Train Kept A-Rollin'
| "Train Kept A-Rollin'" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Knockin' Blues" |
| "Train Kept A-Rollin'" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Honey Hush" |
| "Train Kept A-Rollin'" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Train Kept A-Rollin'" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, and Lois Mann. Bradshaw first recorded the song as a jump blues in 1951[1]—his best known recording. After a rock and roll version of the song was recorded and released by Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio in 1956, numerous other versions have been recorded. The Trio's version, considered a rockabilly classic, is an upbeat, high energy version of the original, with lead guitarist Paul Burlison playing what many historians[2] consider to be the first introduction of the contemporary rock and roll feedback/distortion guitar sound, not to be confounded exactly with a saturated amplifier sound.
The Yardbirds version
The Yardbirds helped make the song a garage-rock staple when they covered it on the 1965 album Having a Rave Up. A live version recorded in 1968 was released on the 1971 album Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page. The riff Jeff Beck used for their version of the song was later used in another song written by Beck and Keith Relf titled "Stroll On," which was used in the movie Blow-Up. The published sheet music for the Yardbirds' version is titled "Train Kept A Rollin' (Stroll On)", with credit given to Beck, Relf, Jimmy Page, Chris Dreja, and Jim McCarty. Despite the inclusion of "Stroll On" in the title, this sheet music appears to be the score for "Train Kept a Rollin'".
Led Zeppelin version
"Train Kept A-Rollin'" was the first tune Led Zeppelin played together in 1968. According to John Paul Jones, the room "exploded" when they kicked it off, and they knew they had something.[3] They subsequently played the song as their show opener on tour during 1968 and 1969, and revived it in their final tour "Over Europe" in 1980. A studio version was never recorded by Led Zeppelin, but during his solo Outrider sessions in 1988 Page did record a version similar to that performed by Led Zeppelin in 1980. Nevertheless, the song is featured on several unofficial concert recordings from the end of 1968 and 1969 (see Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings).
Jeff Beck version
The above mentioned Jeff Beck covered the song in the 1988 film Twins. This version is faster than the Yardbirds' version, and features a beat more typical of the 1980s.
Dread Zeppelin
Reggae cover band Dread Zeppelin's version of the song on their album 5,000,000 is heavily derived from the Led Zeppelin version, but slower, with a combination reggae and harmonica blues backdrop, as well as imitation Elvis Presley vocals.
Shakin' Stevens and The Sunsets version
Shakin' Stevens And The Sunsets officially released two versions of the song. The first, produced by Dave Edmunds, appeared on their 1970 debut album "A Legend". A re-recorded version appeared on their eponymous 1973 LP "Shakin' Stevens And The Sunsets". In addition, the band recorded a version for the BBC on June 15, 1970 which was broadcast on the programme "First Gear" on August 27, 1970.
Alex Chilton version
Alex Chilton (of the Box Tops and Big Star) covered the song on his 1980 album 'live in london'. He was backed by a pick up band of two members of the Soft Boys (Matthew Seligman & Morris Windsor) and one member of The Vibrators (Ian 'Knox' Carnochan) with little rehearsal time. The set it is taken from is on the second night of their tour.
Aerosmith version
| "Train Kept A-Rollin'" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Spaced" |
Aerosmith covered the song on their second album Get Your Wings which was released in 1974. The song has long been played on album-oriented rock and classic rock radio stations. Additionally, the song has long been a staple in the band's live shows, often closing their shows. It is featured on three Aerosmith live compilations: Live! Bootleg (1978), Classics Live (1986), and Rockin' the Joint (2005). On the Rockin' the Joint version, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford can be heard doing a little bit of "The Star Spangled Banner" towards the end. Additionally, the band is known to play two different versions of the song, the regular version of the song, as well as a slowed-down version often called "Slow Train" in the setlists. On at least two occasions, lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry have performed the song with other artists; in 1992 with Guns N' Roses and in 1995 with Page and Plant. In 2002, the whole band performed the song live with the Japanese hard rock duo B'z. It also appears in the music video game Rock Band, and the master track appears in Guitar Hero: Aerosmith as the final encore in the game. In 2012, Aerosmith had a live concert performance in Hollywood with Johnny Depp performing the song.
Metallica version
Metallica helped by Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry (all three of which, as previously mentioned, have covered the song in the past), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ronnie Wood and their ex-bassist Jason Newsted covered the song in 2009 following their and Beck's inductions to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the ceremony's "All-Star Finale" performance.
Other versions
Sugarloaf recorded this song as an instrumental for their eponymous 1970 album. Hanoi Rocks cut a live recording of the track on their 1984 live album All Those Wasted Years. Motörhead covered the song on their 1977 eponymous debut album. Skid Row covered the Aerosmith version of the song on their 1990 video Oh Say Can You Scream. The Tragically Hip have performed a live version of the song, which included a monologue by Gord Downie about his girlfriend writing his biography, and selling it for millions and millions of dollars. Twisted Sister cut a live recording of the song as a bonus track recorded in 1979 at Detroit, Portchester New York, on their 1995 live album Live at Hammersmith. In Buffalo, NY, the Rogues released a version as their first single in 1966.
The Nazz recorded a version of this song which was unreleased until their Best Of album in 1984. Foghat also released a song titled "Honey Hush" with a very similar riff to that of "Train Kept A Rollin'" except that the riff was sped up and had different lyrics. It was likely based on Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio's version of "Honey Hush", which is the B-side of their version of "Train Kept A-Rollin". The Rock and Roll Trio's version of "Honey Hush" may have been the origin of the "Train Kept A-Rollin'" riff as portions of the riff from "Honey Hush" bear a striking similarity to it. Colin James and the Little Big Band recorded a version of the song on their self-titled album from 1993. The skaterock band Boneless Ones recorded a song for the third installment of the Thrasher Magazine "Skaterock" series, but the title and lyrics were altered to "The Keg Kept A' Flowin'."
Ritchie Blackmore performed on the Screaming Lord Sutch cover which was released just prior to the Yardbirds version. Blackmore was also with Sutch when they covered Honey Hush.
Bon Jovi performed the song at a January 10, 1990 charity concert they hosted at Hammersmith Odeon outside London, England to benefit Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy -- Jimmy Page joined them on stage to play lead guitar.
Irish Rockabilly-Singer Imelda May and her Band tend to perform this number live, generally following Johnny Burnette quality's.
References
- ^
Grendysa, Peter (1992). Blues Masters, Volume 5: Jump Blues Classics (liner notes). Rhino Records. p. 10. R2 71125.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Dregni, Michael (2011). Rockabilly: The Twang Heard 'Round the World: The Illustrated History. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press. p. 99. ISBN 9780760340622.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Steven Rosen, "Led Zeppelin's 1977 Tour - A Tragic Ending!", Classic Rock Legends.
