Customer Reviews

Vintage Trains: Sounds of the Steam Age

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I admit that I purchased this CD just for the Reginald Gardiner track "Trains", but a few replayings have convinced me that it is a little gem!

A good selection of tracks, mostly from the 1940's era, but with some big names like Duke Ellington, Lonnie Donegan, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and the ever-saucy George Formby, all with a Railroad / Railway theme.

If you've old enough to remember riding on a steam train, and have fond memories of the "Old Days", then this CD will fit nicely into your library.

A winner!

I only found out about this compilation when I heard that the ASV label had been shut down and that all its titles were out of print. As some stocks remained, I looked through the ASV titles to see what I should try to buy while I still could and discovered this wonderful compilation of train songs.

I've reviewed several compilations of train songs, but most of the others are dominated by country music. While this compilation contains some country music, it contains a variety of other styles including jazz and swing. So although I was already familiar with some of the songs, I was only familiar with a few of these particular versions.

Although many train songs were written and recorded during the steam age and quite a lot of them charted, this is definitely not a greatest hits collection. There are some big American pop hits here including Chattanooga choo choo (a number one for Glenn Miller in 1941), On the Atcheson Topeka and the Santa Fe (a number one for Johnny Mercer in 1945), Beyond the blue horizon (a number five for George Olsen in 1930), Choo choo ch'boogie (a number seven hit for Louis Jordan in 1945), Take the A train (a number eleven hit for Duke Ellington in 1941), Wabash Cannonball (a million-selling hit in 1938 credited to Roy Acuff although the vocalist was actually Sam Hatcher; Roy eventually recorded a new version in 1947 with his own vocals) and Get on board little children (a top twenty hit for Freddy Slack and his orchestra in 1943; vocals by Ella Mae Morse).

Apart from those hits, there are some other songs that have stood the test of time well including When the midnight choo-choo leaves for Alabam' (here represented by Tommy Dorsey's 1938 cover version with Edythe Wright on vocals; this Irving Berlin song was originally a number one hit for Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan in 1913), Runaway train (Vernon Dalhart), Orange blossom special (recorded by countless singers down the years, but here represented by Bill Monroe's version), Golden rocket (a number one country hit for Hank Snow) and Rock Island Line (a British top ten hit for Lonnie Donegan; the song was originally written and recorded by Leadbelly).

Other notable tracks include George Formby's amusing song, On the Wigan Boat Express. I can't believe there ever was such a train, but why spoil a good song? Elsewhere, there are instrumentals, notably Coronation Scot (used as a BBC TV theme), a narration by ReginaldGardner (Trains) and some steam locomotive sound effects (Sounds of the steam age).

With the vast majority of the 25 tracks being American recordings, it seems a little odd that the front picture should feature a British locomotive. ASV managed to plug their product neatly by adorning the Flying Scotsman with a headboard for the Living Era Express. Still, that plug isn't going to help them now that the label has shut down.

Mainly recorded in the thirties and forties, with three tracks from the fifties and the sound effects dating from 1961, this compilation provides a glimpse back to an age that is gone forever. I'm very glad that I discovered this compilation in time to secure a copy of it. In due course, I expect some other label will release a similar type of compilation to fill the void left by the demise of ASV. In the meantime, if you enjoy train songs and you can obtain a copy at a reasonable price, grab the opportunity while you can.