Freight Train - Nancy Whiskey and Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group

[@dhy5342]

This song has a hauntingly visceral quality to it. Very emothional.

[@balmesh]

Absolutely!

[@petermccaffrey806]

Asteroid City brought me here, and I am very grateful. This is fantastic

[@balmesh]

Very glad you enjoyed it!

[@1942acer]

very proud of my sister Nancy she is soarly missed

[@DavidTaylor-yl3yw]

Every time I see a freight train pass through I think of this song. RIP Nancy, only 67 when she passed, too young really.

[@balmesh]

Much too young!

[@jessicapaul2009]

Can I just say....THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS! My grandpa was John Paul - the double bass player. I've seen stills of this session before but never a recording. It's so good to be able to sit down and watch him doing what he loved. He passed away when I was seven and I only have one memory of him playing his bass (although I'm sure there were plenty of times) at a family barbecue with Chas McDevitt. Think we lost the only home vid - good to have some of the memory back. thanks again

[@simonpaul3553]

How lovely to stumble across this comment 10 years after you posted it Jess. Love ya, Dad x

[@balmesh]

Very sorry - I don't seem to have replied to this in the past. I'm very happy that you find it memorable! Thank you for telling me/

[@chrissicrossy7000]

Congrats, it's in a Wes Anderson movie

[@michaelbumbalo6116]

we must all remember the legendary Elizabeth Cotten of my sweet home of North Carolina who wrote this song when she was only 11 years old after years of teaching herself (in total secrecy) how to play the guitar.

[@balmesh]

That's interesting! It's a great song . . . very singable!

[@johnporter3659]

Pete See's nanny?

[@bessiebraveheart]

Hi from England, dear Elizabeth was ripped off regarding her song. Not unusual in the music business. No sleight on Nancy, she probably never knew.

[@johngerson7335]

​@@johnporter3659Yes.

[@peebeedee6757]

@michaelbumbalo6116 : No one will deny that Libba Cotton wrote this and she has rightly become an icon in American folk history. But this only happened after Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey made the first recording of the song and had a hit with it. When Peggy Seeger arrived into the British folk scene in the early 50's, she sung it from memory of hearing Libba Cotton in the Seeger household but there was no recording of this at this the time. McDevitt made his recording in 1956 after he had heard Peggy Seeger doing it around the clubs and his recording with Nancy Whiskey with altered lyrics and a faster pace, done in the current British skiffle style, had worldwide success after appearing on the Ed Sullivan show. Peggy Seeger made her first recording of it in 1957 and Mike Seeger made the first recording of Libba Cotton singing this, her own song, also in 1957. If it hadn't have been for the Chas McDevitt record bringing the song out into the open, the Seegers might not have bothered and the world might never have known about Libba Cotton.

[@aydenlokey3641]

When I heard this I instantly was sucked back in time, beautiful the way some of these pieces do something like that.

[@balmesh]

Thank you very much! You're very right!

[@juan__martinez]

Asteroid City hype train!

[@balmesh]

Yus!

[@sauquoit13456]

Nancy Whiskey (born Anne Alexandra Young Wilson) was born on this date in 1935. {Mar. 4th} Sadly, Ms. Whiskey passed away on February 1st, 2003... May She R.I.P.

[@multicaruana]

All I can say, is WOW. I never imagined that this song was covered so long ago by a British SKiffle group, one headed by a woman no less. Priceless. Thank you all for this!

[@balmesh]

You're welcome!

[@adrinathegreat3095]

They performed it on the ed sullivan show, this performance is from the The tommy steele story 1957. Believe it also featured in another movie, perhaps 6.5 special 1958

[@peebeedee6757]

Well it was hardly a cover seeing as McDevitt/Whiskey were the first to record it. Libba Cotton recorded it in 1957, a year after the Brits had made it a hit, Ed Sullivan etc, but I get your point. Mike Seeger encouraged her, the songs author, to get her original styling down for posterity, a piece of American musical history. McDevitt had heard the song from Peggy Seeger who sung it around the Brit folk scene in 1956 from memory of Libby Cotton in her household back in the States. There was no recording of it at the time.

[@akassassan]

Why O why do we have to get old.........those were the days. RIP Nancy

[@Rankerbill1]

This is my earliest recollection of anything that resembled `rock music`. It showed my generation there was something else out there besides Mantovani, Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra. Thanks for posting

[@goedzondheid9457]

I went to see the movie Astroid City and thuis song was the ending song and it stuck in my head... so i looked it up...

[@balmesh]

Good for you!

