Lonesome Whistle - An Anthology Of American Railroad Song
Lonesome Whistle compiles American railroad songs from the 1920s–40s, when the rails were central to folk mythology. Proper Records assembled this four-disc anthology with field recordings and acoustic originals from Kelly Harrell, Blind Joe Taggart, and Roy Harvey. The variable recording quality and raw voices immerse you in the era authentically. Themes cycle through disaster ballads, hobo romance, and working life—genuine artifacts rather than processed roots-music. The collection captures how poor and working-class Americans mythologized travel, danger, and displacement through music. Historically invaluable and emotionally compelling, the rough sound actually enhances authenticity. For collectors of folk history, blues archaeology, and anyone interested in American vernacular song before commercial standardization.
Item Details+
| Genre | Blues, Folk World and Country |
| Style | Bluegrass Country Folk |
| Notes | Mint (NM or M-) Good Plus (VG+) Booklet included. CDs are EX to NM. |
| Media | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Sleeve | Very Good Plus (VG+) |
| Label | Proper Records |
| Year | 2012 |
| Country | UK |
| Format | 4xCD |
Tracklist+
. Big Railroad Blues
1-1. Kelly Harrell - The Wreck On The Southern Old 97 3:40
1-2. Roy Harvey - The Brave Engineer 3:16
1-3. Blind Joe Taggart - I Wish My Mother Was On That Train 2:43
1-4. Ollie Rupert - I Raised My Window And Looked At The Risin' Sun 3:20
1-5. Sam Collins - Yellow Dog Blues 2:31
1-6. The Williamson Brothers, Curry (2) - Gonna Die With My Hammer In My Hand 3:26
1-7. Blind Joe Amos - C and O Blues 3:26
1-8. Roy Harvey - The Wreck Of The Virginian No. 3 3:07
1-9. Tenneva Ramblers - The Longest Train I Ever Saw 3:05
1-10. Andrew and Jim Baxter - K. C. Railroad Blues 3:27
1-11. Ed Bell (2) - Mean Conductor Blues 2:51
1-12. Ed Bell (2) - Frisco Whistle Blues 2:45
1-13. Blind Lemon Jefferson - Rambler Blues 2:46
1-14. Blind Lemon Jefferson - Sunshine Special 2:45
1-15. Grayson and Whitter - Train 45 3:00
1-16. Burnett and Rutherford - Ramblin' Reckless Hobo 3:23
1-17. The Allen Brothers - Chattanooga Blues 3:05
1-18. Billiken Johnson, Fred Adams (3) - Sun Beam Blues 3:12
1-19. Cannon's Jug Stompers - Big Railroad Blues 3:16
1-20. Tenneva Ramblers - If I Die A Railroad Man 2:42
1-21. Pink Anderson, Simmie Dooley - C. C. and O. Blues 3:07
1-22. Grayson and Whitter - The Red And Green Signal Lights 3:12
1-23. Sloppy Henry - Royal Palm Special Blues 3:08
1-24. Furry Lewis - Kassie Jones - Part 1 3:07
1-25. Frank Hutchison - Hell Bound Train 3:00
. Travellin' Blues
2-1. Nelstone's Hawaiians - North-Bound Train 3:14
2-2. Jimmie Rodgers - Waiting For A Train 2:47
2-3. Frenchy's String Band - Texas And Pacific Blues 3:01
2-4. Mississippi John Hurt - Spike Driver Blues 3:17
2-5. The Carter Family - Engine One-Forty-Three 2:46
2-6. The Carolina Tar Heels - The Train's Done Left Me 3:06
2-7. Lonnie Coleman (5) - Old Rock Island Blues 3:15
2-8. Darby and Tarlton - The New York Hobo 3:11
2-9. Hack's String Band - Western Kentucky Limited 2:59
2-10. Eddie Mapp (2) - Riding The Blinds 3:01
2-11. Buell Kazee - The Hobo's Last Ride 3:01
2-12. Charley Patton - Pea Vine Blues 3:06
2-13. Frank Hutchison - Cannonball Blues 3:21
2-14. Jimmie Rodgers - Train Whistle Blues 2:59
2-15. Will Bennett - Railroad Bill 3:01
