Flashback Friday: City Of New Orleans

 

 

 

 Written by folk and country singer-songwriter Steve Goodman, this classic song was
 based on his own experience while riding a train on the Illinois Central Railroad from
 Chicago to New Orleans called, "City of New Orleans".  This song has long been considered
 a nostalgic salute to the romantic bygone era of passenger train travel in America.

While at the Quiet Knight bar in Chicago, Goodman saw fellow folk singer Arlo Guthrie,
 son of the famous American folk singer Woody "This Land Is Your Land" Guthrie, and
 asked to play the song for him.  Although initially reluctant, Guthrie later agreed
 to Goodman's request.  He liked the song so much that he later asked to record it.

"City of New Orleans" was a big hit for Arlo Guthrie and featured on his album,
"Hobo's Lullaby" released in July, 1972.   The song reached #4 on Billboard's Easy
Listening chart and #18 on the Hot 100 in America that year. 

 In 2017, "City of New Orleans" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

City Of New Orleans
(1972)
Arlo Guthrie