It's set on the Mississippi mostly, but there are a few tangents that take the reader to Colombia and Peru. A good read--a good mix of harsh realities, introspective musings, and a bit of the mystic. I have read this book for a class. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The Rock operated service on the line until it went bankrupt. The setting (I live close to Sharon Center and lived in Philadelphia) is what originally made this interesting but it wasn’t long before the characters Rhodes created drew me into their lives. Though an overall interesting story, it would occasionally get bogged down--I didn't really need 3 pages on installing a septic tank. See the pulsating passenger and freight trains as they maintain the proud, dynamic heritage of … I found the ending not as well-done as the initial parts of the novel. It was a pure coincidence that I interwove my reading of. The writing was beyond criticism. Can the City locate my property lines? To do this song right, you have to start out by telling the story of the Rock Island Line. Feud between the long-established stagecoach and steamship lines and the emergent railway companies trying to … You'll love this character. Arkansas prisoners – Also recorded by John Lomax in 1939. This version retains some lyrical features of the 1929 version, but also features key elements of the "classic" version. I have read this book for a class. Jesus died to save our sins- … Kind of a journey of self-discovery kind of book, I guess. This prequel to Driftless and Jewelweed, written 25 years earlier, is much more somber than it's successors. Rock Island Lines is an interesting take on the murder mystery genre. They were forced to go about it the old fashioned way, acting as salesmen going door to door selling stock across the countryside. Musical duo - Entertainment for hire Parties Clubs Weddings Any Occasion THE REST IS SPOKEN) Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line [4], Lead Belly and John and Alan Lomax supposedly first heard it from [a] prison work gang during their travels in 1934/35. The beginning of the most popular version of the song tells the story of a train operator who smuggles pig iron through a toll gate by claiming all he had on board was livestock, but this episode was a later addition not present in the traditional, 1929 version. All Styles. Download and Print Rock Island Line sheet music for piano solo. The new style captivated an entire generation of post-war youth in England. by Lonnie Donegan on album Rock Island Line. Love his writing style, as usual, but didn't enjoy as much as his other books. July’s grandparents and parents were exemplary people full of complications and intelligence. The writing was beyond criticism. Rock Island Line ist der Titel eines von Leadbelly erstmals aufgenommenen Eisenbahnsongs, der in der Version von Lonnie Donegan zum Welthit wurde. Driftless is his first book in all that time. Tells the rather depressing backstory of one of the main characters of his best book Driftless. Follows three generations of one family in small town Iowa. reading this book I felt scatterbrained. Raising money in this manner normally carried mixed results but enthusiasm for the railroad turned out to be quite high and by November of 1850 the needed $300,0… First published to enormous acclai. The record sold in the hundreds of thousands in the U.S. and England, and this Arkansas Negro convict song, as adapted by Lead Belly, was published as a personal copyright, words and music, by someone whose contact with the Rock Island Line was entirely through the grooves of a phonograph record. When a young woman appears to free him from his malaise, they return together to the Iowa heartland, where the novel soars to its heartrending climax. It gets better, much better. Rock Island Line Lyrics Total views : 0 times this week / Rating : 7.26/10 [23 votes] Album : Greenfields and Other Folk Music Greats - First Five Albums / Original Release Date : 2013-02-15 The conversations, especially between all the couples, were really wonderful. A tall tale in rhyme, the song’s subject is a train so fast that it arrives at its destination in Little Rock (at 8:49) before its departure from Memphis (at “half past nine”). It’s just too bad the horrible people prevailed. Fleeing to Philadelphia, he fashions a ghostly existence in an underground train station. Rock Island Line is a prequel, written nearly thirty-some years ago. Welcome back. Versions have been recorded by other artists. Rock Island Line is an excellent book. (I have given those two books four stars.) The stories in these three-minute modules are rooted in a specific place; a "kidney-shaped limestone island plunked down in the middle of the … [5], Some times identified as "Kelly Pace and Prisoners", Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, TIMELINE OF MUSICAL STYLES & GUITAR