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" Mystery Train" is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Junior Parker in 1953. Originally performed in the style of a Memphis blues or rhythm and blues tune, it was inspired by earlier songs and later became a popular rockabilly song, as first covered by Elvis Presley, then numerous others. Among the many cover versions are two on the 2021 Americana Railroad on RENEW / BMG "American Railroad" released on November 26th. One is by Rocky Burnette with James Intveld on guitar and Barry Goldberg on piano. The other is performed by James Intveld with Barry Goldberg on Hammond B3 organ. Both were produced by Carla Olson.
Parker's lyrics include:
Junior Parker, billed as "Little Junior's Blue Flames", recorded "Mystery Train" for producer and Sun Records owner Sam Phillips.
The sessions took place at Phillips' Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennessee, during September and October 1953. Accompanying Parker on vocal is his backup band the "Blue Flames", whose members at the time are believed to have included: Floyd Murphy on guitar,Floyd Murphy is a brother of Matt "Guitar" Murphy. William Johnson on piano, Kenneth Banks on bass, John Bowers on drums, and Raymond Hill on tenor sax."Mystery Train" was the follow-up single to Junior Parker's 1953 number five Billboard R&B chart release "Feelin' Good".Sun Records number 187 The song did not reach the singles chart.
In 1973, with the approval of Sam Phillips, Robbie Robertson of the Band wrote additional lyrics for "Mystery Train", and the group recorded this version of the song for their Moondog Matinee album. They later performed the song with Paul Butterfield for their 1976 "farewell" concert The Last Waltz. Moondog Matinee (1973) liner notes
Paired with "I Forgot to Remember to Forget", the single reached the Top 10 in Billboards Country & Western listings. Billboard, December 17, 1955. Reviews of New Pop Records. pp. 56 and 61.
RCA Records re-released this recording in November 1955 (#47-6357) after acquiring it as part of a contract with Presley. This issue of the song peaked at number 11 on the national Billboard country chart. That same month, RCA Victor also released a Pop music version of the song by the Turtles (not to be confused with the 1960s pop group, the Turtles) with backing by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (47-6356).
"Mystery Train" is now considered to be an "enduring classic".Burke, Ken and Griffin, Dan. The Blue Moon Boys - The Story of Elvis Presley's Band. Chicago Review Press, 2006, p.46. It was the first recording to make Elvis Presley a nationally known country music star.
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