Content
The album has a neo-traditionalist approach to country music, an indication from Stuart that he and his Superlatives intend to carry on with their more serious approach to recording, a direct contrast to Stuart's earlier days of performing.
Branded
'Branded' is a song about a man who is constantly on the run; he has been jailed for vagrancy (amongst other crimes). He claims he is "guilty of the crime of tryin' to get back home." The song is, in sorts, a tribute to Merle Haggard who had a hit single on the country charts with the song "Branded Man" in 1967. The song is a reminder of 1970's country rock. Stuart had the idea to write the song whilst in his dressing room at the Grand Ole Opry, and had to "keep getting out of the shower" every time a new line came into his head.
Country Boy Rock & Roll
'Country Boy Rock & Roll' was originally a bluegrass tune by the group Reno & Smiley. Marty heard the song on the radio in his tour bus, and immediately fell in love with the tune, deciding that upon his next visit to the recording studio he would record an electric version with the Superlatives. The song is performed as a duet between Marty Stuart and his lead guitarist, "Cousin" Kenny Vaughan.
Drifting Apart
'Drifting Apart' is a song about two lovers who are, as the title suggests, drifting apart from each other. Stuart got the idea for the song whilst in the car with his wife, Connie Smith. He told her to take a pen and paper and write down as he dictated to her: "Our home is like a prison, where we're both serving time/I'm a stranger in your world now, and it's driving me out of my mind./Drifting apart, drifting apart, darling, we're drifting apart./Out of reach, out of heart, we're slowly drifting apart." Stuart later joked in an interview that he had to reassure his partner that the song was not about her.
Bridge Washed Out
'Bridge Washed Out' was originally written and recorded by Warner Mack in 1965. It would also be recorded a year later by country legend George Jones. Mack's version spent a week at the top spot and all in all enjoyed twenty-two weeks on the chart. Stuart has often performed his rendition of this song on his TV show, and his choosing to record it for this album is symbolic of him tipping his hat to traditional country music, whilst still embracing modern methods of recording and playing.
A World Without You
'A World Without You' is a slow ballad-type song, co-written by Stuart with his wife. It is the type of song that Smith would be more expected to sing, as it requires a strong vocal ability; Stuart admitted on his show in 2010 "I can't sing like her... but she can't play the mandolin as good as I can!". In singing this type of song, Stuart demonstrates how his vocal talents have developed as he has grown older.
Hummingbyrd
'Hummingbyrd' is an electric instrumental composed by Stuart. It is designed as a tribute to Clarence White, and performed on White's electric guitar, which White's wife sold to Stuart some years after White's death.
Hangman
'Hangman' is one of the more somber songs on the album. It tackles the inner demons of a hangman, trying to cope with being responsible for a countless number of deaths. It is also significant as it was co-written with musical icon Johnny Cash four days before his death, as a result making it the last song that Cash ever wrote. Stuart said that this was a prime example of Harlan Howard's description of country music as being "nothing but three chords and the truth".
Ghost Train Four-Oh-Ten
'Ghost Train Four-Oh-Ten', the title track of the album, is a twelve-bar blues song, about a mystical train that carries "sad souls, bound for nowhere". The idea for the song was inspired by an old train depot in Stuart's home town of Philadelphia, Mississippi. In the liner notes Stuart talks about how he can often be found alone at the depot, simply thinking or daydreaming.
Hard Working Man
'Hard Working Man' is another song inspired by the legacy of Merle Haggard, and references one of Haggard's hits ("In better times, in old America/We sang the Working Man's Blues with such pride"). The song was inspired by a mixture of elements, one of which being the worldwide recession, another of which dates back to Stuart's childhood - his father was fired from his company that he had devoted his life to just before retiring, so that the company would not have to pay him his benefits upon retirement. Stuart dedicated the song to his father, and said it was also meant for everyone else who has been a victim of "corporate greed."
As the song is written much in the style of Merle Haggard, Stuart decided to show it to him before recording it. He said that "Showing Hag a new song is like showing Mount Rushmore your rock collection... but he liked it, and he gave me his blessing".
I Run To You
'I Run To You' is a duet featuring Marty Stuart and his wife Connie Smith; it was also written by the couple. The couple have written many songs together in the past "the most notable being 'Farmer's Blues', Stuart's duet with Merle Haggard), yet this is only the second time that they have recorded together (with 'Hearts Like Ours' being the first). This track has the largest arrangement on the album, with a heavy steel guitar presence alongside a string quartet, which was arranged by Stuart's drummer, "Handsome" Harry Stinson.
Crazy Arms
'Crazy Arms' was written by steel guitar legend Ralph Mooney, and has been recorded by many artists, including Ray Price, Webb Pierce, Jerry Lee Lewis and Willie Nelson. Unlike previous versions, this recording is purely instrumental, with Stuart and his Superlatives playing alongside Mooney's steel guitar. The track also features a spoken introduction in the form of a conversation between Stuart and Mooney.
Porter Wagoner's Grave
'Porter Wagoner's Grave' is Marty Stuart's farewell song to his long-time friend Porter Wagoner. Shortly before Wagoner's death, Stuart and his Superlatives helped him get back on top of his career by recording his final album Wagonmaster. When he died, Stuart tried to ease the pain by writing. What started out as a piece of prose eventually became the song 'Porter Wagoner's Grave'. Stuart claimed that he never intended for the general public to hear any of it, but his bandmembers insisted that the song was too well-written to not perform.
