Boogie Down (Me): Choo Choo Ch’Boogie (#9)

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I’m out of the house!!! And I even made it over the river. I normally would be at my “regular” Chuy’s today but since I have to meet my brother I won’t make it there until Wednesday. They might think I froze to death! Nope, not as long as I have some hopping boogie to keep me warm. Here’s today’s song. #9: Choo Choo Ch’Boogie - Manhattan Transfer This song goes back to 1946 and R&B singer Louis Jordan (who, believe it or not, had a #1 country song in 1944 [the genres of “hillbilly, western, and race” were mixed together in the early days of the chart]). It was also a country hit in 1974 for Asleep At the Wheel (who put the swing back into Western swing!). I love both of those versions, but I’m going to grab the harmonies any time I can. And, for that, I turn to the Manhattan Transfer. They were so wonderful…such a “throwback” band to the 40s. This is such a happy, upbeat song in melody that you might not notice the lyrics (all written in an A rhyme) telling the rather sad tale of a soldier coming home with no job offers and no hope for housing except the old railroad shack. Yeah, it’s a lyrical downer…but you’d probably never notice that because of the bouncy rhythm. Enjoy! Choo Choo Ch’Boogie Written by Vaughn Horton, Denver Darling, and Milt Gabler Recorded by the Manhattan Transfer From A League of Their Own (Soundtrack), 1992 Take me right back to the track, Jack!