2-16. Furry Lewis - John Henry (The Steel Driving Man) - Part 1 2:54
2-17. Robert Wilkins - Long Train Blues 3:04
2-18. Memphis Jug Band - K. C. Moan 2:34
2-19. Darby and Tarlton - Freight Train Ramble 3:07
2-20. Darby and Tarlton - Lonesome Frisco Line 2:52
2-21. Blind Sammie - Travelin' Blues 3:18
2-22. The Carter Family - Wabash Cannonball 2:57
2-23. Washington White - The New 'Frisco Train 3:03
2-24. Willie Brown (2) - M and O Blues 3:11
2-25. Walter Davis - M and O Blues 3:07
. Blow Yo' Whistle Freight Train
3-1. Alabama Sheiks - Travelin' Railroad Man Blues 2:57
3-2. Cliff Carlisle - True And Trembling Brakeman 2:32
3-3. Walter Davis - Railroad Man Blues 3:35
3-4. King Solomon Hill - The Gone Dead Train 3:20
3-5. Big Bill Broonzy - Too-Too Train Blues 3:40
3-6. Blind Willie McTell - B And O Blues No. 2 3:02
3-7. Sam McGee - Railroad Blues 3:15
3-8. Memphis Minnie - Chickasaw Train Blues (Low Down Dirty Thing) 3:13
3-9. The Delmore Brothers - Blow Yo' Whistle, Freight Train 2:53
3-10. Bumble Bee Slim - B And O Line Blues 2:55
3-11. Dallas Jamboree Jug Band - Flying Crow Blues 2:46
3-12. Meade "Lux" Lewis - Honky Tonk Train Blues 2:55
3-13. Monroe Brothers - New River Train 2:30
3-14. Bill Carlisle - The Heavenly Train 2:19
3-15. Crowder Brothers - Depot Blues 2:53
3-16. Monroe Brothers - My Saviour's Train 2:54
3-17. Little Brother Montgomery - A. and V. Railroad Blues 3:37
3-18. Black Ivory King - The Flying Crow 2:23
3-19. Blind Norris - The Katy Blues 2:42
3-20. Wade Mainer - Train Carry My Girl Back Home 2:23
3-21. Robert Johnson - Love In Vain 2:34
3-22. Wade Mainer, Zeke Morris, Steve Ledford - Riding On That Train Forty-Five 2:33
3-23. The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet - Golden Gate Gospel Train 2:34
3-24. "Roosevelt" Antrim - Station Boy Blues 3:04
3-25. Shelly Lee Alley - Train Whistle Blues 2:32
. The Train Kept A' Rollin'
4-1. Sleepy John Estes - Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues) 2:52
4-2. Cripple Clarence Lofton - Streamline Train 3:54
4-3. Smith Casey - Santa Fe Blues 3:01
4-4. Rouse Brothers - Orange Blossom Special 2:56
4-5. Bukka White - Special Stream Line 3:18
4-6. Huddie Ledbetter, Leadbelly - The Midnight Special 3:06
4-7. Leadbelly, The Golden Gate Quartet - Rock Island Line 2:36
4-8. Byron Parker and His Mountaineers - C. and N. W. Railroad 2:33
4-9. Karl And Harty - Gospel Cannon Ball 3:26
4-10. Yank Rachell - Hobo Blues 3:06
4-11. Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Mean Old Frisco Blues 2:39
4-12. Leadbelly - Lining Track (Line 'Em) 1:12
4-13. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee - Lonesome Train 3:31
4-14. Sonny Boy Williamson - G. M. and O. Blues 2:41
4-15. Hank Williams - Pan American 2:47
4-16. Woody Guthrie - Hard Travelin' 2:32
4-17. Muddy Waters - Train Fare Home 2:48
4-18. T-Bone Walker - Railroad Station Blues 2:43
4-19. Rev. Robert Ballinger - This Train 2:24
4-20. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train 2:24
4-21. Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues 2:44
4-22. Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightnin' 3:10
4-23. Chuck Berry - Down Bound Train 2:52
4-24. The Johnny Burnette Trio - Train Kept A Rollin' 2:17
4-25. Johnny Cash - I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow 2:26
Data provided by Discogs.