[@BarryPostings21]

RIP Anne. Nancy Whiskey was a Scottish folk singer, best known for the 1957 hit song, "Freight Train". She was born Anne Alexandra Young Wilson, at Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland. Born: March 4, 1935 Died: February 1, 2003

[@caspercasper896]

monday 4 march 1935 monday 4 march 1963 monday 4 march 1991 monday 4 march 2019 monday 4 march 1985

[@SAWats]

​@@caspercasper896 ???..

[@Classicalstephen]

I have never forgotten this song since the first time I heard it aeons ago and it pops into my head from time to time. The story of Elizabeth Cotten, its composer, is quite moving but Nancy Whiskey does it justice and immortalised it. Classical Stephen

[@balmesh]

Thanks Stephen. Same for a lot of us!

[@sircxx8621]

My Mum was friends with Chas right up until her death a few years ago. They met in Camberley back in the 50’s where my Mum’s family lived. I remember always asking her who Chas McDevitt is (when reading her Christmas cards) and she would always just sing ‘freight train, freight train’. Just those two words. I will remember the expression on her face forever. Now feeling guilty that this is the first time I have listened to and seen the original!

[@sircxx8621]

@@balmesh Thank you so much. Number 5 in the UK charts in 1957 and the 33rd biggest selling single of that year I’ve read. Pretty impressive! I’ve now added an ‘Apple Essentials’ Skiffle playlist to my library so will look forward to listening to all of these soon.

[@avaburgess9936]

My mum was friends with Nancy and we visited her home in Melton Mowbray in about 1973

[@onthegoldenline]

Blimey! The washboard player and ALL the guitarists are on speed. Insane.

[@balmesh]

Ah, those were the days!

[@MrDaiseymay]

but on song--so to speak.

[@MareShoop]

The Chipmunks version of Freight Train 😅😂😅

[@coolmum47]

Ha ! ha ! ha ! .... know what you mean ! He must have had an arm ache after that !!!

[@simonpaul3553]

Yep they may well have been. My Dad was the double bass player, and he mentioned things got a little lively back then in the Soho coffee clubs.

[@johncliff5417]

Just one of those tunes that stick in your head 62 years ago. I was 11 going on 12. Me and some school mates had a go at playing it with our skiffle groop band

[@balmesh]

Thanks John. Same here, really, as it stuck in my mind for years, hearing it sometimes, and then coming across this old VHS tape!

[@TheScunneredMan]

Yes skiffle music sure set a pace. Ah and the old washboard. I remember as a young child playing the washboard along with skiffle tunes on the radio. I used my mum's metal sewing thimble, to strike the corrugations. Those were the days..... chuckle.

[@balmesh]

They were, indeed. Remember the 6.5 Special?

[@LettersAndNumbers300]

Buzzcocks brought me here, this really gets stuck in your head. RIP Amy.

[@balmesh]

Hear, hear!

[@PaulLea]

I still have my 45 record of this Nancy Whiskey and Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group version, in New Zealand it was released on Prestige records. Always loved this version.

[@balmesh]

Many thanks. It always pleases . .

[@Trevor-vg4qv]

I remember this, oh wow, bless them all, ❤

[@balmesh]

Indeed!

[@julianfairchild6548]

I lived in Melton Mowbray in 1973 and Nancy regularly sang at a folk club at The Wheatsheaf pub (now demolished). It was explained to me when I first attended that one must NEVER request her to sing 'Freight Train' as her her voice had matured somewhat by then.

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that.

[@dhy5342]

This song and performers have found new life in the movie "Asteroid City" Well done.

[@balmesh]

Oh, that's good to know!

[@dhy5342]

@@balmesh kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpnRqXZvoLN8sJI&ab_channel=VariousArtists-Topic

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that!

[@dhy5342]

Video now taken down but now found here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJzZoYGjorN8bJo&ab_channel=NancyWhiskey-Topic

[@samoyo7054]

Music from 57❤

[@balmesh]

Yes, the best! Remember The Poni Tails?

[@Trixiebellebadmum]

Nancy's daughter is a friend of mine - met her on holiday last year! This was one of my dad's favourite tracks. It's a great one too.

[@mirkomacari]

Here cause of Asteroid City ❤

[@balmesh]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Marinette.1]

Me too - this song was played at the very end, and I sat through all the lengthy credits to see who was singing in such an authentic voice. The sound in the film is excellent, it sounded like it was recorded this year. I love the genuine unstyle-ized sound. So rare these days, when all I hear in today's recordings are lyrics where every syllable has been polished and has no genuine expression.

