A Train Of Many Facets-Songs With The Word 'Train' Quiz

Answer: Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band

From his great 1972 LP 'The Spotlight Kid':

'Two trains. Two railroad tracks.
One goin' 'n the other one comin' back,
Click clack, click clack'.

This was the Captain's most accessible album since his debut "Safe As Milk".

Answer: The Blasters

From their 1986 'Live 1986' album. While in no way a punk band, this rock and roll band from Downey, California are considered the band that brought a punk attitude and energy to Rockabilly and Rock & Roll or old school style country music.

Answer: A-ha

From their very underrated 'Hunting High & Low' album from 1985. A-ha are considered a typical "boy band" by many based on the most visible part of their audience and the image conveyed via their videos and singles. To a smaller handful of others they had far more in common musically to bands such as eighties era Roxy Music (to use one example). Musically speaking this band went way beyond the abilities or ambition of just about any "boy band" ever.

Answer: Cramps

Now if you know me you just HAD to know this one would be in here! This track has appeared on a number of Cramps releases. For simplicity's sake let's just say it is from their wonderful 1980 compilation 'Bad Music For Bad People'.

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

From his 'Born In The USA' album. My girlfriend is a Bruce nut (and a Blasters freak for that matter) so this one and that one are in here for her, since it's her birthday tomorrow (and I'm cheap).

Answer: The Soft Boys

"Here Comes a train Here Comes a train Here Comes a train"

From their 2001 anniversary issue of their 'Underwater Moonlight' album entitled 'Underwater Moonlight ... and how it got there'.

Seriously: Regardless of if I said this quiz would be easier than most of my quizzes you had to expect a curveball or two. And besides: it's the flippin' SOFT BOYS! I just HAVE to include it!

Answer: Bob Marley & The Wailers

In 1973 one of reggae's greatest milestone albums was released: 'Catch A Fire'. This is one of the tracks from that great record. It is the primary album which introduced reggae music to a world beyond Jamaica and the United Kingdom.

Answer: The Kinks

1968. 'The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society'. One of four phenomenally great consecutive Kinks albums (and the one this song is from). If you do not agree I hate to tell you, but we can never be friends.

Answer: John Coltrane

From his wonderful 1968 release 'Blue Train'. "But... but... it's an INSTRUMENTAL!" you caw? It's John Coltrane! You do not GET to argue!

Answer: James Brown

The closing track from one of the greatest live albums recorded by anyone ever: 1963's 'Live At The Apollo' (Opinions? Oh heckums I got 'em!). It was released in 1961 as a single and it became a hit, charting at number five in the R&B charts and at number five in the Pop charts.

Answer: Joe Ely

From his 1978 'Honky Tonk Masquerade' album. Joe is one of the earliest of the "alternative country" musicians (Dwight Yoakum and the like) that started their careers in the very early eighties.

Answer: Sir Douglas Quintett

The a-side of his 1976 'El Paso Train / Ain't Nothing Wrong With You' seven inch single release. It did not chart at all.

Answer: Be-Bop Deluxe

in 1974, when Be-Bop Deluxe's debut album 'Axe Victim' was issued, I bought it for the cover alone, a skull guitar. Then, when I got home and played it, I was hooked and became a fan for life. A great, great album. This song is from that album.

Answer: The Swanks

Ok ok... I'll admit it: unless you got this one by process of elimination I highly doubt anybody would get this one. But while I was looking for stuff for the quiz I stumbled across this amazing surf tune on you tube and I just HAD to include it. So do yourself a favor: if you like surf oriented stuff you tube this one pronto. You can thank me later. Released in November 1968 as the B Side of this single: 'My College Cry / Ghost Train'.

The only question I have is: HOW ON EARTH does THIS track wind up on the B Side of ANYTHING?!

Answer: Bob Dylan

The title track (sort of) from Bob's first album in his so-called "born again" trilogy (mark my words: this particular era will one day be re-evaluated as one of Bob's stronger eras) from 1979, 'Slow Train Coming'. Hey: after question #14 I figured I owed it to all of you to throw you a bone, so here's your bone. Enjoy it.