HISTORY, "Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings - Various Artists : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards", "Rock Island Line [Naxos] - Leadbelly : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards", "The John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip", "From "Mule-een" to New Orleans: Just What Was Lead Belly Saying? Huddie [Lead Belly] sang and performed this song, finally settling on a format where he portrayed, in song, a train engineer asking the depot agent to let his train start out on the main line. I didn't much care for the beginning; it was only after July entered the story that I felt it come alive. A good read--a good mix of harsh realities, introspective musings, and a bit of the mystic. The Penguin Book Of American Folk Songs, compiled and with notes by Alan Lomax, published in 1964, includes "Rock Island Line" with the following footnote: John A. Lomax recorded this song at the Cummins State Prison farm, Gould, Arkansas, in 1934 from its convict composer, Kelly Pace. Lonnie Donegan Miscellaneous Rock Island Line ROCK ISLAND LINE Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group (THE CHORUS IS THE ONLY PART SUNG. Where the two later books were bittersweet, this telling of July Montgomery's early life is actually quite tragic. While I didn’t find this book as compelling as the other two, it was still a good read (too many sudden changes). It read like the author felt he had to end the story and concocted a conclusion that didn't seem to flow from the rest of the story. "Rock Island Line" is an American blues/folk song performed and first recorded by Lead Belly in the 1930s. I bought this book because I read a great article about the author, David Rhodes. The Negro singer, Lead Belly, heard it, rearranged it in his own style, and made commercial phonograph recordings of it in the 1940s. The song's chorus includes: The Rock Island Line is a mighty good road Directed by Joseph Kane. This relationship opens July up to his past, which he revisits through the conclusion of the novel. Ostensibly about the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, it appeared as a folk song as early as 1929. The song is ostensibly about the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The Man, His World, His Music, Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash, Dressed in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, Walk the Line: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rock_Island_Line&oldid=1015655773, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Prison inmates in Arkansas – Recorded by John Lomax in Arkansas twice in 1934. [3], The first audio recording of the song was made by folklorist and musicologist John A. Lomax at the Tucker, Arkansas prison farm on September 29, 1934. Told more as a series of character vignettes than Rock Island Line, Driftless (for the driftless region of Wisconsin among other things) nonetheless is a coherent story of the intersecting lives of fascinating people. Start by marking “Rock Island Line” as Want to Read: Error rating book. They were the type of people the Midwest is known for. I read this after seeing a review of Rhodes' new book Driftless. modifier. We’d love your help. I read this after seeing a review of Rhodes' new book Driftless. That being said, I am so glad this class introduced me to David Rhodes. "Rock Island Line" is an American folk song. So, I really needed to pay close attention as I read. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from Rock Island Line at the Discogs Marketplace. With Forrest Tucker, Adele Mara, Lorna Gray, Bruce Cabot. This kept me up reading far into the night to the sad ending and the story leading up to it. You'll love this character. For a short time, service on the line was run by Chicago & North Western but eventually the RTA and then Metra started running it. I felt the author had a real, palpable affection for July. ), 10 One-Night-Stand Romances that Readers Can Commit To. Genre. The characters stick with you. Die besungene Eisenbahngesellschaft ist die Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Entstehungsgeschichte. Having grown up in Rock Island, IL, (across the Mississippi River from Davenport, Iowa) I often road the Rock Island Line back and forth to college, so this title grabbed me! Lyrics. The Acoustic Music organization makes this comment about Donegan's version. In this book we get the story of July Montgomery, the good, somewhat enigmatic farmer of Driftless. Set as current obsession Go to … Rock Island Line follows July Montgomery from his grandparents' life in Iowa to a tumultuous period in the east followed by a return to life outside Iowa City. The story of his getting along in his little concrete. He reappears in Rhodes new book which is set in a small town in Wisconsin. 