Freight Train (song)
"Freight Train" | |
---|---|
Single by The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group featuring Nancy Whiskey | |
B-side | The Cotton Song |
Released | December 1956 |
Recorded | Levy’s Sound Studios, New Bond Street, London[1] |
Label | Oriole |
Writer(s) | James-Williams |
Producer(s) | Jack Baverstock |
"Freight Train" is an American folk song written by Elizabeth Cotten in the early 20th century and popularized during the American folk revival and British skiffle [2]period of the 1950s and 1960s. By Elizabeth’s own account in the 1985 BBC series Down Home, she composed “Freight Train” as a young teenager, inspired by the sound of the trains rolling in on the tracks near her home in North Carolina.
Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey recorded the song in 1956. The Elizabeth Cotten recording for the Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar album was made by Mike Seeger in late 1957, early 1958, at Elizabeth’s home in Washington, D.C..[3] Ramblin' Jack Elliott recorded this song in 1957. It is included on the CD The Lost Topic Tapes: Cowes Harbour 1957
Other recorded versions
Many artists have since recorded their own version of the song, including
- Charting versions
- Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group featuring Nancy Whiskey (# 5 on the UK singles chart in 1957)
- Rusty Draper (charted to the USA top ten, end of 1957) [4]
- other
- Laura Gibson
- Chet Atkins
- Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
- Kasey Chambers, 1999
- Mike Seeger
- Pat Donohue
- Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
- Doc Watson and David Holt
- Joan Baez
- Peter, Paul and Mary
- Alex Campbell (singer)
- Peggy Seeger
- Pete Seeger
- Peter Tevis
- Taj Mahal
- Ramblin' Jack Elliott
- Tommy Emmanuel
- Laura Veirs
- Lenny Breau
- Jan og Kjeld
- Joe Dassin (Je Change Un Peu De Vent)
- Eila Pellinen (Pakoon, Pakoon)
- Elizabeth Mitchell
- Emilie Clepper
- Calvin Russell
Roud Broadside/Folksong Index ID # S145347
See also
References
External links