[@leighahmke]

I love this, the lyrics are so haunting, just a valuable piece of musical history.

[@roswellnwo]

WOW ,A gem like this is better than what comes out of the Kimberley diamond mines,,I was brought up on this kinda music,and besides always had a soft spot for Nancy Whiskey.Giant thank you for posting.

[@MrAronRobinson]

I only watched this because I've just started playing the washboard in a skiffle band and my great-uncle suggested I look it up because it was one of his favorites. Glad I did. What a haunting voice she has!

[@MrDaiseymay]

had--died in 2005

[@coolmum47]

and what an amazing washboard player he was !!!

[@brickbat44]

@1942acer an absolute LEGEND mate and what a beuty XXXX

[@Trevor-vg4qv]

I'm British & it's part of our historic musical past as well

[@balmesh]

Definitely!

[@oliverbonney9632]

I was ten years old when I first heard this in 1957. Wasn't that the day before yesterday?

[@balmesh]

Seems like yesterday :)

[@old65rocker]

I was 13 and as balmesh says only seems yesterday!!!

[@georgestyer2153]

yes

[@allanosborne7038]

i was nine years born feb 14th 1948 good record

[@SloopyDog]

I was also ten years old when this song came out. The main thing is we are still here and still listening. Best Wishes!

[@djoutrage18]

I'm 21, and completely aggree with some of you other cats commenting here, love the music from the 20s to 60s mostly, especially jazz and the vocal group sound. This was always one of my favourites as a kid, grew up hearing it from a really messed up 78

[@chook153]

Haven't seen this is so many years. It was great then, it's awesome today. Wasn't Nancy brilliant? Thanks to whoever posted this, it brings back so many great memories of that time. I feel sorry for those today who have never enjoyed the sheer pleasure of skiffle. But looking at some of the postings for this clip, it's good to see that there are still some of us lucky ones around.

[@Honour42GB]

Long time since I've heard this, brings back memories. I went to the same school as Chas, the Salesian College Farnborough, although he was a couple of years ahead his brother Paul and I were in the same class. I can remember Chas, on saturday mornings walking up and down Camberley high street in a dark flecked jacket, tight jeans and white winkle pikers. We all used to frequent the Roses cafe and the il Primo coffee bar and listen to this on the juke boxes, as I said memories

[@sircxx8621]

Wow. I’ve just posted a comment regarding my Mum being friends with Chas in Camberley etc. What amazing memories you must have?

[@spiritfired]

omg this is the stuff! OMG This is REAL MUSIC!!!!!!!! :O With real dedication and energy into a song! It was all in the old times! Golden ages!!! :O

[@MrThomascow]

Thank-you, incredible video, & marvellous is your strong support ,..☘️☘️Cheers

[@balmesh]

Many thanks.

[@balmesh]

Me too. Loved the 6.5 Special with its "over the points" refrain! This clip is currently no.2 in my list of nearly 400 videos. Alan

[@christopherdalton7828]

What a great performance by Nancy Whiskey. This version of Freight Train is excellent, she MADE that song sound so good, with the Chas McDevitt Skiffle group including the washboard player, completed a great showing. Marvellous!

[@balmesh]

My thoughts entirely. Chas. has a lot to do with the success of that song.

[@christopherdalton7828]

balmesh. Chas may have had a lot to do with the song but it would not have been nowhere near as good had it not been for Nancy Whiskey who graced that particular record

[@balmesh]

Christopher Dalton Agree entirely. I was throwing a bouquet in the direction of Chas., because he is still with us. And active.

[@christopherdalton7828]

And now, as you can see, the video has been blocked on copyright grounds. But it was nice to watch while I had the chance!

[@jamiemorrison2389]

My beloved father in law just passed away and he used to sing this to my lovely wife and her sister. I am just broken up. He was just a lovely lovely man.

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that.

[@balmesh]

I'm very glad you approve! For me and many others it just ticks all the boxes!

[@MrClivefarnan]

Wonderfull! This was the first record I ever bought at 11! 5 years later I fell in love with my wife, Linda, (who I met at school) and married her in 1968 - because (I think) she was the spit image of Nancy. RIP Nancy.xxx

[@JonasGrumby-OO]

Wes Anderson sends his regards from 2023

[@balmesh]

Many thanks!

[@balmesh]

This is one of the All Time Greats in my opinion.

[@patrickfleming3658]

I agree

[@MikeBlitzMag]

One of the most perfect records ever made! It was released on the Chic label in the States, and I've still got my original copy. Love it!

