Junior Wells - Mystery Train (Historical Photos Slideshow)

"Mystery Train" is a song written by Junior Parker and Sam Phillips. It was first recorded in Phillip's Memphis Recording Service and Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee in 1953. Raymond Hill plays tenor sax and Matt Murphy plays lead guitar with Bill Johnson on piano, Pat Hare on rhythm guitar, and John Bowers on drums. The band was listed on the label as Little Junior's Blue Flames. "Mystery Train" and "Love My Baby" were released late in 1953 on Sun #192, and from the beginning the sound and feel of "Train" gave Parker his first taste of fame and name recognition.

The following lines can be found in the Carter Family's "Worried Man Blues", their biggest selling record of 1930. The train arrived sixteen coaches long, The train arrived sixteen coaches long. The girl I love is on that train and gone."

Parker's version: Train I ride sixteen coaches long. Train I ride sixteen coaches long. Well, that long black train carries my baby home."