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Mystery Train

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Mystery Train

| cover = Mystery Train single cover.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Little Junior's Blue Flames

| B-side = Love My Baby

| released =

| recorded = September–October 1953

| studio = Memphis Recording Service, Memphis, Tennessee

| genre = *Blues

*electric blues

*Memphis blues

| length = 2:20

| label = Sun

| writer = Junior Parker

| producer = Sam Phillips

| misc =

}}

"'Mystery Train'" is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Junior Parker in 1953. Originally performed in the style of a Memphis blues or rhythm and blues tune, it was inspired by earlier songs and later became a popular rockabilly song, as first covered by Elvis Presley, then numerous others. Among the many cover versions are two on the 2021 Americana Railroad on RENEW / BMG "American Railroad" released on November 26th. One is by Rocky Burnette with James Intveld on guitar and Barry Goldberg on piano. The other is performed by James Intveld with Barry Goldberg on Hammond B3 organ. Both were produced by Carla Olson.



Composition and recording



Music historian Colin Escott noted "One of the mysteries about 'Mystery Train' was where the title came from; it was mentioned nowhere in the song".

The song uses lyrics similar to those found in the traditional American folk music group Carter Family's "Worried Man Blues", itself based on an old Celtic ballad, and their biggest selling record of 1930:



Parker's lyrics include:

Junior Parker, billed as "Little Junior's Blue Flames", recorded "Mystery Train" for producer/Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. The sessions took place at Phillips' Memphis Recording Service, in Memphis, Tennessee, during September and October 1953. Accompanying Parker on vocal is his backup band the "Blue Flames", whose members at the time are believed to have included: Floyd Murphy on guitar,Floyd Murphy is a brother of Matt "Guitar" Murphy. William Johnson on piano, Kenneth Banks on bass, John Bowers on drums, and Raymond Hill on tenor sax.

"Mystery Train" was the follow-up single to Junior Parker's 1953 number five Billboard R&B chart release "Feelin' Good".Sun Records number 187 The song did not reach the singles chart.

In 1973, with the approval of Sam Phillips, Robbie Robertson of the Band wrote additional lyrics for "Mystery Train", and the group recorded this version of the song for their 'Moondog Matinee' album. They later performed the song with Paul Butterfield for their 1976 "farewell" concert 'The Last Waltz'.'Moondog Matinee' (1973) liner notes

Elvis Presley version



Elvis Presley's version of "Mystery Train" was first released on August 20, 1955, as the B-side of "I Forgot to Remember to Forget".Sun Records number 223 In 2003, 'Rolling Stone' magazine ranked it at number 77 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Sam Phillips at Sun Studios again produced the recording, and featured Presley on vocals and rhythm guitar, Scotty Moore on lead guitar, and Bill Black on bass. Moore used a country lead break and fingerstyle picking, with a touch of slapback echo.Blue Moon Boys. page 48 Moore also drew on elements from earlier songs, such as the guitar riffs from Junior Parker's "Love My Baby" (1953), played by Pat Hare, and "Sixteen Tons" (1946) by Merle Travis.Tosches, Nick. 'Country - the Twisted Roots of Rock 'n' Roll'. DeCapo Press, 1985. pg 54.

Paired with "I Forgot to Remember to Forget", the single reached the Top 10 in 'Billboard's C&W listings.'Billboard', December 17, 1955. Reviews of New Pop Records. pp. 56 and 61.

RCA Victor re-released this recording in November 1955 (#47-6357) after acquiring it as part of a contract with Presley. This issue of the song peaked at number 11 on the national 'Billboard' country chart. That same month, RCA Victor also released a pop version of the song by the Turtles (not to be confused with the 1960s pop group, the Turtles) with backing by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (47-6356).

"Mystery Train" is now considered to be an "enduring classic".Burke, Ken and Griffin, Dan. 'The Blue Moon Boys - The Story of Elvis Presley's Band'. Chicago Review Press, 2006, p.46.

It was the first recording to make Elvis Presley a nationally known country music star.

See also



*List of train songs

References



Category:1953 singles

Category:1953 songs

Category:American songs

Category:The Band songs

Category:Blues songs

Category:Elvis Presley songs

Category:Junior Parker songs

Category:Rockabilly songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Sam Phillips

Category:Songs about trains

Category:Sun Records singles

Category:Tom Fogerty songs

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