This is the first of a series of CD's released by Rounder, all devoted to train songs. This volume focuses on country music, although the series as a whole covers several musical genres. Some of the songs featured here were recorded in the 1990's while others are from as far back as the 1930's, yet somehow they fit together well.
Roy Acuff starts the wheels rolling with Wabash Cannonball, one of many train songs that he recorded. This is followed by another famous train song, Orange blossom special, inspired by the first streamline train ever to run in Florida. That was in 1938, although the Johnson mountain boys' version featured here was recorded in 1945.
Daddy what's a train?, from 1973, was written at a time when it was feared that trains would disappear from America altogether. Perhaps they will one day, but I doubt it. Elsewhere in the world, especially in Western Europe where the population density is much higher, there will always be trains.
Among the other great songs here, Steel rails (the title track) is sung superbly by Alison Krauss, while another wonderful lady, Kate MacKenzie, closes the set with a fine rendition of Pan American boogie. The original Pan American train ran from Cincinnati to New Orleans.