Come Along and Ride this Train
Johnny Cash · 1991
290 min · 105 tracks · blues · rock & roll · traditional folk music
A sprawling auditory journey through American folklore, infused with Cash's signature storytelling and heartfelt delivery.
Why this album works
This album is notable for its ambitious scope, featuring an extensive range of songs that illustrate the breadth of American musical heritage. It has been recognized for its critical reception, particularly for highlighting Cash's narrative prowess and earning him a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. The album contributed to the revival of interest in traditional folk themes and is often cited as a precursor to Cash's successful collaboration with producer Rick Rubin later in the decade.
- Best for
- sprawling auditory journey experience narrative storytelling interspersed throughout reflective moments for contemplation
- Context
- By 1991, Johnny Cash had experienced both highs and lows in his career, with 'Come Along and Ride This Train' serving as a significant return to thematic storytelling after years of personal struggles. This album came during a resurgence of interest in Cash's work, particularly following his signing with American Recordings in 1992, which revitalized his presence in the music industry. It reflects his deep connection to American roots music, showcasing his commitment to preserving and interpreting traditional narratives.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Elvis Presley· Waylon Jennings· Willie Nelson
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Come Along and Ride This Train 2:32
- 2 Loading Coal 5:01
- 3 Slow Rider 4:14
- 4 The Shifting Whispering Sands 2:32
- 5 Lumberjack 3:02
- 6 Dorraine of Ponchartrain 4:47
- 7 Going to Memphis Standout 4:19
- 8 When Papa Played the Dobro Standout 2:55
- 9 Boss Jack 3:56
- 10 Old Doc Brown 4:15
- 11 The Legend of John Henry's Hammer Standout 8:27
- 12 Tell Him I'm Gone 3:04
- 13 Another Man Done Gone 2:37
- 14 Casey Jones 3:03
- 15 Nine Pound Hammer 3:18
- 16 Chain Gang 2:41
- 17 Busted 2:18
- 18 Waiting for a Train 2:08
- 19 Roughneck 2:13
- 20 Pick a Bale of Cotton 1:59
- 21 Cotton Pickin' Hands 2:20
Disc 2
- 1 Hiawatha's Vision 2:25
- 2 The Road To Kaintuck 2:43
- 3 Hammer and Nails 2:40
- 4 The Shifting Whispering Sands, Part 1 2:55
- 5 The Ballad of Boot Hill 3:49
- 6 I Ride an Old Paint 2:58
- 7 Hardin Wouldn't Run 4:19
- 8 Mr. Garfield 4:36
- 9 The Streets of Laredo 3:39
- 10 Johnny Reb 2:51
- 11 A Letter From Home 2:36
- 12 Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie 2:26
- 13 Mean as Hell 3:08
- 14 Sam Hall 3:15
- 15 25 Minutes to Go 3:13
- 16 The Blizzard 3:54
- 17 Sweet Betsy From Pike 3:58
- 18 Green Grow the Lilacs 2:46
- 19 Rodeo Hand 2:26
- 20 Stampede 4:00
- 21 The Shifting Whispering Sands, Part 2 2:29
- 22 Remember the Alamo 2:48
- 23 Reflections 2:44
Disc 3
- 1 Intro - Big Foot 2:49
- 2 As Long as the Grass Shall Grow 6:10
- 3 Apache Tears 2:37
- 4 Custer 2:22
- 5 The Talking Leaves 3:57
- 6 The Ballad of Ira Hayes 4:10
- 7 Drums 5:05
- 8 White Girl 3:03
- 9 Old Apache Squaw 1:42
- 10 The Vanishing Race 4:06
- 11 Open Dialogue 0:23
- 12 Paul Revere 2:17
- 13 Begin West Movement 0:26
- 14 The Road to Kaintuck 1:21
- 15 To the Shining Mountains 0:48
- 16 The Battle of New Orleans 2:21
- 17 Southwestward 0:37
- 18 Remember the Alamo 2:26
- 19 Opening the West 0:54
- 20 Lorena 1:52
- 21 The Gettysburg Address 2:38
- 22 The West 0:57
- 23 Big Foot 3:02
- 24 Like a Young Colt 0:38
- 25 Mr. Garfield 3:53
- 26 A Proud Land 0:24
- 27 The Big Battle 3:05
- 28 On Wheels and Wings 0:30
- 29 Come Take a Trip on My Airship 1:05
- 30 Reaching for the Stars 0:41
- 31 These Are My People 2:36
Disc 4
- 1 From Sea to Shining Sea 1:38
- 2 The Whirl and the Suck 3:07
- 3 Call Daddy From the Mines 3:03
- 4 Frozen Four Hundred Pound Fair to Middlin' Cotton Picker 2:32
- 5 The Walls of a Prison 4:01
- 6 The Masterpiece 2:47
- 7 You and Tennessee 3:08
- 8 She Came From the Mountains 4:59
- 9 Another Song to Sing 2:00
- 10 The Flint Arrowhead 2:56
- 11 Cisco Clifton's Fillin' Station 2:42
- 12 Shrimpin' Sailin' 3:06
- 13 From Sea to Shining Sea 0:57
- 14 Hit the Road and Go 2:35
- 15 Dialogue #1 2:33
- 16 If It Wasn't for the Wabash River 2:09
- 17 Dialogue #2 2:22
- 18 Lady 2:48
- 19 Dialogue #3 2:27
- 20 After the Ball 2:48
- 21 Dialogue #4 2:02
- 22 No Earthly Good 2:46
- 23 Dialogue #5 1:51
- 24 A Wednesday Car 2:12
- 25 Dialogue #6 0:55
- 26 My Cowboys Last Ride 2:29
- 27 Dialogue #7 2:48
- 28 Calilou 3:20
- 29 Dialogue #8 1:24
- 30 Come Along and Ride This Train 2:27
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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