The was a $1.00. It had a lot of good songs on it.
The Limelighters were formed in 1959. They would call it quits in 1965 after 13 or so records. There would be later reformations, reunions, and tours throughout the years. The original members are either dead or retired. However, the band still plays live with new members. The Kingston Trio (who original Limelighter Lou Gottlieb worked for as an arranger) does the same thing. It would appear that folk bands are hydra like creatures that don’t die but grow new heads and carry on. The Limelighters never had a true hit record in terms of charts, but were well known for their wide spanning repertoire of songs.
This album illustrates this repertoire. Included on this album, which was I believe was their 9th, are standards from folk (both US and British), Irish, and cowboy songbooks. “Drill Ye Tarriers”, “Betty and Dupree”, “John Riley”, “Gambler’s Blues (St James Infirmary)” , and “Whoopee Ti Yi Yo” illustrate this. Also included is “Hangman, Hangman” which has been interpreted by many artists in the world of folk, blues , and rock (Think “Gallow’s Pole”). But the song I got this album for was “The Midnight Special”. This album contains what may be the best version of this song by white artists. Lyrically wise, it is very close to the Leadbelly version.
Leadbelly, who popularized the song, drew from much source material including other prison songs and a 1923 jailbreak for this. Versions by Johnny Rivers and Credence Clearwater Revival both state that those who squabble and fight in Houston would be “prison bound”. Leadbelly’s version, however, states “Sugar Land bound”. Growing up in Sugar Land, when I first heard Leadbelly’s version, I understood exactly where he was singing about. It is about the old Central Unit Prision, where Leadbelly was once a guest, in Sugar Land at I-90 and Highway 6. The Midnight Special in the song was the train that would run on across I-90. The prison would close in 2011. The non-Sugar Land version of the song is sung below by Harry Dean Stanton in Cool Hand Luke.
Regardless of the version, I got to give it up for the songs that call out Houston. I also often wonder about the deputies Benson Crocker and Jimmy Boone mentioned in the song. Were they good ol’ boys, were they dirty and corrupt, or were they civil servants just doing the job they were paid to do? Whoever they were, they were notable enough to be included in the song.
Submitted for the sample then, is “The Midnight Special”.
This record is Top Rated for me due to the width and breadth of great songs on it.