The song is about a man who enters a cemetery for shelter at nighttime, and is visited by a silver-haired phantom, who advises him to go back to the one he loves before it is too late. The phantom was described as wearing a "long purple coat, covered in wheels/red leather boots, with sparkling heels"; an accurate description of Wagoner and his fondness of rhinestone suits.
Little Heartbreaker (The Likes Of You)
'Little Heartbreaker (The Likes Of You)' is a song co-written by Marty Stuart and Ralph Mooney. Stuart cites his co-writer in the song, in the line "Gonna call old Moon, get a little unwound/Go to Mississippi, then a Texas town".
Mississippi Railroad Blues
'Mississippi Railroad Blues' is another instrumental track, and the final song on the album. It is a mandolin instrumental composed by Stuart, and is a showcase for his talent on the mandolin.
John Marty Stuart is an American country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Active since 1968, Stuart initially toured with Lester Flatt, and then in Johnny Cash's road band before beginning work as a solo artist in the early 1980s. His greatest commercial success came in the first half of the 1990s on MCA Records Nashville. Stuart has recorded over 20 studio albums, and has charted over 30 times on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest chart entry is "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'", a duet with Travis Tritt. Stuart has also won five Grammy Awards out of 16 nominations. He is known for his combination of rockabilly, country rock, and bluegrass music influences, his frequent collaborations and cover songs, and his distinctive stage dress. Stuart is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Kickin' Out the Footlights...Again is a studio album by American country music artists George Jones and Merle Haggard, released in 2006.
The Bluegrass Sessions is the sixty-first studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard. This album was released on October 2, 2007, on the McCoury Music and Hag Records.
In My High School is the debut studio album by American country music artist Blaine Larsen. It was released on 1 June 2004 on the independent label, Giantslayer Records. Its lead-off single, "In My High School", also released in 2004 peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks.
Going Where the Lonely Go is the thirty-fifth studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1982.
Mama Tried is the seventh studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released on Capitol Records in 1968. It reached number 4 on Billboard's country albums chart. The title song was one of Haggard's biggest hit singles and won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999.
Hillbilly Rock is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Marty Stuart. It was released in October 1989 by MCA Nashville. It peaked at #19 on the Top Country Albums chart but failed to chart on the Canadian charts. It was certified Gold in both countries. The songs "Cry! Cry! Cry!", "Don't Leave Her Lonely Too Long", "Hillbilly Rock", and "Western Girls" were released as singles.
That's the Way Love Goes is the thirty-eighth studio album by the American country music singer Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1983.
Love and Luck is the eighth studio album by American country music singer Marty Stuart, released in 1994. Nearly all the songs were written or co-written by Stuart himself. The album includes the singles "Love and Luck" and "Kiss Me, I'm Gone". "Wheels" is a cover of The Flying Burrito Brothers, and "If I Give My Soul" of Billy Joe Shaver.
Country Music is the 11th studio album of American country singer Marty Stuart, released in 2003. With his previous album The Pilgrim, Stuart established himself as a serious recording artist and an accomplished musician. For this album he formed a new backing band called the Fabulous Superlatives. To date, Marty and his Superlatives are still touring, recording, and performing on The Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV.
Live at the Ryman is American country singer Marty Stuart's 15th album. This album is significant as it is the first album composed of entirely live performances.
16 Biggest Hits is a 1998 Merle Haggard compilation album. It is part of a series of similar 16 Biggest Hits albums released by Legacy Recordings.
"Here Comes the Freedom Train" is a 1976 song written by Stephen H. Lemberg, best known for being performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in May 1976 as the first single from the album My Love Affair with Trains. "Here Comes the Freedom Train" peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks in July 1976.
Ralph Mooney was an American steel guitar player and was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1983. He was the original steel guitarist in Haggard's band, the Strangers.
Down Every Road 1962–1994 is a compilation album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 1996. It covers music from his earliest work in the early 1960s to his Epic releases of the late 1980s. The boxed set includes three CDs of material recorded for Capitol and one of Haggard's later MCA and Epic recordings.
Songs I'll Always Sing is a two-record compilation album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1977. It reached #15 in the US Country Charts. The album collects many of Haggard's best known recordings during his successful run at the label, including nine of his twenty-four #1 hits dating back to 1966.
Kern River is the fortieth studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1985. It reached number 8 on the Billboard country albums chart.
5:01 Blues is the forty-sixth studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard, with backing by The Strangers. It was released in 1989 and was his last studio album on the Epic label. It peaked at number 28 on the Billboard country albums chart. It was co-produced by Mark Yeary, keyboardist of The Strangers.
Blue Jungle is the forty-seventh studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard, with backing by his band, The Strangers, released in 1990. The album peaked at number 47 on the Billboard country albums chart. It was co-produced by Mark Yeary, the honky tonk piano player of Merle Haggard's band, 13 years in a row awarded the ACM Band of the Year, The Strangers.
Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys is the 12th studio album and first tribute album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at studios in Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on October 25, 1993, by Liberty Records. The collection features recordings of songs made popular by Western swing group Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, a major influence on Asleep at the Wheel.
