Long Black Train

by Josh Turner

Overview

The centerpiece of this debut album by South Carolina native Josh Turner is its lead track, the traditional-sounding "Long Black Train," which could be a country gospel song out of the 1940s. Penned by Turner, the song rolls death, temptation, and redemption into the metaphor of a funeral train, and sung in Turner's deep voice, it rolls across country radio like nothing else on the scene, the ominous breath of hellfire in the lyrics conjuring up the ghost of Johnny Cash. It is also a hard act to follow, and although there are some strong songs here, nothing else on this record comes up to the level of "Long Black Train." Turner has a deep, commanding voice full of a kind of intimate sadness, and that alone carries songs like "She'll Go on You," setting them apart from what passes for Nashville sincerity these days, but there is simply too much filler here, and with "Long Black Train" as the lead cut, everything else seems like a long breath being exhaled. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	10/14/2003
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008817029122
Rank:	36006

Tracks

1. Long Black Train
2. In My Dreams
3. What It Ain't
4. I Had One One Time
5. Jacksonville
6. Backwoods Boy
7. Unburn All Our Bridges
8. You Don't Mess Around with Jim
9. She'll Go on You
10. Good Woman Bad
11. The Difference Between a Woman and a Man

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Josh Turner   Primary Artist
Steve Hinson   Dobro,Guitar (Steel)
Wes Hightower   Vocals (Background)
Charlie McCoy   Harmonica
The Nashville String Machine   Strings
Melodie Crittenden   Vocals (Background)
Brent Mason   Guitar (Electric)
Brent Rowan   6-String Bass,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Baritone),Guitar (Electric)
Lisa Cochran   Vocals (Background)
Shannon Forrest   Drums
Eric Darken   Percussion,Vibraphone
John Wesley Ryles   Vocals (Background)
Bryan Sutton   Banjo,Guitar (Acoustic),Gut String Guitar,Guitar (Resonator)
Liana Manis   Vocals (Background)
Mike Johnson   Pedabro
Paul Franklin   Guitar (Steel)
Aubrey Haynie   Fiddle,Mandolin
Kevin Grantt   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Russell Terrell   Vocals (Background)
Carl Gorodetzky   Strings
Pat McLaughlin   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Frank Rogers   Soloist,Guitar (Baritone),Guitar (Electric)
Steve Nathan   Piano

Technical Credits

Don Sampson   Composer
Jason Lehning   Engineer,Digital Editing
David Schober   String Engineer
Josh Turner   Composer,Photography
Tim Mensy   Composer
Mark Narmore   Composer
Mark Tucker   Photography
Brian David Willis   Engineer
Todd Gunnerson   Assistant
Harley Allen   Composer
Mark Wright   Producer
Jim Croce   Composer
Richard Barrow   Engineer
Bobby Braddock   Composer
Craig Allen   Design,Art Direction
Roger Younger   Composer
"Loopy Dave" Willis   Digital Editing
Greg Fogie   Assistant
Ronnie Thomas   Digital Editing
T. Martin   Composer
Trish Townsend   Stylist
Monty Criswell   Composer
Grey Banner   Digital Editing
Carie Higdon   Production Assistant
C.A. Dreyer   Production Assistant
Katie Gillon   Art Direction
Hank Williams   Mastering
Tony Martin   Composer
Bergen White   String Arrangements
Adam Hatley   Digital Editing
Pat McLaughlin   Composer
Casey Beathard   Composer
Frank Rogers   Producer
Jamie O'Hara   Composer
Greg Droman   Mixing,Engineer