Steve Earle: Train A Comin' CD Track Listing

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Steve Earle Train A Comin' (1995)
1995 Winter Harvest EntertainmentOriginally Released 1995AMG EXPERT REVIEW: 1995's Train A-Comin' signaled Steve Earle's final declaration of independence from the Nashville assembly line.At last liberated from his personal demons, Earle found himself exiled from mainstream Nashville. So instead of releasing an albumdesigned to appeal to honchos in Nashville or L.A., Earle released an album that appealed first and foremost to Earle. The resultwas a stupendous album, a foreshadowing of the renaissance of his career. The disc has the air of a "lost album" that somehow found it's way to market. A crack band of Nashville string kings (Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, and Roy Huskey Jr., with Emmylou Harrissinging harmony) tears into quasi-legendary tunes that had been lying around Earle's repertoire, neglected for years. Earle's narrative genius is showcased on three numbers -- "The Mercenary Song," the Civil War ballad "Ben McCulloch," and the classic outlaw tune "Tom Ames' Prayer," all of which sound as if they were branded into leather rather than written on paper. "Tom Ames' Prayer" especially takes the breath away with its killer final stanza: "And then he cocked both his pistols/spit in the dirt/And walked outin the street." The album is not all a history lesson, of course. The semi-autobiographical "South Nashville Blues" alarms with its deadpan musings from his self-described two-year "vacation inthe ghetto," while "Goodbye" ranks with "My Old Friend the Blues"as one of his teariest weepers. Train A-Comin' has proven to bejust that -- the locomotive that Earle drove through some dark tunnels, pulling behind it a boxcar or two of the finest music of his career. -- John LomaxAmazon.com essential recordingSteveEarle's first record after emerging from artistic struggles, prison, and addiction, 1995's Train A-Comin' finds an artist starting from scratch and returning to the very basics of his musical vision. The low-key, charming, all-acoustic support comes from veterans Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, and Roy Huskey, while Earle's original material dates as far back as 1974--he wrote "Mercenary Song," he notes, while still working at Ciraco's Pizza. The mix of covers--Beatles, Townes Van Zandt, and the "Jamaican hillbilly" of"Rivers of Babylon" (with Emmylou Harris chiming in)--proves hehad one primary listener in mind: himself. With no expectations thrust upon him, no labels involved, and very few at the time bothering to listen, Earle mined a raw gem. --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com Customer ReviewTis a Gift to be Simple, June 6, 2000 Reviewer: juanlaprinci from RPV I only know Steve Earle thru "The Mountain" and this album. To me, he is the world's greatest folk and bluegrass musician...even though most of his albums are made with other instrumentation. I just see a guy who's loaded withtalent and musical intent. He picks up a guitar, he opens his mouth, and what comes out is just perfect. The way this album starts up..."Hear that train a comin', hear that train a comin'..." Nothing could be simpler, and yet it comes out like the very spiritof music. "The Mountain" deserves 6 stars. This one gets a 5. Great. Amazon.com Customer ReviewNot one of the best ... thebest ... in my judgment, June 15, 1998 Reviewer: jim.kamp@gale.com from Detroit, Michigan "Train-a-comin" was the album that got me back into Steve Earle after buying his Hillbilly Highway back in the 80s. Until "Train", I had lost interest in Earle, thinking he was a flash in the pan. Now that I'm back into his music,I realize nothing could be further from the truth. "Train" is oneof those rare wall-to-wall solid recordings that never disappoints and usually inspires sing-along in the car. I think it's a perfect record. After "Train," I've picked up on Earle's other 90s offereings, and I have found them to be excellent as well. His latest, "El Corazon" is particularly good. But the one that made itall work for me is "Train". For an all-acoustic album, it's wonderfully diverse, with nice acoustic blendings, harmonies, and soulful thumpings. For me, this album is an access point into one ofthe most amazing singer/songwriting talents of our time. Amazon.com Customer ReviewA Warm And Personal