Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970, Vol. 2

Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970, Vol. 2
Label: CMF/Lost Highway
Rated: NONE
WorkNameSort: Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970, Vol. 2

Once again, the folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum prove that their little facility in Nashville is way more informative than that monstrosity in Cleveland. The museum’s “Night Train” exhibit connects the dots between Nashville’s R&B roots, its country reputation and the undeniable impact of both on rock & roll, and with this second (and final) two-disc compilation of soul cuts from the city, it’s easier to remember that Nashville’s famed music business got its start in the primarily black area around Jefferson Street (and that Nashville is only 200 miles away from the soulful streets of Memphis). Filled with rare gems like Ted Jarrett’s rollicking “Love, Love, Love” (1955) and not-as-surprising-as-you-might-think country/soul crossovers like Joe Simon’s “(You Keep Me) Hangin’ On” (1968), this set shines a spotlight on a long-overlooked element of America’s musical history.

This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 4, 2005.