GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: TRAINS

[Mike Pell]

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I thought you might be interested in this.
Some years ago, I had the bright idea it might be fun to use one of the rare Thanksgiving movies, "Trains, Planes & Automobiles" to help celebrate the Holiday.
It would naturally be a 3-year project.
Took me 3 years to realize the movie is actually titled "Planes, Trains & Automobiles", LOL!
Now the first year's shows somehow got lost, so I re-created it from home.
Back when my home equipment was not so good.
The music is perfectly fine, but I sound tinny.
Besides this series of series, there will be two weeks of music coming for this 2010 Thanksgiving!
But here is something from years ago, as I invite you to join me for the BEST songs about Trains I could think of.
Mike

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: TRAINS PT.1
This is the first show in a long time from Studio M- which means of course from my home.
Then it is on to the business of Getting Home For Thanksgiving- the most heavily traveled time of year here in the United States!
Inspired by one of the few, and very funny, movies about Thanksgiving, “Trains, Planes & Automobiles”, I decided that we will take them in order.
Therefore this year it will be Trains as the selected mode of transportation to take us home to our friends and relatives- to gab, drink, eat and especially give thanks for the bountiful gifts we are blessed with in this great country.
Join me for Part One of at least three episodes, as we ride the rails with hopefully, the little surprises that provide you with those “OH WOW!” moments.
All aboard!!!

Here's the link to hear it, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1240


Mike

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: TRAINS PT.2
We continue on our journey home for Thanksgiving by Train- inspired by the movie Trains, Planes & Automobile. I now realize I have the title wrong, lol!
And this time we will take a look a DIFFERENT KINDS of Trains, so get ready for the familiar, the forgotten and the maybe never heard. Including the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, etc.
It should be pointed out that every genre of music has Train songs- Rock, Country, Blues, Pop, R&B, Soul and as many else as we can get to.
I am going to end this episode with some Folk Train Songs.
Beginning with one from a live concert from Simon & Garfunkel that dates back to January 22, 1967, and with unbelievably good quality considering. A NYC subway song.
A folkie staple from Peter, Paul & Mary follows, and we’ll go out with a fun song called To Morro which I am sure you will like.
We are about 2/3 of the way there, so don’t forget to join me for those final miles home in the concluding chapter.
Coming soon to a computer near you!
Here's the link to hear it, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1241


Mike

GETTING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING: TRAINS PT.3 END
Welcome to the final lap of our journey Home For Thanksgiving, this year by Train. I am going to open this episode with two groups with not much in common, other than Rock & Roll.
Wonder if they have ever been played back-to-back, LOL?
And is that a snort at the beginning of the first song?
Then it is on to a set that lists some songs wherein the Trains have ACTUAL NAMES.
After that, some Wishful & Metaphorical Trains.
And finally- for me- the perfect song to wrap up our travel together, as we reach the End Of The Line.
I hope you have enjoyed this effort, based on that great, funny Thanksgiving movie “Trains, Planes & Automobiles- and I know I left out plenty of Train songs.
You can’t play ‘em ALL!
If you want to scold me, just leave a comment.
Join me next as we go home by Plane.
There is always much to be thankful for. Just get up and take a look around, and you will find things.
In fact, the act of getting up and being able to look around is a gift.
Take nothing for granted.
And so, I thank you for listening.
Most of all, I wish you a Very Healthy & Happy Thanksgiving!
But wait, there is much more Thanksgiving travel coming very soon.

Here's the link to hear it, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1246


Mike

[Mike Pell]

Dear RJ,
3 & 1/2 hours, what was that all about?
Well at least you did watch Petticoat Junction.
That's right, Dickie Doo and the Don'ts, and I LOVED their song Click Clack when I was a kid...still do, lol!
That is a helluva riff for the Doobies, you know the song right away.
I liked the Butterfield Blues Band's Two Trains Runnin' after that.
Glad you were able to get into James Brown's Night Train.
Downtown Train was actually written and recorded by Tom Waits, it's his song, but Steart does a good job on it.
And context is everything on my shows, so thanks for finding it palatable, even likable, in its inclusion in that set.
Had to play that Monkees tune! But coming after the Grateful Dead...oh man, lol!
City Of New Orleans, Marakesh Express, Love Train, Peace Train and End Of The Line were all great fun for me to dig out and play- sometimes that is the biggest reward.
And I am really happy to turn you on to Hank Snow's The Wreck Of The Old 97.
Just a great old song, and you are right, it can be regarded as chilling.
I was just happy that scratchy old 45 rpm single still played!
Now I seem to remember a group called Blackfoot, but I don't have anything by them.
And that was the FIRST song you thought of?
Damn, I let you down there, lol!
As always, I thank you for listening and writing.
Next we have Planes to take,
Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

Oh, and I forgot, I really thought you'd play Train, Train by Blackfoot. I know you don't have enough time to play everything, but that was the first song I thought of after reading the theme.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Wow...it took me 3&1/2 hours to listen to this, that's the kind of morning I had. But, I finally finished it, and I have intentionally not read Scott's comments so I can make my own, then I'll read his.

