The Night Train to Richmond
You have probably heard Gladys Knight sing Midnight Train to Georgia but were you aware that James Brown sang about a Night Train that went to Richmond, Virginia? Brown had many hits during his long career but this particular recording is rarely mentioned. In 1985 Brown recorded Living in America for Rocky VI where he sang about major US cities:
Like New Orleans (New Orleans), Detroit City (Detroit City)L
Dallas, uh (Dallas), Pittsburgh, PA (Pittsburgh, PA)
New York City (New York City), Kansas City (Kansas City)
Atlanta, yeah (Atlanta), Chicago, and LA
Brown repeated a pattern he used when he changed the lyrics to Night Train which was originally recorded in 1940. In the Godfather of Soul's 1961 version, he sang about the capitals in East Coast states. Brown's lyrics are as follows.
All aboard, the night train
Miami, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Raleigh, North Carolina
Miami, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Raleigh, North Carolina
Washington D.C.
Oh, and Richmond, Virginia too
Baltimore, Maryland
Philadelphia
New York City, take it home
Boston, Massachusetts
And don't forget New Orleans, the home of the blues
Oh, yeah, night train
Night train, night train, night train
Carry me home
Night Train Live
Night Train was released in March 1962. A live version of the tune which you can listen to by clicking on this link was the closing number on Brown's 1963 album Live at the Apollo. James Brown also performed Night Train with his group the Famous Flames (Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, and Lloyd Stallworth) on The T.A.M.I. Show a 1964 motion picture/concert film.
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