- Night Train (composition)
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"Night Train (song)" redirects here. For the Visage song, see Night Train (Visage song). For the Guns N' Roses song, see Nightrain. For other songs with the same title, see Night Train (disambiguation).
"Night Train"
Label of the original Jimmy Forrest single. Note the misspelling of Forrest's name.Single by Jimmy Forrest Released March 1952 Recorded November 27, 1951 Genre R&B Length 2:50 Label United
110Writer(s) Oscar Washington
Lewis P. Simpkins
Jimmy Forrest"Night Train"
1964 UK re-release on SueSingle by James Brown from the album James Brown Presents His Band/Night Train B-side "Why Does Everything Happen to Me" Released 1962 Format 7" single Recorded February 9, 1961, at King Studios, Cincinnati, OH Genre R&B, rock 'n' roll Length 3:38 Label King
5614Writer(s) Oscar Washington
Lewis P. Simpkins
Jimmy Forrest"Night Train" is a twelve bar blues instrumental standard first recorded by Jimmy Forrest in 1951.
Contents
Origins and development
"Night Train" has a long and complicated history. The piece's opening riff was first recorded in 1940 by a small group led by Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges under the title "That's the Blues, Old Man". Ellington used the same riff as the opening and closing theme of a longer-form composition, "Happy-Go-Lucky Local", that was itself one of four parts of his Deep South Suite. Forrest was part of Ellington's band when it performed this composition, which has a long tenor saxophone break in the middle. After leaving Ellington, Forrest recorded "Night Train" on United Records and had a major rhythm & blues hit. While "Night Train" employs the same riff as the earlier recordings, it is used in a much earthier R&B setting. Forrest inserted his own solo over a stop-time rhythm not used in the Ellington composition. He put his own stamp on the tune, but its relation to the earlier composition is obvious.
Like Illinois Jacquet's solo on "Flying Home", Forrest's original saxophone solo on "Night Train" became a veritable part of the composition, and is usually recreated in cover versions by other performers. Buddy Morrow's trombone solo chorus from his recording of the tune is similarly incorporated into many performances.
Lyrics
Several different sets of lyrics have been set to the tune of "Night Train". The earliest, written in 1952, are credited to Lewis P. Simpkins, the co-owner of United Records, and guitarist Oscar Washington.[1] They are a typical blues lament by man who regrets treating his woman badly now that she's left him. Douglas Wolk, who describes the original lyrics as "fairly awful", suggests that Simpkins co-wrote (or had Washington write) them as a deliberate throwaway in order to get part of the tune's songwriting credit; this entitled him to substantial share of "Night Train"'s royalties, even though it was most often performed as an instrumental without the lyrics.[2]
Eddie Jefferson recorded a version of "Night Train" with more optimistic lyrics about a woman returning to her man on the night train.
Notable recordings
"Night Train" has been recorded by numerous performers over the years:
- Jimmy Forrest's original version of "Night Train" was a #1 R&B hit in 1952. Forrest later recorded a Spanish Tinge version titled "Night Train Mambo".
- Rusty Bryant also had a an R&B hit in 1952 with "All Nite Long", an uptempo version recorded live that also incorporated the riff and audience chorus from Joe Houston's "All Night Long".
- A pop version recorded by Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra reached #27 on the charts, also in 1952. This version features a classic and oft quoted trombone solo by Buddy Morrow himself.
- Louis Prima released a version in his album The Wildest!, released in 1957. It features Sam Butera on saxophone and begins with a "C. C. Rider" segment.
- Chet Atkins performed "Night Train" as a guitar-lead big band instrumental on Teensville, 1960.
- The rock and roll instrumental group The Viscounts recorded the tune twice, once in 1960 and again in 1966 in a version where they used their instruments to imitate the sound of a train.
- James Brown released a version of "Night Train" in 1962 that reached #5 on the R#B charts and #35 on the pop charts. His performance replaced the original lyrics of the song with a shouted rough list of the stations on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad's Silver Meteor service and many repetitions of the song's name. A live version of the tune was the closing number on his breakthrough 1963 album Live at the Apollo.
- Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson recorded "Night Train" with his trio on a 1962 album of the same name.
- Bill Doggett, famous for his own instrumental "Honky Tonk", released a version of "Night Train" in 1964 as a two-part single.
- The tune was part of the repertoire of the British rhythm and blues group Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames during their residency at the legendary Flamingo Club in London's Soho in the early 60's (with Fame mimicking the list of train stations used by James Brown). It featured on their 1964 live album Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo. It featured again on the 1998 album The Very Best of Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames.
- The World Saxophone Quartet recorded a version on their album Rhythm and Blues (1989).
- Ska band The Toasters covered the song on their 1992 album New York Fever
- Kadoc released a dance/electronic track "The Nighttrain" with samples from the James Brown recording.
- Public Enemy also released a version of Night Train which took samples from the James Brown version.
- Saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded a version on his 1995 album Caracas
- The group Reverend Organdrum (featuring Jim "The Reverend Horton Heat" Heath) performs "Night Train" on their 2008 album Hi-Fi Stereo.
