Trains played a big role in American movies made before flying became commonplace. The featured image is obviously NOT the Midnight Train To George. It’s Farley Granger and Robert Walker in Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers On A Train. Train movie meets train song.

Midnight Train To George was written in 1972 by Jim Weatherly. Its original title was Midnight Plane From Houston. I am not making this up. Would it have been a hit with that title? Discuss amongst yourselves.

We begin with the songwriter.

Here’s the hit version we know and love. It’s a pip, y’all.

Indigo Girls put a folk spin on this week’s tune:

Joan Osborne could sing the phone book and make it sound good. Holy anachronistic reference, Batman.

Aretha Franklin. Say no more.

Finally, Jason Isbell and Brittney Spencer board the train:

We skipped the instrumentals this week. Nobody ever needs to hear Ferrante & Teicher again.

That’s it for this week. Let’s drink to a relatively tranquil hurricane season. It’s what Bogie and Claire Trevor would want. Never argue with them.