Sometimes things are just random. I’m always looking for new ideas to discuss in this column. I’ll nitpick, look for different angles to take it in, and sometimes get a little obscure. A lot of times I’ll figure out a top ten or seven or whatever of a certain topic. I got into a discussion with someone and it got pretty bold. I’ve gone through five or so year’s worth of topics so it gets a little tedious at times. Things like “top 10 songs about baseball” and “top singers who played an instrument in another band” came up. Then “Top songs about trains” came up and I laughed. Then the more I thought about it, the more I had to write on this.
I’m going to write about the top train songs.
“Isn’t there a band called Train?” – There is.
The problem is that I can’t think of anything “Top 10” worthy about the band Train. It’s not that I don’t know of them. I have ears and listen to music so of course I know “Drops of Jupiter”. That song was played A LOT and it got old really quick. Then I remember then recently popping up with the really bad “Hey, Soul Sister” song. They’re just a lame band all around. I feel lame talking about this for this long.
So here are my top seven songs about trains…
7. "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)" by Quad City DJ's
Quad City DJ’s aren’t a group you hear all that much about these days. In fact, I don’t think I know any of their other songs. I don’t even know why I remember who made this 90’s dance hit, but I sadly do. With some research I find that they all were part of some BIG 90’s hits like “Tootsee Roll”, “Whoot! There It Is!”, and even work on Rob Base’s “It Takes Two”. So really, Quad City DJ’s are like a early 90’s dance track super group. This song was catchy as hell. I wanted to leave it off this list, but it’s stuck in my head so far that I feel like if I deny it I’ll be cursed with another week of humming “Woo! Woo!” to myself over and over….
6. “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum
I don’t remember much about early 90’s alt rockers Soul Asylum, but I remember this song fondly. It’s not a bad song at all. It’s all the way from 1992. It was a huge song at the time. They were that perfectly harmless bridge between the 80’s and grunge. I didn’t remember the video though. I’m watching this now and it’s pretty harsh. Kids hooking? Yeesh! This video wouldn’t fly now. I seriously didn’t know this song was so serious. I always equated it on the same tone as “It’s The End of The World” by REM. Wow… I just got my mind blown by Soul Asylum. I bet you don’t read that twice today.
5. “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva
Rolling Stone magazine actually ranked this song as #359 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. This song was so catchy that it actually hit number one twice by two different acts. The first big single release of it was in 1962 by Little Eva. It’s just a catchy song and it has a dance to it. I don’t know what it is, but I assume there HAS to be one because why the hell else would we have to “DO” the locomotion unless there was something to actually “DO”. I’m nit picking. Tons of people have covered this song and tons of productions have featured it. It’s a song that’s just embedded into pop culture and old school dance parties.
4. “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips
Released in 1973, I think everyone knows this song in the back of their head somewhere. After years of working with Motown, Gladys left the label and dropped this bomb on the world. It’s about someone leaving the grind of the city in favor of a simpler life. I honestly didn’t know WHO sung it, but I knew it existed and could hum the melody. It’s just “one of those songs”. Everyone knows it, but I just don’t know if anyone actually likes it.
3. “Last Train to Clarksville” by The Monkees
The Monkees are an acquired taste. A lot of people hate on them for how they came together, but the fact that they kept making music and took on their own identity is always ignored. Also ignored are the really great songs they released. One of those songs is “Last Train to Clarksville”. It’s a fun and soulful pop song. The breakdown madness with the organ in this song is sweet. I’m just saying… give it a chance!
2. “Casey Jones” by Grateful Dead
I don’t know too much about Grateful Dead. It’s just never been music for me. It’s not that I’m a hater or anything. It’s just not my cup of tea. If you knew me, you’d think I was a fan though. Jerry Garcia and I even have/had the same birthday. As novice as I am in the tunes of the Dead, I do know this one. The line “Ridin’ That Train… High on Cocaine!” has been drunkenly sung in Midwestern bars for years. It’s about a dude named “Casey Jones” who worked as a railroad engineer. To pass the time, he works while under the influence of cocaine. It feels redundant to explain this song. If you don’t know it, know it…
1. “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne
Well, no shit. This was the first song that came to my rock loving mind. I know it’s crazy to admit, but I’ve never been a huge Ozzy fan. I like him and all and I’ve enjoyed some of his songs and his live show was fun but it just never connected with me. From Ozzy’s insane scream of “All aboard!” to the last head banging note, this song is a classic. The guitar riff in this song is timeless and not including the Black Sabbath stuff, I’d dare say this is Ozzy’s best song.
If you’re still reading you probably wanted to make sure YOUR favorite “song about trains” was listed? I’m sure I missed some.
Well, jerk… was it?
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