- Wes Montgomery & Jimmy Smith's version appears on the album Jazz Like You've Never Heard It Before.
Appearances in film
- "Night Train" is played by the band at the high school dance in Back to the Future.
- "Night Train" is played in the bar fight scene in Rush Hour.
- "Night Train" is played during a club scene towards the end of Raging Bull.
- "Night Train" is featured on the soundtrack album to Quadrophenia (1979)
- James Brown & The Famous Flames perform an explosive performance of "Night Train" in their segment of the concert film The T.A.M.I. Show.
- "Night Train" is played at the beginning of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Badda-Bing Badda-Bang".
- Night Train also features in soundtrack of Tom Hanks starring movie Apollo 13
- "Night Train" is played by Bob Crane (drummer) and house bands at various clubs in Auto Focus.
Other appearances
- "Night Train" plays an important part in Roddy Doyle's novel The Commitments.
- Martin Amis' 1997 novel Night Train is named after it.
- Diana Krall performed a version on Spectacle with Elvis Costello, interviewed by Elton John You Tube link
References
- ^ Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - REGALS
- ^ Wolk, Douglas. (2004). Live at the Apollo, 97. New York: Continuum Books.
External links
- Song Review of the James Brown version from Allmusic
Preceded by
"3 O' Clock Blues" by B.B. KingBillboard Best Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records number-one single
March 15, 1952Succeeded by
"Booted" by Roscoe GordonJames Brown albums Studio albums Please Please Please · Try Me · Think! · The Amazing James Brown · James Brown Presents His Band/Night Train · Shout and Shimmy · James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the USA · Prisoner of Love · Excitement - Mr. Dynamite · Showtime · The Unbeatable James Brown · Grits and Soul · Out of Sight · Papa's Got a Brand New Bag · I Got You (I Feel Good) · James Brown Plays James Brown Today and Yesterday · Mighty Instrumentals · James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) · It's a Man's Man's Man's World · James Brown Sings Christmas Songs · Handful of Soul · Sings Raw Soul · James Brown Plays the Real Thing · Cold Sweat · I Can't Stand Myself · I Got the Feeling · James Brown Sings Out of Sight · Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things · A Soulful Christmas · Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud · Gettin' Down to It · The Popcorn · It's a Mother · Ain't It Funky · Soul on Top · It's a New Day - Let a Man Come In · Hey America · Super Bad · Sho' Is Funky Down Here · Hot Pants · There It Is · Get on the Good Foot · Black Caesar · Slaughter's Big Rip-Off · The Payback · Hell · Reality · Sex Machine Today · Everybody's Doin' the Hustle and Dead on the Double Bump · Hot · Get Up Offa That Thing · Bodyheat · Mutha's Nature · Jam 1980's · Take a Look at Those Cakes · The Original Disco Man · People · Nonstop! · Soul Syndrome · Bring It On · Gravity · I'm Real · Love Overdue · Universal James · I'm Back · The Merry Christmas Album · The Next StepLive albums Live at the Apollo · Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal · The James Brown Show · Live at the Garden · Live at the Apollo, Volume II · Sex Machine · Revolution of the Mind: Live at the Apollo, Volume III · Hot on the One · James Brown and Friends: Soul Session Live · Love Power Peace · Live at the Apollo 1995 · Say It Live & Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68Compilation albums Soul Classics · Soul Classics, Volume 2 · Solid Gold: 30 Golden Hits · The Fabulous James Brown · Can Your Heart Stand It? · The Best of James Brown · The Federal Years, Part 1 · The Federal Years, Part 2 · Roots of a Revolution - The James Brown Story 1956-1965 · Ain't That a Groove - The James Brown Story 1966-1969 · Doing It to Death - The James Brown Story 1970-1973 · Dead on the Heavy Funk 1974-1976 · The CD of JB: Sex Machine and Other Soul Classics · The LP of JB · In the Jungle Groove · The CD of JB II: Cold Sweat and Other Soul Classics · Motherlode · Messin' With the Blues · Star Time · 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! · Roots of a Revolution · JB40: 40th Anniversary Collection · Foundations of Funk - A Brand New Bag: 1964-1969 · Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang · Make It Funky - The Big Payback: 1971-1975 · Dead On The Heavy Funk: 1975-1983 · Classic James Brown - The Universal Masters Collection · The Godfather - The Very Best of James Brown · Classic James Brown Vol. 2 - The Universal Masters Collection · 50th Anniversary Collection · The Singles, Volume One: The Federal Years: 1956-1960 · The Singles, Volume Two: 1960–1963 · The Singles, Volume Three: 1964-1965 · A Family Affair · Dynamite X · The Singles, Volume Four: 1966-1967 · The Singles, Volume Five: 1967-1969 · The Singles, Volume Six: 1969-1970 · The Singles, Volume 7: 1970-1972 · The Singles, Volume 8: 1972-1973 · The Singles, Volume 9: 1973-1975 · Icon · The James Brown Complete Christmas · The Singles, Volume 10: 1975-1979 · The Singles, Volume 11: 1979-1981Notable singles "Please, Please, Please" · "Try Me" · "I'll Go Crazy" · "Think" · "Bewildered" · "I Don't Mind" · "Lost Someone" · "Night Train" · "Shout and