I liked the 3rd show best.

The theme to Petticoat Junction brought back some memories, I did watch that as a kid. Lets see, 3 daughters, train station, middle of nowhere, maybe I'm thinking of a different show/movie...:-)

Dickie Doo and the Don'ts....are you kiddin' me? What a name.

Loved the Doobies. Isn't that just a great riff to start that song?

I kept thinking that song Night Train was James Brown, and I was correct. I'm not a particular fan of his, although he was from Augusta and lived here, but that song was cool.

I've never been a fan of the Rod Stewart tune Downtown Train, but for some reason, I really liked it in this context.

I loved Last Train To Clarksville. I used to watch The Monkees too.

City Of New Orleans, Marakesh Express, Love Train, Peace Train and End Of The Line were all great to hear again.

My favorite from all of these shows was The Wreck Of The Old 97. What a great, old tune from Hank Snow. It's new to me and I like it a lot. Great story, if not a little chilling there at the end. And I can't remember the exact lyrics, but something about not treating your husband bad because you don't know if he will make it back home. Chilling.

[Mike Pell]

Dear Scott,
Yes the time of year when families gather together and be dysfunctional, lol!
That Larry the Cable Guy was an internet friend of mine doing it, JR Claiborn- he'll be happy to hear you thought it was awesome.
How about that,your families are all steeped in railroads and the Union Pacific.
Great story about your grandfather, I can see how it would be too quiet for him,lol!
It's true, I can't remember ever seeing more than a few moments of Petticoat Junction, and think you are right about the spinoff- but I never watched Green Acres either, lol!
If there were hotties on them, I missed it.
Of course, I am surprised there was only one song you knew in this one, so while you were watching those shows,I was listening to music, lol!
I had forgotten what I played so I just listened again.
That Butterfield Blues song cooks!
And my old Click Clack still holds up for me.
I like Springsteen,but not as much as I used to- it's a case of him keeping his mouth shut!
Sing Bruce...that's all I want to hear from you.
How about those two? Kinks and Nilsson, don't they go well together?
This show was done years ago, and I don't know when Rock and Roll Train by ACDC came out,but I probably would have played it.
I had plenty to choose from though.
As for the ones you thought of, at least one will be played.
Your Dylan I should have thought of, but in the original show I played another by him.
Remember, this is a re-creation.
In the original broadcast, I DID play the Clash and that Paul Simon one.
Not this time, guess I just forgot since the original was lost.
But hang in there with me- there's two more parts to go!
Thanks for listening and writing Casey, lol!
Mike

[Scott]

I was worried when I first read this in the mail viewer because the text got cut off, but I am glad to see its all alive and well in here. Ah the holidays, a time when families travel to be together, hopefully they like each other enough to do that. hahaha

PART 1...

Why don't you continue to use the Larry the cable guy intro still? That was awesome!

Mike, my famliy heritage is steeped in the Railroad western expansion. All of them worked for or still do, the Union Pacific railroad. On both sides of mine and my wife's family, so this is a cool topic. My grandfather lived across the street from tracks and the shop he worked in. When grandma passed and he could no longer live alone, he was moved into an assisted living apartment. When I asked him how he was doing, he would always say, "its too quiet", I guess sleeping with a roaring train shaking the foundation of your home was a comfort for him.

Petticoat Junction, my first introduction to Farmers daughters! I cant believe you never seen the show. I believe it was a spin off from Green Acres, but with the hot Hee-Haw type of gals running around. Was it a good show? I don't know, but it looked good. hahaha

Love the Doobies track, I didn't think of this track automatically, but was pleasantly surprised to hear it.

Not a Bruce fan, sorry.

Nothing was familiar except the Doobies, weird... I also thought of couple more...

Slow Train - Bob Dylan
Last Train to London - ELO
Downtown Train - Rod Stewart
Train, Train - Blackfoot
Train In the Distance - Paul Simon
Train in Vain - The Clash...

And Rock and Roll Train by ACDC but I think that was released after this show was produced...
Nice show Mike...!!