Boogie Down (Me): Freight Train Boogie (#1)

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So I’m up early again. It’s out with the old! Yes, we conclude the “boogie” countdown and the year 2025…with an oldie. What else did you expect from me? A million thanks to @LindaOH for the suggestion of a “boogie” countdown. She liked half of it. Here’s the one that tops the list for me. (Oh, Linda? Probably not…or maybe if you scrub past the harmonica intro.) #1: Freight Train Boogie - Delmore Brothers The Delmore Brothers was a mighty team They could play the boogie and sing like a dream They rocked this nation with a brand new beat When the “Freight Train Boogie” got them on their feet (Ira and Charlie Louvin’s tribute to the Delmore Brothers in their version of “Freight Train Boogie,” 1960) Welcome to an early rock and roll song! AND welcome to an early rap song. This is from the Delmore Brothers’ second career, post-WWII. They were very popular in the 30s, despite the Depression. During World War II older brother Alton (seated in the screen grab) was drafted. He joined the Navy and served. Following the war he and younger brother Rabon (standing) reunited in Cincinnati and resumed their music career. The hotbed of “hillbilly” music was in Cincinnati, believe it or not, thanks to King Records and powerhouse radio station WLW. The Delmores signed to King, where they made some of their best-remembered tunes…including the iconic “Blues, Stay Away From Me.” To get around King Records’ owner Syd Nathan’s control of the publishing, they copyrighted the song under pseudonyms Jim Scott (Alton) and Bob Nabor (Rabon…Nabor is Rabon with the consonants reversed). Add Wayne Raney on harmonica and Jethro Burns playing the boogie-woogie on the guitar and you have one of the songs that is generally listed as a precursor to rock and roll. Thanks again for the suggestion, Linda, and thank you all for reading…today and all year. Happy 2026. Freight Train Boogie Written by Alton and Rabon Delmore (under pseudonyms Jim Scott and Bob Nabor) Recorded by the Delmore Brothers Released as a single, 1946 An eight-wheel driver under his command: