Procol Harum – Whiskey Train

I was lucky to see Robin Trower in Clarksville Tennessee in the early nineties. In a three week span I went to three concerts…Santana, Eric Clapton, and I wrapped it up Robin Trower in a club called the Cannery…three really good guitar players in that three week span.

This song was released in 1970 and the opposite of their best-known hit “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.” The band had some personnel changes by this time. This wasn’t a big hit or a hit at all but I’ve always loved it as a rock and roll song. The riff is a classic guitar riff.

The song was on the album Home released in 1970. The album peaked at #34 in the Billboard Album Charts and #49 in the UK.

Whiskey Train was written by guitarist Robin Trower and Keith Reid. Great rock and roll song. Leslie West and Blackfoot also covered this song but I’ll stick with the original.

Whiskey Train

Ain’t gonna ride that whisky train
Ain’t gonna burn up no more flame
Throw away my bottle down the drain
Ain’t gonna ride that whisky train
To think that I could be so wrong
To be so sick and still go on
The way I drink it’s been too long
Don’t see much point in carrying on
I’m gonna lose these drinking blues
I’m gonna find a girl to make me choose
Between lovin’ her and drinking booze
I’m gonna lose these drinking blues
Ain’t gonna ride that whisky train
I’m tired of burning in the flame
Throw away my bottle down the drain
Ain’t gonna ride that whisky train

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

30 thoughts on “Procol Harum – Whiskey Train”

  2. wow, starts out reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix. Wouldn’t have guessed it was Procul Harum, Trower seems like a talented guitarist, bet he put on a good show. He’s one of those artists whose name I’ve known since the 70s but I’d be hard pressed to really tell you any of their songs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I know…I didn’t know any of his songs when I saw him…When he played this one my ears perked up…what a riff…it should have been a hit.

      Like

      Reply

      2. I’m listening to it…what a cool mood and tone…LOVE his guitar and voice in this…Thanks for the song! That will be on my song list.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Trower sounded like this…I mean I still remember the gig, the girl I went with, and his sound. He really impressed me and I didn’t know much about him.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Indeed a great 3 week period of 3 great guitar players. Like I said in my John5 review last week if I played guitar I would check in the trash as that guy is so good.
    I would have felt the same way with this 3 pack of 6 stringers.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Great rocker and one of only a couple of tunes I know by Procol Harum other than “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which remains one of my favorite ’60s tunes.

    I agree with Dave there’s a bit of a Hendrix swagger in “Whiskey Train” – almost hard to believe this is the same band that did “A Whiter Shade of Pale!”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I know… it sounds like two different bands. Robin Trower is really good…I do want to check more of their stuff out…it sounds like that they were quite eclectic.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      5. No kidding. I just wish John would have done more side projects and left us more music. I should have been his manager. I can think of some good collaborations. Jack has a wealth of music. You might like West Bruce and Lang. Pretty greasy but greasy good.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I’ll leave you be after this but…I just checked out a live album of West, Bruce & Laing in 74…I didn’t know about that…they rocked.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Enjoy the conversation. Yeah they were pretty good. I regret not grabbing that live album at the time. Hard rock with some extra on the side. Another person I check in with, 1537 did a great piece on one of their studio albums. I couldnt believe it. He also nailed the review.

        Like

Leave a comment