Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1957
Morningtown Ride
Buy Morningtown Ride now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Morningtown Ride
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Seekers
| album = Hide & Seekers
| B-side = When the Stars Begin to Fall
| released = 1966
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Folk,"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-02-04.pdf Spotlight Singles]" 'Billboard', February 4, 1967. p. 16. Accessed December 23, 2017. lullabyLey, Alison (2003). '[https://books.google.com/books?id=VyDcn9EMO28C&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q&f=false Sounds of Singing: Reception-Y2/P1-P3]', p. 49. Nelson Thornes. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
| length =
| label = Columbia
| writer = Malvina Reynolds
| producer = Tom Springfield
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
"'Morningtown Ride'" is a lullaby, written and performed by Malvina Reynolds. It was covered by The Seekers and their recording reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song tells the comforting story of the journey through nighttime made by all the "little travellers" (children), on board a train, with the Sandman as guard."[http://www.susietallman.com/records/eyes/ Lullabies for Sleepy Eyes]", Susie Tallman & Rock Me Baby Records. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
The Seekers version
The song was performed by The Seekers with Bobby Richards and his Orchestra on the 1964 album 'Hide & Seekers' (W&G Records WG-B-2362). It was subsequently re-recorded and released as a single in 1966 (Columbia DB 8060), produced by Tom Springfield."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-04-15.pdf Billboard Hot 100]", 'Billboard', March 25, 1967. Accessed September 29, 2016.
The song spent 15 weeks on the UK Singles Chart chart, reaching No. 2 on 28 December 1966. In the United States, the song spent seven weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, reaching No. 44, while reaching No. 13 on 'Billboard's Easy Listening chart."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-04-15.pdf Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening]", 'Billboard', April 15, 1967. p. 20. Accessed September 29, 2016.
Charts
Other versions
*It was sung by The Limeliters, an American singing group led by Glenn Yarbrough, and appears on their 1962 album 'Through Children's Eyes.' RCA Victor LSP 2512 (stereo), RCA Victor LPM 2512 (mono)
*Reynolds herself recorded it on her 1970 album 'Artichokes, Griddle Cakes, and Other Good Things' (Pacific Cascade Records LP-7018).
*It was also recorded by The Flanagans in 1964.
*Loretta Lynn and The Statler Brothers performed this song in 1989.
*Country Four, a Swedish group, made a Swedish version, 'Vgen till morgonstad' (1967).
*The Irish Rovers recorded versions of the song, which were released on the 1972 album 'The Irish Rovers Live' and the 1976 album 'Children of the Unicorn'. In 1973, The Irish Rovers' version reached No. 83 on Canada's 'RPM' 100"[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=7412& RPM 100]", 'RPM Weekly', Volume 20, No. 1, August 18, 1973. Accessed October 8, 2016. and No. 39 on 'RPM's Adult Contemporary Playlist."[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=2970& Adult Contemporary Playlist]", 'RPM Weekly', Volume 19, No. 11, April 28, 1973. Accessed October 8, 2016.
*Bob McGrath sang this song on the 'Sesame Street' album, 'Bert & Ernie Sing-Along' in 1975.
*Raffi sang this song on his 1980 album 'Baby Beluga' (Rounder).[ AllMusic 'Baby Beluga' Overview]
*Brendan Grace recorded a version of the song, which reached No. 25 on the Irish Singles Chart on 6 January 1985.[http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Song Title Search Results for "Morningtown Ride"], 'The Irish Charts'. Accessed September 29, 2016.
*The Wiggles and Jimmy Little sang this song on their 2000 album 'It's a Wiggly Wiggly World' (Lyons Group).[ AllMusic 'Wiggly Wiggly World' Overview ]
*Genevieve Jereb sang this song on her 2004 album, 'Cool Bananas' (Gellybean Records).
*Erkki Liikanen recorded a Finnish language version, "Matka Aamun Kaupunkiin", in 1967.
*Annette Hodgson performed this as the character Noelene in 'The Sapphires'.
* A largely instrumental version, recorded by Stan Butcher, from his 1966 album 'His Birds and Brass', was used as theme tune to the weekly Saturday morning BBC Radio 1 programme 'Junior Choice' presented by Ed Stewart.
*Mirusia recorded this song on her 2019 album, 'A Salute to The Seekers', which charted at #1 on the Aria Jazz and Blues chart.
See also
*List of train songs
References
Category:1957 songs
Category:1966 singles
Category:British folk songs
Category:British pop songs
Category:Children's songs
Category:Lullabies
Category:Songs about Australia
Category:Songs about trains
Category:Songs written by Malvina Reynolds
Category:The Seekers songs
Category:Sandman
Category:Loretta Lynn songs
Category:The Statler Brothers songs
Buy Morningtown Ride now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1957