Musical Train Ride Trivia Quiz

Answer: Willie Nelson

In November, 1984, Willie Nelson took his single of the tune to the top of the US Country Charts. Back Porch Mary, The Seldom Scene, Johnny Cash and even David Hasselhoff are among the alumni who have also recorded the song. John Denver included the song on his 1972 "Aerie" LP. In 1975 Judy Collins recorded the song on her "Judith" album.
Songwriter Steve Goodman was inspired to write the song while actually taking a ride on the train. Arlo Guthrie recorded the song after hearing Goodman perform it in Chicago and it became a successful hit for him in 1972 but did not reach the top spot. Goodman performed the song in his concerts until his death in 1984. He won a posthumous Grammy for the composition after Willie Nelson's version was released.
In 2005 Jimmy Buffett did a live version of the song at Wrigley Field in Chicago and dedicated it to Hurricane Katrina victims and later the same year Arlo Guthrie headlined a series of Katrina fundraiser concerts on the train at various stops.

Answer: Midnight Special

"The Midnight Special" originally aired as a special in late 1972, then was picked up as a regular show early the following year. It featured performances by the top artists of the era and aired after "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962). The traditional song, "Midnight Special", was erroneously attributed to Leadbelly by Willie Lomax when he recorded Leadbelly singing it in 1934, however, the traditional song had already been around a long time.

More than a dozen artists have had successful records of the song.

The version recorded by Johnny Rivers was used as the theme song for the television show "Midnight Special". "All Aboard the Blue Train" was the title of a 1962 Johny Cash album. "Midnight Flyer" was an Eagles recording from their "On the Border" album in 1974. "Funky Soul Train" has been recorded by several artists from Hank Ballard to Robert Parker, not to be confused with "Soul Train", a television show that ran from 1971 to 2006.

Answer: Friendship Train

"Friendship Train" was a track from the 1970 Temptations' "Psychedelic Shack" LP. In 1969 Gladys Knight and the Pips enjoyed a number 17 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song. Songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote the song and Whitfield produced the "Psychedelic Shack" album.

The Temptations album was a departure from the previous traditional Motown sound, featuring The Funk Brothers, sampling, synthesizers and vocal shifting effects. "People Get Ready" (1965) was recorded by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions. "People Get Ready: The Curtis Mayfield Story" was released in 1996. Lorrie Morgan released "Trainwreck of Emotion" in 1988 and "Love Train" was a hit by The O'Jays in 1973.

Answer: Bangor, Maine

"King of the Road" was a crossover hit that made it to the Billboard Top 100 and was also Number One on the Country Charts. The lyrics of the second verse were "Third boxcar, midnight train destination Bangor, Maine. Old worn out suits and shoes, I don't pay no union dues." The song articulates the poor but carefree lifestyle of the hobo.

The song has since been recorded by over a dozen artists from Dean Martin to Ray Conniff Singers. In the 1966 concert film "The Big T.N.T. Show" Roger performed the song live. Later in 1965 Country singer Jody Miller recorded "Queen of the House", using the song's melody but changing the lyrics to sing about the daily life of a housewife.

Answer: Night Train

Jimmy Forrest left Duke Ellington's band prior to recording "Night Train". He enjoyed a significant instrumental rhythm and blues hit with the song. In 1952 United Record executive Lewis P. Simpkins and session guitarist Oscar Washington put words to the tune.

In 1957 Louis Prima recorded a version on the "The Wildest" album in a medley with "C C Rider". James Brown released a 1962 version that reached number five on the R&B charts and number 35 on the Pop Charts. James punctuated the song by shouting the names of American cities. Since Brown popularized the song other artists have released their own renditions of the piece. "Wreck of the Old '97", "Blue Train" and "Train of Love" were done by Johnny Cash on his 1962 "All Aboard the Blue Train" LP.

Answer: Sheena Easton

"Morning Train (Nine To Five)" was the breakthrough hit for Scottish singer Sheena Easton. Florrie Palmer penned the hit song. Dolly Parton's "9-5" also went to Number One. Ironically Dolly's song talks about a woman striving to be independent while Sheena Easton's song is about a girl who waits at home all day until her boyfriend comes home on the train.

Sheena filmed the video for the song using a vintage British locomotive. Sheena Easton, Lulu, Carly Simon and Rita Coolidge all have something in common.

They each sang songs from Bond movies. "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) was by Sheena Easton, Rita Coolidge sang "All Time High" from "Octopussy" (1983), "The Man With The Golden Gun" (1974) was Lulu's contribution and Carly Simon had a 1977 hit with "Nobody Does It Better" from "The Spy Who Loved Me".

Answer: Mystery Train

Junior Parker and Sam Phillips were credited with writing "Mystery Train. Sam Phillips owned Sun Records and counted Elvis among his emerging artists in the early fifties. Little Junior's Blue Flames made the first Sun Records recording of "Mystery Train" in 1953 with "Love My Baby" as the flip side. Elvis recorded the song in August, 1955.

While "Mystery Train" managed to reach number 11 on the Country Charts, the flip side, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget", actually made it to Number One on the Country Charts in early 1956. "Last Train" was done by Arlo Guthrie on his "Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys" in 1972.

The Bee Gees recorded "Ghost Train" in 1991 LP and "Distant Train" was by The Seldom Scene on "Scenic Roots" in 1990.

Answer: Homeward Bound

"Homeward Bound" was written by Paul Simon while actually sitting in the Ditton Railway Station. It became a single release from the 1965 "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" LP. In early 1966 the song peaked at number five on the charts and remained on the charts for 12 weeks. Ten years later Simon performed the song live when hosting "Saturday Night Live" and was joined by musical guest George Harrison. The 1965 release "I Am a Rock" began with "A winters day in a deep and dark December". "Leaves That Are Green" was from the 1965 "Sounds of Silence" album and started with "I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song" and finally the classic 1966 single "Sounds of Silence" began "Hello darkness my old friend".

Answer: The Four Preps

The Four Preps came together while attending Hollywood High School and were signed to a Capitol Records recording contract in 1956 after performing at a talent show. Over the next eight years they placed 13 songs in the Billboard Hot 100. They made a brief resurgence during the British Invasion when they released "A Letter to the Beatles" in 1964.

The song peaked at number 85. Original members Bruce Belland and Gary Larson shared songwriting duties for the group including "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)". Belland continued writing songs as well as scripts for television and eventually became a television executive. Larson became a record producer and later wrote "Tainted Love".

The song became a 1982 hit for Soft Cell. The Canadian group the Crewcuts charted several songs in the fifties including "Sh-Boom" in 1954.

The Four Lads also hailed from Canada and counted the 1956 song "Standin' on the Corner" among their hits. Since 1955 the American vocal group the Four Freshmen have released over 40 albums and numerous singles.

Answer: The Harvey Girls

"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song was written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for "The Harvey Girls". The Judy Garland Decca recording reached Number Ten on the Billboard magazine charts at the time. "The Harvey Girls" referred to a group of waitresses traveling on the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe railway headed West.

The girls met up with Judy's character who was on her way to meet a boyfriend she had been corresponding with.

When they arrived she found out he was an older man so Garland's character teamed up with the girls. "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944) featured Garland singing "The Trolley Song" and other classic hits. Judy did not sing in "The Clock" (1945). "Be A Clown" was one of the songs from the 1948 Gene Kelly and Judy Garland flick "The Pirate".