Well, when you seek knowledge, go to google. Casey Jones was definitely real, not a myth. He drove locomotives for the IC, Illinois Central Railroad, and died in a train wreck near Vaughn, Mississippi, in April, 1900. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Jones
I have another "outlaw of the old west" here. I recall that Jesse became an outlaw because the railroad seized his property, but there are various stories about him.
Thanks. Letty. Jesse James--interesting, the Pogues sound more like a skiffle band there than the Celtic punk they usually played. Shame on the movie makers, tho--in that clip, ol' Jess is crossing the street, and they've got horses and buggies but electric street lamps (on retro poles, to be sure, but globes, which would preclude lighting them if they were gas lamps, which would have been all they had when Jesse was shot in 1882). Tch, tch, Hollywood.
Thanks. Letty. Jesse James--interesting, the Pogues sound more like a skiffle band there than the Celtic punk they usually played. Shame on the movie makers, tho--in that clip, ol' Jess is crossing the street, and they've got horses and buggies but electric street lamps (on retro poles, to be sure, but globes, which would preclude lighting them if they were gas lamps, which would have been all they had when Jesse was shot in 1882). Tch, tch, Hollywood.
I love the old Tyrone Power/Henry Fonda films about Frank and Jesse. It's still hollywood, but a cut above the other ones.
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Letty
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Tue 17 Aug, 2010 06:10 am
M.J. There are a few anachronisms in that ballad. I do recall Tyrone Power nailing something on the wall and getting shot in the back.
A song taken from the Reverend Robert Wilkins "Ain't No Way To Get Along" recorded in 1929.
It's based on a parable of Jesus that appears in the Gospel Of Luke.
my fave radio guy interviewed Jac Holzman founder of Elektra records
he told a great story of signing Harry Chapin, apparently they'd been in talks with him, when a rep from Columbia records undermined their negotiations by telling Harry that he'd get buried in a label like Elektra and their talent, when Holzman found this out he went to Harry's house, told him that nothing could be farther from the truth and promised to release no other artist records the week Harry's disc came out
This is the original industrial film of Taxi created by Jac Holzman to promote his signing of Harry Chapin and the release of the album "Heads & Tales."
Harry Chapin used an alternate version of the song than what is on the LP
This isn't a story song, exactly, but it's certainly a history song--four billion years of evolution in four verses. Dave calls it an eco-spiritual, and it moves me every time I hear it.
