Some very famous music was missed out.Make that totally ignored.That was songs about trains.2 songs that were totally included the greatest song ever written on trains called Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glenn Miller.When it hit #1 in December 1941 it was the first record to sell over 1 million copies in 15 years.This is from the movie Sun Valley Serenade where Tex Beneke & THe Modernaires do it right in the movie.More importantly it was the #1 song across America on December 7,1941.Another song that totally ignored in this issue is The Atcheson,Topeka & Santa Fe by the great Johnny Mercer.Why were these 2 wonderful songs totally ignored???
As a fan of this genre of music I agree with you. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with a couple of generations now, that doesn’t know this music exist. It seems music history either begins with Elvis or The Beatles, and everything that went before that is irrelevant. I don’t think it’s by design, it’s just that the general population hasn’t been exposed to this music, and they have no motivation to seek it out.
It’s interesting that with classical music we go back centuries, but with American popular music, anything more than a few decades old is considered obsolete. Especially when many music historians consider the 1930’s and 40’s the golden age of songwriting in American popular music.
In addition to the AT&SF, Johnny Mercer wrought several songs where trains were present in the lyrics, even if the title or subject matter didn’t pertain directly to trains. Two that come to mind are “Laura” and “I Thought About You”.
I would suspect it was excluded in the interests of political correctness. Can’t publish anything that might offend someone in this day and age.
To cover everything everyone thinks should be in such an issue would have required a pretty substantal tome…
Previous discussion: http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/264744.aspx
Probably because you have to draw the line somewhere. No so-called “political correctness”[?] involved, just the personal decision of the writer.
cat992, Trains Mag. seems to be responsive to readers comments, I wrote to them praising that music story and got a nice answer from the author. Perhaps you could put together a play list of all the railroad/train songs you can come up with and send it to them for possible publication as a follow-up? Maybe even links to where readers can actually listen to them, which would be much appreciated.
I agree with you and others to a point. However, in today’s lexicon PC is the word. It is not considered nice to offend anyone and even back in the forties calling a black man ‘Boy’ was considered offensive. They should have been treated with respect then as they should be now. That was then. It was a different time in our history but it should not be forgotten. What was OK then may not be today.
Late last night I posted items to this thread, specifically the RCA recording on Youtube, a page from Billboard magazine showing the song No. 1 on the charts in all regions of the country, an ad for the movie, and several photos of the great Glenn Miller. All deleted. It was a good post, nothing offensive. Except in the song, Tex asks, “Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?” and the Modernaires answer, “Yes, yes. Track twenty-nine!” and Tex says, “Boy, you can give me a shine.”
Track 29? What station on that route would be so huge to have a track 29? Cincy Union maybe?
I think the constant crying/whining about “PC” is worse than the actual “PC” anymore.
An article on railroading and music just screams to me they are hitting the bottom of the creative barrel. Probably end up with top-10 facebook-esqe clickbait lists next.
Those of us old enough to know that back in the forties and early fifties know the phrases “Pardon me boy” and “Can you give me a shine” were both common and deragatory to those of a certain ethnicity. While I won’t defend their use today they were common back then. It’s a part of history we should not forget nor should we be proud of. We shouldn’t try to erase or rewrite history.
I don’t know about the “PC” thing, I think some may be reading more into this than it really deserves.
Anyway, here’s the definative version of “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” from the 1941 film “Sun Valley Serenade.” It’s the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the height of it’s power, plus a dance number by the incredible Nicholas Brothers.
Major Glenn Miller, USAAF. Rest in peace sir!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGBwmLRNLJ4
And for another angle, there’s this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZLPJuy9oyQ
One last thing, for some fun you may want to slide over to the “Classic Toy Trains” site and check the blog “Train Songs, Readers Picks.” Some good ones there, and Bob Keller and Rene Schweitzer did a good job compiling them.
Great post Firelock76!!!
As a certified bonified Canuklehead I cannot say “boy” is offensive…in the video he is talking to his pals all of whom are white boys. It’s only the jerks that use it in a nasty way And likely only in certain areas of the country. Geez, will this stuff ever end?
I would add a BIG “AMEN” to Norm’s (Norm 48327) comment, and to some other’s,as well! Speaking as someone who grew up in the South, and has spent a lot of time over the years in other parts of this nation.
Any number of Posters here are certainly entitled to, or earned the rights to be called ‘seasoned citizens’. The current wave of Political Correctness is not only robbing us of our HISTORY, but of the very things that have shaped our American Society. WE seem to be caught in the hands of a vocal minority who is attempting to control the majority through the tyrany of the minority.
I have long hoped we could grow past the failures of our social structures that
Thanks Sam and Miningman!
I’ll tell you, I don’t know how the country could have won World War Two without swing music, in it’s own way just a powerful a weapon as the P-51 Mustang, the F4U Corsair, the 105 howitzer, and the M-1 rifle.
And since I’m sure Major Miller wouldn’t want us to leave him in a downbeat mood, here he is performing the greatest swing number ever, Lady Firestorm’s favorite…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPXwkWVEIIw
PS: Yep, that hot blonde is the Olympic gold medal skater Sonia Henie!
Thanks Wanswheel! I always wondered what the real “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” was.
It was just a song. The Pelican avoided Carolina, I think.
Just a little artistic license I suppose.
Very nice, Mike! Let me add a note: Southern’s #41 & #42 bore no name until at least 1948 when it was given the name Pelican; before then, it was simply Washington-New Orleans #41 & and #42.
The schedule of the Birmingham Special was the closest to that which is represented in the s