Wednesday August 11, 2021 “Runaway Train” Soul Asylum
In the '80s, Minneapolis centered band Soul Asylum was one of the hardest-working bands on the underground rock scene, the little-brother band of Hüsker Dü and the Replacements known for their raucous combination of punk energy, hard rock guitar firepower, and songs that ranged from angry to heartfelt.
Included on Soul Asylum’s multi-platinum fifth album/CD Grave Dancers Union, “Runaway Train” was their first pop hit but the album also included crunchy but melodic tunes like "Somebody to Shove" and "Black Gold" all of which helped to further open doors for the band.
Soul Asylum was started by Dave Pirner, originally a drummer but later switching to rhythm guitar to allow him to become the primary lead singer and songwriter. The music video included today features names and photographs of missing children which turned the song into an awareness program for all missing children and was credited with reuniting many missing children with their parents.
Acoustic guitars are the lead instruments on this song, but listen carefully and you'll hear an organ in the mix. This was a Hammond B3 organ played by Booker T. Jones, who was a member of the group Booker T. & the M.G.'s ("Green Onions") who were the house band at the Stax recording studios which recorded so many artists including Elvis Presley, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.
Stay safe and well...and do stay off runaway trains.