[@balmesh]

Thank you for sharing this with us. I am so glad that it brings happiness.

[@Bobcatonline]

I was at a broadcast of 6.5 Special around this time. The camera work looks very early BBC to me and the audience could well be dubbed in after the show! That's one of my favourite tracks too.

[@UpTown584]

Asteroid City brought me here , too!! Thanks!!

[@balmesh]

Cheers!

[@gojilover]

I have been seeing this version on the Beatles Anthology disks and am glad to have found the full version here.

[@davidmulhallen2431]

it was one of the first songs I learnt by heart and sang all the time. Don't recall it in The Tommy Steele story, but it was always on the radio - the BBC Light Service as it was then!

[@balmesh]

Same here (but it was BBC Light Programme - remember the announcer on the "Goon Show"?

[@davidmulhallen2431]

I stand corrected!

[@Spitalhatch]

@@balmesh This is the BBC and the roof leaks!

[@minesapint58]

Thanks so much for showing this clip on youtube, one of the best.

[@MSASteelerPSG]

Love skiffle, and I love Nancy Whiskey! Please post more of her, if possible??

[@Bobcatonline]

Ah! Another collector! It's good to know I'm not alone!

[@chook153]

Thanks balmesh, it was much appreciated, I still have a copy of the record, safely tucked away, & to me it's a treasure. And although I listen to "Freight Train" often on my iTunes list, I haven't seen the performance since the song was released.

[@normaaitken5346]

I remember seeing this in a fim, "The Tommy Steele film" Am I right? Also The Platters sang, Smoke gets in your Eyes,

[@balmesh]

Thanks for the memory!

[@cheerydavie]

@balmesh .Great performance.Great voice.....Many thanks for this video...good work...... Cheerydavie

[@cheyne15]

What a great find! In 1957 I was 10 and I heard this first on a 78 that, I think, my much older sister had bought. I played it over and over learning the words and the whistling (I still whistle today!). Like others here I think it kick started my deep love for music, going on to play (guitar) and have a career in the music business. Fantastic. Thank you!

[@Einstein852]

Never tire of this great song. Love it❣

[@balmesh]

Thanks a lot - me, too!

[@balmesh]

Thank you very much Must say how I enjoyed the interview with Lonnie Donegan, and you, about the fifties, among your favourites. (With Michael Aspel, for anyone out there reading this) Alan

[@balmesh]

My word - that's something, now she's no longer around. You'll treasure that, all your life, eh? Thanks for taking time out to write - I liked your channel and favourited "You're a Lady" Alan

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that info - it's interesting to get to know about these things one comes across after so amny years. Alan

[@philipthomas5108]

I was a little lad listening to this on my cousin's Dansette record player - Lord, how long ago it seems now.

[@balmesh]

I remember Dansette!

[@balmesh]

Maureen Maynes It was called Skiffle.

[@balmesh]

Thanks for sharing that thought.

[@daveread9658]

thanks for posting ,great song. dave read.

[@daveread9658]

thanks for posting ,great song. dave.

[@cheerydavie]

.Great performance.Great voice.....Many thanks for this video...keep up the good work......

[@jonathanstratton707]

Thank you for this,an important part of our musical heritage,wonderfully evocative

[@charles5596]

Absolutly love this , they must all have burns on their fingers

[@balmesh]

Great - I still do! Fingers? I think they must have steel fingers!!

[@charles5596]

@@balmesh cant get enough of it , raw talent .

[@MrHolzheim]

Brilliant, one of my early favourites, as I was just beginning to learn what music was all about. Then we hit the sixties, and it all took off. I was 15 in 1960.

[@willimdickie1948]

Long time since I heard this ,brilliant

[@balmesh]

Yes, it's one of the all-time greats!

[@Bradstonian24]

Wonderful memories of great days. Thank you

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that - it's wonderful all the memories that this evokes.

[@carolynvogt3903]

How well I remember hearing (and loving) this version on the radio in the U.S.! Seems like yesterday.

[@balmesh]

Still good listening!

[@franthie]

Sorry to say that I hadn't heard of The Chas McDevitt Sktffle Group and simply Googled the name when I came across a 78 of this song amongst a cache of old records I'd kept over the years. Of course, I'd always known and liked the song. On the other side of the 78 is The Cotton Song, which I'm just about to look up, too. What a great facility is KZbin!

[@stanleytomlinson9530]

you tube has got its uses it has a vast amount of clips on vintage music and clips from various shows and films the nancy whiskey freight train is availiable on a 45 rpm oriole label greenback dollar was her other release same label keep the music alive you-tubers

[@balmesh]

stanley tomlinson Thanks Stanley. This was a one-off for me but I agree with you.