Album, April 2, 2001Reviewer: Steve Vrana from Aurora, NE USA Steve Earl opens the album by declaring: "This here's the 'Hometown Blues' with apologies to Thomas Wolfe and Doc Watson," and then presents the listener with the warmest and perhaps most personal album of this country renegade's career. It had been four years since his last studio album, 1991's The Hard Way, and almost a decade since his 1986 debut Guitar Town. For this comeback effort, Earle strips things down to the roots. The band consists of a Who's Who of country,folk and bluegrass musicians: Norman Blake (guitar, Dobro, fiddle, mandolin and Hawaiian guitar), Peter Rowan (mandolin, mandola,gut string guitar and vocals), Roy Husky (accoustic bass) and Emmylou Harris (vocals). The album is a mixture of originals like "Mercenary Song" and "Ben McCulloch," and covers like Townes Van Zandt's "Tecumseh Valley" and a wonderful version of the Beatles'"I'm Looking Through You." If you enjoyed Earle's 1999 collaberation with the Del McCoury Band on The Mountain, you'll love Traina Comin'. In 1986 three artists released their debuts: Dwight Yoakam, Randy Travis and Steve Earle. I thought they would save country music. If they haven't succeeded, they at least have helped preserve its integrity. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Amazon.com CustomerReviewFIVE ++ Stars, March 1, 2000 Reviewer: A music fan from TEXAS I bought this CD several years ago because of one of the songs on it that I had heard someone else play and I'm still listening to it today. I don't know eveything, but this CD ranks this as one of the best of the 90's, It doesn't matter what kind ofmusic you listen to Train is a masterpiece.I admit that while Inew of SE before his vacation, I would hardly call myself a fan.But I can't tell you how many people I've turned on to the man simply by forcing them to listen to this CD. Just once and their all hooked. As good as this CD is you haven't lived until you've seen him live. If he ever comes to your town drop everything and go, you won't regret it. Amazon.com Customer ReviewOne of 10I would bring to the desert island...., August 23, 1999 Reviewer: A music fan from Chicago, Illinois Train catches the essential Earle. Great musicians on this album. Fantastic stories, goodmusic, wonderful "comback" compilation of old and new. I was priviliged to see SE in his first live show after getting out of thegrey bar hotel at the Vic in Chicago. Still the best show I haveever seen. He was truely moved on several occasions and once hadto turn his back to the crowd because of it. I have been to dozens of shows in my day but never experieced a show where they turned on the lights to the theater and turned on the recorded music,and nobody left. SE came on for a 4th encore and said " I don't know where your staying tonight but it can't be here, so I'll do one more and you got to promise to go". Well he went into a acoustic version of Someday and made everyones night. What a great album and eclectic talent. Amazon.com Customer ReviewJust whenwe needed it, hoot, there it wuz, July 30, 1999 Reviewer: A music fan from way over yonder I read the current press commentaryabout Steve Earle, seems they've all 'discovered' the boy thesedays. Every danged one wants to tell us about Steve's 'bad habits' and his return from the hoosegow, full of musical vim and vigor. Then some will try to tell you his 1996 release 'I Feel Alright' was what got him back on the road to whatever. Them newshawks need to pay a little more attention. 1995's "Train A-Comin" was Steve's first post-hoosegow hightoned yowl, and it's still my favorite. Some of his best work is sprinkled around on this album, 'Sometimes She Forgets' done here the way it oughta be done (ignoreanything you heard released out of Nashville). It echoes the theme of the haunting 'Tecumsah Valley',a legacy of the immortal Townes Van Zandt, Steve's friend and mentor. Musicians and backup vocals are top notch, not just good, maestro's. No more than needed,and doing what they do better'n anyone. We're talking Norman Blake here, and Emmy Lou in fine fettle. Back before those newshawkswere paying attention, Steve hit the ground running in '95. What's more, just when he needed to let his pent-up music loose, hisold fans needed to hear it. So if you were dozin', showed up late, or carry a presspass and need a fact-checker...don't miss thatTrain. She's