Josh Turner - Long Black Train

The centerpiece of this debut album by South Carolina native Josh Turner is its lead track, the traditional-sounding "Long Black Train," which could be a country gospel song out of the 1940s. Penned by Turner, the song rolls death, temptation, and redemption into the metaphor of a funeral train, and sung in Turner's deep voice, it rolls across country radio like nothing else on the scene, the ominous breath of hellfire in the lyrics conjuring up the ghost of Johnny Cash. It is also a hard act to follow, and although there are some strong songs here, nothing else on this record comes up to the level of "Long Black Train." Turner has a deep, commanding voice full of a kind of intimate sadness, and that alone carries songs like "She'll Go on You," setting them apart from what passes for Nashville sincerity these days, but there is simply too much filler here, and with "Long Black Train" as the lead cut, everything else seems like a long breath being exhaled. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

Name Credits "Loopy Dave" Willis Digital Editing Adam Hatley Digital Editing Aubrey Haynie Fiddle, Mandolin Bergen White String Arrangements Brent Mason Guitar (Electric) Brent Rowan Guitar (Acoustic), 6-String Bass, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Baritone) Brian David Willis Engineer Bryan Sutton Banjo, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Resonator), Gut String Guitar C.A. Dreyer Production Assistant Carie Higdon Production Assistant Carl Gorodetzky Strings Charlie McCoy Harmonica Craig Allen Design, Art Direction David Schober String Engineer Eric Darken Vibraphone, Percussion Frank Rogers Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Baritone), Producer, Soloist Greg Droman Engineer, Mixing Greg Fogie Assistant Grey Banner Digital Editing Hank Williams Mastering Jason Lehning Digital Editing, Engineer John Wesley Ryles Vocals (Background) Josh Turner Photography Katie Gillon Art Direction Kevin Grantt Guitar (Bass), Bass Liana Manis Vocals (Background) Lisa Cochran Vocals (Background) Mark Tucker Photography Mark Wright Producer Melodie Crittenden Vocals (Background) Mike Johnson Pedabro Nashville String Machine Strings Pat McLaughlin Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background) Paul Franklin Guitar (Steel) Richard Barrow Engineer Ronnie Thomas Digital Editing Russell Terrell Vocals (Background) Shannon Forrest Drums Steve Hinson Dobro, Guitar (Steel) Steve Nathan Piano Todd Gunnerson Assistant Trish Townsend Stylist Wes Hightower Vocals (Background)