[@stanleytomlinson9530]

hiya francis it was also released on a 45 oriole label because the juke boxes of that time were changing from 78 to 45s i believe that the uk was a bit behind in changing to 45s about 2 years i think try e-bay or record fair to find the 45.....

[@mrblindfreddy9999]

one of my all time fav thank you

[@mydennis174]

Lovely, thanks for this, it sure brings back a lot of memory's

[@daveread9658]

thanks for posting ,great song.

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that. My old records hit the dust long ago!!

[@jazzmandavid]

Definitely from "The Tommy Steele Story", known in America as "Rock Around The World". There are many versions of the whole film around on the internet, both official and unofficial!

[@balmesh]

You're on your own there! That's what makes it for many of us!!

[@josephkane3215]

Another Great Hit single from Nancy Whiskey & Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group as it is Called Freight Train as it came in 1958

[@balmesh]

Yes, indeed.

[@annie482000]

This takes me back to the days of the good old "Six-Five Special"!

[@CandyBeauchamp]

Alamo Drafthouse was using a recording similar (or the same) in it's before-the-movie starts screen stuff for Asteroid City. Hadn't heard it before, but now can't get rid of the earworm. It's just too catchy, dagnabit!

[@balmesh]

Thanks very much for the feedback - I'd almost forgotten this! It IS very catchy.

[@balmesh]

Thanks brylat. That accounts for Tommy's appearance (I was wondering if he had ever hosted "6.5 special") and where it all came from.

[@balmesh]

Me, too.Thanks for writing.

[@deeve76]

I'm here because of Wes Anderson s Asteroid City

[@balmesh]

That's good . . . .

[@mikenewcomb]

Sadly Nancy is no longer with us, having passed away on the 1st February 2003. However this song is one of the greats of skiffle, mainly due to her superb voice coupled with Chas McDevitt's arranging.

[@prof_tim]

And thanks to the original composition, by Miss Elizabeth Cotten. Who, sadly, was not credited on this version.

[@adrinathegreat3095]

This version actually made Elizabeth cotton well known, This version made it high in the charts and they performed it in the film The Tommy Steele story, that's where this clip is from, you can hear Tommy introduce them at the start, they also performed it or mimed to it in another film " 6 5 special I think" and there is also footage of them performing this on the Ed Sullivan show, they made it popular, this version was recorded late 1956

[@balmesh]

Thanks! Better late than never!

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that. It was news to me.

[@balmesh]

To roswellnwo Thank you, Sir. It was a very lucky "find" in my old VHS stuff.

[@kitkatjeff]

no, it was in a classic western movie, there are so may different versions of this with diferent lyrics. This version was used in a western and l would love to find it again, memories of being a small child and watching itv as a 5/6 year old

[@Raymond13000]

Merci pour la video belle chanson de country amities de Marseilel !!

[@CharlesMartini-ot9ig]

My late father George had 78 record in the 60,so. Charles play this record all the time.they got tired of it two.❤

[@balmesh]

Many thanks! I haven't got tired yet . . .

[@MrDaiseymay]

I STILL HAVE MY 78 rpm SHELLAC RECORD, on the 'Oriole' Label. I shall now have a shellac session. Where's my wind-up handle ?

[@balmesh]

Wow. I can't remember when I last played a 78!

[@bd001217]

A portion of this clip (from about 2:20 until about 2:40) was included in the Beatles Anthology series, as an example of skiffle. I understand that the Beatles covered this song as part of their act in the late 50s. That Nancy was a cutie :) She was probably about 22 y/o or so in this video. She did pass away in 2003 about a month short of her 68th birthday :(

[@coolmum47]

68 is so young these days, she was cheated.

[@jiveaces]

Chas is playing The Jive Aces this Sunday (7th august) at Summertime Swing in Sussex. Experience awesomeness in the flesh!

[@Einstein852]

Great great song. Brings back such good memories. This was from the film The Tommy steel story

[@balmesh]

Yes, indeed, and thank you!

[@stanleyrobertwalker3133]

The best quality edition of this historic video recording is a part of the film “The Tommy Steele Story” some 90 minutes in. That quality footage also appeared in the BBC4 programme “Rock Island Line” on 12th April 2019. Worth looking around for.

[@balmesh]

Thanks for that.

[@balmesh]

To brightonrox96 Wonderful! I hope there are many more like you two! Long live real music!!