Railroad Fever.

Railroad Fever

Wayne Erbsen

Native Ground Books & Music

109 Bell Road, Asheville, NC 28805-1521

1883206316, $5.95 www.nativeground.com 1-800-752-2656

The director of the Appalachian Music Program at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina and as president of Native Ground Music, Wayne Erbsen draws upon his very special expertise and years of studied experience to compile "Railroad Fever: Songs, Jokes & Train Lore". This impressive, 65-page collection includes railroad oddities, hobo lingo, vintage photos, railroad slang, and diner lingo, railroad superstitions, poetry of the rails, wild train legends and lore, railroad firsts, and more. Then there are the authentic railroad themed songs ranging from such classics as the 'Death of John Henry' and the 'Little Red Caboose', to such folksong fare as 'Blue Train', Early Morning Train', 'Railroad Blues', 'The Hell-Bound Train' and more. Also very strongly recommended for all dedicated railroad enthusiasts and community library collections is Wayne Erbsen's companion title: "Singing Rails: Railroadin' Songs, Joes & Stories" (188320626X, $5.95). Railroading fans, American popular culture musicologists, and academic libraries would also be well advised to add Wayne Erbsen's Native Ground CD music albums to their collections: "Singing Rails" (CD: NG-CD-910, $14.95; Cassette: NG910, $9.95) and "Railroad Fever" (CD: NG-CD-930, $14.95; Cassette: NG930, $9.95).