Brass, Reeds, and Percussion: February 4, 2023 (Train Music)

Popular music is often wind-band music. Today’s edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion will focus on wind-band popular music inspired by trains. A bit of background about what inspired this show. I have long been acquainted with the song “Tuxedo Junction,” but only during the past 2 years did I discover this tune, made a big hit by Glenn Miller, was actually written and first recorded by a group of college students from Alabama State University, headed by one of Alabama’s most talented musicians: Erskine Hawkins. Initially, I was inspired by use this composition for a Black History month show, but realized there was a great deal of music inspired by trains.

1. Tuxedo Junction
   Composer:  Bill Johnson (music, 1912-1960), Julian Dash (music, 1916-1974), Erskin Hawkins (music, 1914-1993) & Buddy Feyne (lyrics, 1912-1998)
   Performer:  Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra
   Album:  Masters of Jazz, Vol. 3

2. Tuxedo Junction (1940)
   Composer:  Bill Johnson (music, 1912-1960), Julian Dash (music, 1916-1974), Erskin Hawkins (music, 1914-1993) & Buddy Feyne (lyrics, 1912-1998)
   Performer:  Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
   Album:  Sixty Essential Recordings

3. Hot Town (1929 recording)
   Composer:  Fess Williams (1894-1975)
   Performer:  Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra
   Album:  Hot Down: Jazz Classic in Digital Stereo

4. Take the A Train (1941 recording)
   Composer:  Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)
   Performer:  Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra
   Album:  Ellington Plays Strayhorn

5. Take the A Train
   Composer:  Billy Strayhorn
   Performer:  BBC Big Band Orchestra
   Album:  Best of the Big Bands

6. Chattanooga Choo Choo
   Composer:  Mack Gordon (lyrics, 1904-1959) & Harry Warren (music, 1893-1981)
   Performer:  Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
   Album:  Big Band Magic

7. Chattanooga Choo Choo
   Composer:  Mack Gordon (1904-1959) & Harry Warren (1893-1981)
   Performer:  BBC Big Band Orchestra
   Album:  Best of the Big Bands

8. Honky Tonk Train Blues (1927, 1938 recording)
   Composer:  Meade “Lux” Lewis (1905-1964)
   Performer:  Bob Crosby & His Orchestra
   Album:  Big Band Dixieland

9. Night Train (1939 recording)
   Composer:  Jimmy Forrest (1920-1980) & Oscar Washington (1912-2004)
   Performer:  Buddy Morrow & His Band
   Album:  Big Band Themes

10. Night Train
    Composer:  Jimmy Forrest (1920-1980) & Oscar Washington (1912-2004)
    Performer:  Dirty Dozen Brass Band
    Album:  New Orleans Brass Bands Down Yonder

11. Daybreak Express
    Composer:  Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
    Performer:  Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
    Album:  Hot Town: Jazz Classic in Digital Stereo

12. Ole Miss (2002 recording)
    Composer:  W. C. Handy (1873-1958)
    Performer:  Memphis Blues Reenactment Band
    Album:  W. C. Handy’s Beale Street
    Named after the train that went from Memphis to New Orleans in 1909.

13. Choo Choo Cha Cha (1959 recording)
    Composer:  Lori Ford & Carl Ford (1920- )
    Performer:  Rinky Dinks
    Album:  Cha Cha de Amor
    This recording was used for the TV series Mad Men.

14. Colonel Bogey March
    Composer:  Frederick Joseph Ricketts (1881-1945)
    Performer:  Women’s Royal Army Corp Band
    Album:  Essential Military Bands
    Used in the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, which is about prisoners of war building a railroad bridge in Burma.