Shimmy" · "Prisoner of Love" · "These Foolish Things" · "Have Mercy Baby" · "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" · "I Got You (I Feel Good)" · "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" · "Cold Sweat" · "I Got the Feelin'" · "Licking Stick - Licking Stick" · "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" · "Funky Drummer" · "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" · "Super Bad" · "Caldonia" · "Out of Sight" · "Hot Pants" · "Make It Funky" · "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" · "Get on the Good Foot" · "The Payback" · "My Thang" · "Papa Don't Take No Mess" · "Funky President" · "Get Up Offa That Thing" · "Night Time Is the Right Time" · "Unity" · "Living in America"Band members Associated acts Related articles James Brown singles Federal releases "Please, Please, Please" · "Try Me" · "I Want You So Bad" · "I'll Go Crazy" · "Think" · "You've Got the Power" · "This Old Heart"King releases "The Bells" · "Bewildered" · "I Don't Mind" · "Baby You're Right" · "I Love You Yes I Do" · "Lost Someone" · "Night Train" · "Shout and Shimmy" · "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." · "Three Hearts in a Tangle" · "I've Got Money" · "Like a Baby" · "Every Beat of My Heart" · "Prisoner of Love" · "These Foolish Things" · "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" · "Oh Baby Don't You Weep" · "Have Mercy Baby" · "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" · "I Got You (I Feel Good)" · "Lost Someone" · "I'll Go Crazy" · "Ain't That a Groove" · "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" · "Money Won't Change You" · "Don't Be a Drop-Out" · "Sweet Little Baby Boy" · "Bring It Up (Hipster's Avenue)" · "Kansas City" · "Think" · "Let Yourself Go" · "Cold Sweat" · "Get It Together" · "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" · "There Was a Time" · "You've Got to Change Your Mind" · "I Got the Feelin'" · "Licking Stick - Licking Stick" · "America Is My Home" · "I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry" · "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" · "Goodbye My Love" · "Tit For That (Ain't No Taking Back)" · "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" · "Soul Pride" · "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I'll Get It Myself)" · "The Popcorn" · "Mother Popcorn" · "Lowdown Popcorn" · "World" · "Let A Man Come In and Do the Popcorn" · "Ain't It Funky Now" · "It's a New Day" · "Funky Drummer" · "Brother Rapp" · "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" · "Super Bad" · "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay" · "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" · "Spinning Wheel" · "I Cried" · "Soul Power"Smash releases Polydor releases "Escape-ism" · "Hot Pants" · "Make It Funky" · "I'm A Greedy Man" · "Hey America" · "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" · "King Heroin" · "There It Is" · "Honky Tonk" · "Get on the Good Foot" · "I Got a Bag of My Own" · "I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want to Dance)" · "What My Baby Needs Now Is a Little More Lovin'" · "Down And Out In New York City" · "Think '73" · "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" · "Stoned to the Bone" · "The Payback" · "My Thang" · "Papa Don't Take No Mess" · "Funky President" · "Coldblooded" · "Hustle!!! (Dead on It)" · "Reality" · "Sex Machine '76" · "Superbad, Superslick" · "Hot (I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved, Loved)" · "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" · "Get Up Offa That Thing" · "I Refuse to Lose" · "Body Heat" · "Kiss in '77" · "Give Me Some Skin" · "If You Don't Give a Doggone About It" · "Eyesight" · "The Spank" · "For Goodness Sakes (Take a Look at Those Cakes)" · "It's Too Funky In Here" · "Star Generation" · "Regrets" · "Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses)" · "Stay With Me"Other releases "Night Time Is the Right Time" · "Bring It On...Bring It On" · "Unity" · "Froggy Mix" · "Living in America" · "Gravity" · "How Do You Stop" · "She's The One" · "The Payback Mix" · "I'm Real" · "Static" · "Gimme Your Love" · "(So Tired of Standing Still We Got to) Move On" · "I Got You (I Feel Good) {James Brown v. Dakeyne]" · "Can't Get Any Harder" · "Funk On a Roll" · "Killing Is Out, School Is In"Back to the Future Films Characters Media SoundtracksBack to the Future · Back to the Future Part II · Back to the Future Part III · The Back to the Future Trilogy · Intrada 2-CD ScoreSongs"Back in Time" · "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" · "Beat It" · "Doubleback" · "Earth Angel" · "I Can't Drive 55" · "Johnny B. Goode" · "Mr. Sandman" · "Night Train" · "Papa Loves Mambo" · "Pledging My Love" · "The Power of Love" · "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)"Back to the Future (1985) · Back to the Future (1989) · Back to the Future Part II & III · Back to the Future Part III · Super Back to the Future II · Back to the Future: The Game · Universal Studios Theme Parks AdventureOther mediaUniverse Categories:- 1950s jazz standards
- 1951 songs
- James Brown songs
- Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles
- Instrumentals
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