colors …
This is a Voyage into Sound
inst. of change
the players
instruments
b.lue
“Here My Train A Comin'”
“Crossroads”
Jimi Hendrix
1936 — Other than one recording session (36 songs) in 1936, no recordings of Robert Johnson are known to exist. From the begining, such scarcity has heightened the lore of the mysterious Bluesman who made a notorious Deal With The Devil.
((( Hell’s Gate )))
b.lue
•THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF SIN (PG1)
•THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF SIN (PG2) YARDBIRDS
•THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF SIN (PG3) DEVIL MUSIC
•THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF SIN (PG4) TIMELINE
Mark Knopfler
Bob Dylan
Slow Train Coming (1979)
“Hear My Train a Coming” (Jimi Hendrix)
Gary Clark Jr.
HERE MY TRAIN A COMIN
A 1940s guitar trainman likely refers to blues musicians and their connection to trains during that era.
During the 1940s, trains were a prominent mode of transport in the American South, and they were often featured in blues songs as symbols of travel, loneliness, and escape. Many blues guitarists of this period were itinerant musicians who traveled by train to play in different towns and cities.
Here’s how the term “guitar trainman” relates to the 1940s blues:
Train Songs: Numerous blues songs from the 1940s prominently feature trains in their titles and lyrics. Examples include:
“Train Fare Home” by Muddy Waters
“Stop That Train in Harlem” by Walter Davis
“Train Blues” by Jimmy Liggins
“Freight Train Blues” by Lightnin’ Hopkins
“Mystery Train” by Little Junior Parker
Guitar Style: Many of these train songs feature a fingerpicking style that evokes the rhythmic chugging of a train and the melancholy associated with travel and separation.
Notable “Trainmen” (guitarists associated with train songs): Several well-known blues guitarists of the era are associated with these types of songs, such as:
Muddy Waters
Lightnin’ Hopkins
John Lee Hooker
Big Bill Broonzy
Blind Willie McTell
Robert Johnson
Mississippi John Hurt
In the 1940s, trains and railroad life were prevalent themes in various genres of American music, particularly country, folk, and blues
. Musicians and songwriters drew inspiration from the experiences of trainmen and railway workers, reflecting the realities of life on the tracks, the importance of trains for travel and commerce, and the associated emotions of freedom, escape, longing, and loss.
Some prominent guitar players and songs associated with trains and trainmen from the 1940s and surrounding era include:
Orange Blossom Special
Jimmie Rodgers: Often referred to as the “Father of Country Music,” Rodgers was also known as the “Singing Brakeman” and worked for the railroad, according to Quora. His music frequently featured trains, capturing the spirit of the railroads.
Woody Guthrie: A prolific folk musician, Guthrie’s work included train-related songs, such as “This Train Is Bound for Glory,” reflecting the importance of trains in American life and as symbols of progress and hope.
Lead Belly: Known for his powerful voice and 12-string guitar, Lead Belly’s repertoire included train songs like “The Midnight Special”, according to SMART Union. He was known for styling himself as “the King of the 12-String Guitar”, according to Wikipedia.
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown: Brown’s father was a railroad worker and local musician, influencing his early musical development, according to Wikipedia.
“Chattanooga Choo Choo”: Performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, this popular song from the early 1940s celebrated train travel and the nostalgia associated with it. It is one of the top 23 train songs ever written, according to SMART Union.
“Freight Train Blues”: This song, with versions by various artists like Roy Acuff, captures the blues tradition of train songs, often reflecting themes of hardship and escape.
“The Wreck of the Old 97”: This ballad, a staple in country music, recounts the story of a doomed train crash, a theme that resonated with listeners who understood the dangers and challenges associated with railway work.
The influence of trains on American popular music during the 1940s was significant, with many musicians incorporating the sounds and imagery of the railroad into their songs and playing styles. The “train beat,” a rhythmic pattern mimicking the sound of train wheels, became a characteristic element in country music. Guitarists of the era utilized various techniques to capture the essence of trains, including bluesy riffs, fingerpicking styles, and the use of the 12-string guitar to add depth and resonance to their sound.
