Meet Iggy Pop And David Bowie

A hat-trick of German related posts, and a train related one too. In 2004 Kraftwerk toured. We saw them at The Apollo and it was stunning, not least the films that played with each song, the light up ties and the robots. This song is one of their best, Trans Europe Express, from the Maximum-Minimum live album that came out the year after the tour. A Kraftwerk live album seems a bit like a contradiction in terms doesn't it? This song was recorded at the romantic sounding Budapest Sportarena.

Trans Europe Express (Live)

Drug Train

The Cramps rode a totally different kind of train, though it did have a beautiful lux interior. Take care when boarding- 'you put one foot on, then you put the other foot on, then you put another foot on...'

Drug Train

Ska Train

Chik-chik, chik-chik.
Everyone on board, pick your seat, the train to skaville.
Chik-chik, chik-chik.

Beep-beep, beep-beep, the train to skaville.

Thanks to Davy H at The Ghost Of Electricity for the prompt.

02 Train to Skaville.wma#1#1

Cash Train

Arriving at Platform One tonight, in place of our scheduled Friday Night Is Rockabilly track, is the Orange Blossom Special which set off in 1965 and rattles along, whoop-whooping as it goes. I don't know if it's folk or country or rock 'n' roll or what- it's just a cracking Johnny Cash song. It also has one of the coolest album covers ever. Get it on vinyl to appreciate it fully.

01 Orange Blossom Special.wma#1#1

Indie Train

Third in the Bagging Area train series. Last week I picked up a Smiths 12" single, a German import with Yootha Joyce on the cover. The A-side was Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others- who thought in 1986, 'what the German indie market is crying out for is Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others as a single, that's the cross-over song'?. Seems a slightly strange choice. The two songs on the B-side were Frankly, Mr Shankly and The Draize Train. It's a lovely pressing, great clear sound. Yes, I've got the songs already. I don't know if it's worth anything, but it only cost me a couple of quid. This record buying lark is an affliction isn't it?

The Draize Train is one of only three Smiths instrumentals. For whatever reason, Morrissey couldn't, wouldn't or wasn't allowed to provide vocals to for it, and it's a bit difficult to imagine how he could've. The Draize Train is a funky little number, with some Johnny Marr rock guitars, a shuffling groove, quite un-Smithsy really. It also sounds a little dated which is unusual for a Smiths song but there you go. All aboard.

The Draize Train.mp3#2#2

Rockabilly Train

Elvis. He kissed a girl, and she liked it.

From riding the rasta train earlier this week to a short hop on the rockabilly train. Elvis' Mystery Train is the grandaddy song, one of the actual starting points for this thing we're all obsessed with. It's got many qualities that are impossible to pin down and I'm not even going to try, except to say if you haven't got this, get it now. We're going away for a week, not by train sadly. Back online on Saturday April the 16th I should think. Be good while I'm away. Don't make a mess and remember to feed the cat.

02 Mystery Train.wma

Rasta Train

Mystery train, sixteen coaches long, freedom train, long black train, there's a train a-coming you don't need a ticket you just get on board, train in vain, the train from Kansas City, take me to the station and put me on the train, driver 8, night train, midnight train to Georgia, trainspotting, modern life is rubbish. Rasta Train by Lee and Jimmy, produced by Lee Perry, deep 70s dub.

Lee Scratch Perry_16_Rasta Train.mp3