. J.T. should be commended for this album, but we need to light a fire under him. It was released about two years ago. J.T., where is album #2?