a high bindin' juggernaut, and she'll ride you all the way on over to "The Mountain". That's a danged metaphor, and us hillbillies don't get to use them too often. I'll betcha Stevewould get a kick out of it. Amazon.com Customer ReviewEssential Earle, February 10, 1999 Reviewer: glenn-a from Los Angeles This is the album Earle made after getting out of prison. Itwas released by an indie (see below) and then reissued by Warnerswith the track listing the way Earle originally wanted it. An acoustic bluegrass album, but don't let that put you off. This is one of the best albums from a country singer you have to hear evenif you hate modern country (and I do). Check out the beautiful Beatles cover and the hard-riding gunfighter stuff. Earle rocks like a SOB, plugged in or not. Half.com Album CreditsEmmylouHarris, Contributing ArtistNorman Blake, Contributing ArtistPeter Rowan, Contributing ArtistWayne Neuendorf, EngineerSteveEarle, ProducerWilliam Alsobrook, ProducerAlbum NotesPersonnel: Steve Earle (vocals, 6-string, 12-string & high string guitars, mandolin, harmonica); Peter Rowan (vocals, gut string guitar, mandolin, mandola); Emmylou Harris (vocals); Norman Blake (Hawaiian guitar, guitar, dobro, mandolin, fiddle); Roy Huskey (acoustic bass).Recorded at Magic Tracks Recording Studio and Masterfonics, Nashville, Tennessee. Originally released on Winter Harvest Entertainment (3302). Includes liner notes by Steve Earle.TRAIN A COMIN' was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.When you need a break from THE MOUNTAIN (Earle's 1999 release with the Del McCoury Band), you could flip on his earlier all-acoustic TRAIN A COMIN'. Released in 1995, after the Texas-born songwriter's bout with heroin addiction and jail time, this was Earle's "comeback album." Not only is it an unfiltered pleasure to hear Earle in such pared-down environs, butthe band itself is a killer outfit. Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, and the late Roy Huskey don't make "guest appearances" with the band-they are the band. And they're allowed to do what they do best.Blake is even given a solo spot, the guitar instrumental "Northern Winds." Earle draws on material written over the last 20 years, but there's never a sense that he's culling from his notebook material that he was smart enough not to record the first timearound. "Tom Ames' Prayer," "Mercenary Song," and "Ben McCullough" are great story songs with at least one leg planted in the 19th Century. "Sometimes She Forgets," "Goodbye," and "Nothin' Without You" are the kind of smart, acrid love songs that will, of course, never show up on the country charts.Q Magazine (02/01/1996)Included in Q's 50 Best Albums of 1995.Spin (8/95, pp.92-93) - 8 - Very Good - ...Earle offers neither contrite confessionals nor toothless mush. He's too dogged and proud to be anythingbut himself....[His] redemptive gift lies in his ability to evoke poignance and loss without spilling into sentimentality....Truth be told, he makes no mistakes...Q Magazine (7/95, p.135) -3 Stars - Good - ...sounds like a man beginning to feel his way around again after a long period out of circulation. He's gone back to where he started, making an acoustic album with the emphasison the songs....He may be bowed but he's plainly not beaten.Mojo (7/95, p.111) - ...TRAIN A COMIN' is all acoustic....the feel of the record is also retrospective...very live, ramshackle andraw. Earle plays his guitar and mandolin parts with customary vigour and sings his heart out in his ragged but right voice...New Musical Express (7/15/95, p.49) - 7 (out of 10) - ...a slew of smart tunes played simply on guitar, mandolin and stuff....He was always doomed by comparisons to Springsteen in the past but these days Earle comes over like a trainee Johnny Cash: pithy, grim-voiced, strangely mythical...Entertainment Weekly (5/5/95, p.71) - ...Nashville's baddest boy returns, after a five-year-absence, with an acoustic album of early material, new songs, and covers by country-folk mentors like Townes Van Zandt....Earle is nothing short of a narrative master... - Rating: BSing Out (8-10/95, p.148) - ...the writing is crisp and tough, deeply rooted intradition but never self-consciously folky, and Earle sounds asif he has lived every word...
This country cd contains 13 tracks and runs 40min 3sec.
Freedb: 9309610d

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