Almanac Music: Mystery Train
A young Elvis in a promotional photo for the film, Jailhouse Rock, 1957. [Source: Wikimedia Commons.]
By the time I was old enough to appreciate Elvis, he was out of the Army and in the firm clutches of Colonel Tom Parker. Fortunately, Elvis’ Golden Records (Vol I and II) provided all his early rock and roll hits. Eventually, I made my way back to his early catalogue of work via the albums The Sun Sessions and much later, Reconsider Baby. Both contain many great songs done in a rockabilly or bluesy style. Among the nuggets are three lesser known, but no less brilliant songs: “Reconsider Baby”, “Tryin’ to Get To You” and “Mystery Train”.
Yes, a train song. His was the first version of “Mystery Train” I heard.
Rockabilly to the core, with Elvis backed by Scotty Moore’s guitar and Bill Black’s slap bass.
And mystery in the lyrics.Was it a funeral train taking his departed love, his “baby”, away or had his love just left him?
Train I ride, 16 coaches long
Well, that long black train got my baby and gone
………..
Train, train, comin’ ’round the bend
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again, no, not again
And the second verse. Is his love returning, or is it just the memory?
Train, train, comin’ down the line
Well, it’s bringin’ my baby, ’cause she’s mine all, all mine
The lyrics were written by another Sun Studio artist, Little Junior Parker who had recorded the song two years before Elvis. At the time of the Elvis release, the song was attributed to Parker/Phillips with Sun Records founder and producer Sam Phillips taking his share of the credit.
While the two versions are different in style, both evoke the rhythm of a train moving along the tracks. A saxophone train whistle opens the Parker original which then rolls along to the languid chug rhythm of the backing beat. The Elvis version rollicks along with his final “Woo, Woo” at the fade out signifying a positive conclusion to the tale, or maybe that the band had nailed the song. One rhythm and blues, the other country rockabilly. Together, they provide an example of how Elvis was influenced by earlier artists and how Sam Phillips had found a “white singer who sounded black”.
Of Junior Parker, the wondrous Penguin Guide To Blues Recordings is effusive: “Parker’s extraordinary vocal – husky, slightly breathless, but abruptly arching into a glorious full-throated cry”.
The same could be said of Elvis.
Mystery Train has been covered by many artists; the up-tempo version from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band on their brilliant debut album features the wonderful, distinctive blues harp of Butterfield and the ringing guitar of Michael Bloomfield. The train has rolled into Chicago.
And Butterfield is full throttle in duet with Levon Helm in the song (with added verse) on The Band’s Last Waltz with his expressive harp once again to the fore.
Mystery Train is also the metaphorical title of the sprawling book by Greil Marcus in which he describes his “Images of America in Rock and Roll Music”.
And furthermore, Mystery Train is the totally quirky movie by Jim Jarmusch.
Other versions of note. Neil Young’s tongue is firmly in his cheek, if that is possible, in his cover of the song on his “contractual obligation” album, Everybody’s Rockin’. He sounds like he’s having a blast.
And, as good as anything I have heard in-concert, a very extended rendition from the late, lamented harp player, vocalist Chris Wilson together with guitarist Shane O’Mara in the back room of a pub at a Blues music weekend in Goulburn.
Read more from Peter Crossing HERE
Read more stories from Almanac Music HERE
If you would like to receive the Almanac Music and Poetry newsletter we will add you to the list. Please email us: [email protected]
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One-off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE
About Peter Crossing
Peter Crossing loves the pure 'n natch'l blues. He is a member of the silver fox faction of the Adelaide Uni Greys. He is something of a cricket tragic although admitting to little interest in the IPL or Big Bash forms of the game.
Mystery Train is a cracker and Elvis is still head and shoulders above any popular music singer that has come since. That he is also possibly one of the best looking people of the last 100 years didn’t hurt his chances. But its his voice, his rhythm and his incredible sense of turning a good tune into a memorable (and in the case of MT, a haunting, inexplicably eerie) song. And he kept doing so until his untimely death in 77.
If you haven’t read Peter Guralnick on music and on Elvis, here’s a taster: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1489-mystery-train-memphis-blues-again
Cracking read Peter! As part of my New Orleans tour in 2014, we spent some time in Memphis, and of course, when in Memphis you visit Graceland and Sun Studios. Sun Studios was surreal, to stand in the same space as Elvis did behind the microphone he sang into, sent shivers down the spine. It felt as though the spirit of Elvis was everywhere. I gained a greater appreciation of his music than I had before.