First recorded in 1922 by the Florida Normal Industrial Institute Quartet, This Train (or ‘This Train is Bound for Glory’ or ‘Dis Train’ as it is sometimes known) is an African-American spiritual. The oddly-named Florida Normal Industrial Institute Quartet were an early African-American barber-shop act who sang the song a cappella. This Train was later made famous by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who recorded it twice: initially, using an acoustic guitar, in the 1930s, and then again, using an electric guitar, in the 1950s. Her 1950s version is now seen as a precursor of Rock-n-Roll. And indeed the song, transmuted by Willie Dixon into ‘My Babe’, was a hit for Little Walter in 1955. It was also famously recorded as ‘This Train is Bound for Glory’ by Woody Guthrie. Guthrie’s autobiographical novel, ‘Bound for Glory’ takes its title from the song.
Songs with Banjo from Harold Hagler
