Silver Train (song)

"Silver Train" is a song by the rock and roll band The Rolling Stones, from their 1973 album, Goats Head Soup.^[1] The lyrics deal with the singer's relationship with a prostitute.^[2] Recording of the song had already begun in 1970 during sessions for Sticky Fingers. It also was the B-side to the single "Angie", which went to No. 1 in the US and top 5 in the UK.

Reception[]

Rolling Stone critic Bud Scoppa had this to say of the song:

Side two begins modestly with "Silver Train," a rock & roll song with a pre-rock flavor. The Stones' approach is like their treatment of "Stop Breaking Down," one of Exile's sleepers: lots of whiny slide guitar and harp. They also emphasize, with their ragged ensemble shouts, the song's appealing chorus. "Train" is the best of the album's secondary songs.^[3]

Covers[]

Johnny Winter had heard a demo of the tune and recorded a cover of it for his album Still Alive and Well in 1973 (Columbia Records). Song written for Johnny Winter by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. His album's version was released even before Goats Head Soup.^[2]

The Black Crowes have also covered the song live.^[4] Silver Train also appears on the Carla Olson / Mick Taylor Too Hot For Snakes album, first released in 1991^[5] and reissued in 2008.^[6]

Live performances[]

The song was played four times in 1973, and was not played again until 2014 in Tokyo and Brisbane, on the 14 On Fire tour with Mick Taylor, who played on it originally as a special guest.^[7]

References[]