8 talking about this. He reappears in Rhodes new book which is set in a small town in Wisconsin. “Driftless” is a kind of followup on July Montgomery’s life, and is also well written and entertaining. Leadbelly. it jumped from thought to thought without telling a story. Four and a half stars on my chart. Play track Love this track More actions. In this book we get the story of July Montgomery, the good, somewhat enigmatic farmer of Driftless. “The Rock Island Line” is a world-famous song—recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Harry Belafonte, and Grandpa Jones—the earliest known performances of which are two 1934 recordings made in Arkansas prisons. Told more as a series of character vignettes than Rock Island Line, Driftless (for the drif. I literally had to pull myself out of the world Rhodes created to think objectively and critically about the novel. Size 10.0 Source 78 Not so for books that... Raised in an idyllic Iowa town, young July Montgomery is rocked by the tragic death of his parents. I could picture many of the roads and towns that were mentioned in this book. Ostensibly about the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, it appeared as a folk song as early as 1929. However, as with many other reviewers, I ordered it from the library after having read Driftless and Jewelweed, by the same author. Definitely a good read, go pick it up! Rock Island Lines is written and read by Roald Tweet, Professor Emeritus of English at Augustana College. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Rock Island Line - Lonnie Donegan on AllMusic - 2006 Song Moods. A similar version was recorded by Lomax in October 1934 at Cummins State Farm prison in Lincoln County, Arkansas, performed by a group of singers led by Kelly Pace.[3]. I liked Driftless and Jewelweed a bit better so start your reading there. City of Rock Island 1528 Third Avenue Rock Island, IL 61201 Phone: (309) 732-2000 Fax: (309) 732-2055 Email Hours Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. FAQs. I couldn't make it 75 pages in. Lead Belly accompanied Lomax to the prison. Would like to have the story between the two books! Rhodes is an excellent, detailed writer! I read it in 2009 not knowing it was a sequel and really loved it. It only took me two days to read, but it was complex and a page turner. The lives of his parents and grandparents in a very precise setting in southeastern Iowa are described but our protagonist (named July by his whimsical mother) runs away to Philadelphia at the age of 12 for almost a decade, before returning. The story begins with the life of his grandparents, in Iowa and ends with July taking off on what is to be a wandering life, until he settles in Word, at the beginning of Driftless. Blues, folk, country. The Chicago, Rock Island and Texas Railway Company had been chartered in Texas in 1892, and laid track northward from Fort Worth to meet, at the Red River, with the line that had been built down from Minco. July is enigmatic but soulful. Genre Jazz Identifier 78_rock-island-line_leadbelly-paul-howard_gbia0001539a Location USA Restored True Run time 00:02:57 Scanner Internet Archive Python library 1.4.0 Scanningcenter George Blood, L.P. On the Rock Island Line, there's a mighty good road On the Rock Island Line, it's a road to ride On the Rock Island Line, there's a mighty good road If you want to ride, you gotta ride it like you find it Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line I may be right and I may be wrong No, you are goin' to miss me when I'm gone This book could easily have earned four stars but for some missteps in the latter half. by Milkweed Editions. Rock Island Line is a prequel, written nearly thirty-some years ago. Label. And able to evade the attack of his nemesis, Earl, who carries a life-long hatred of July and shows up in the book at oddly times and places. Song Styles. The book is almost like a fairy tale; it is impossible to believe in the literal truth of a 10 year old boy living in the streets of Philadelphia for the next 5 years, unharmed, never sick, well nourished and clean. Love, hate, greed, generosity, innocence and corruption all have their place in July's experiences. This kept me up reading far into the night to the sad ending and the story leading up to it. Fleeing to Philadelphia, he fashions a ghostly existence in an underground train station. The press (Milkweed Editions) reissued Rock Island Line and released its. But the sadness and misfortune that July (ultimate character the story was about) had to deal with broke my heart. He is brilliant and uses the most beautiful language that makes his characters come to life, like they are right in my living room with me. The story itself takes hold to make for an enjoyable read. However, as with many other reviewers, I ordered it from the library after having read Driftless and Jewelweed, by the same author. "[6], Pete Seeger recorded a version a cappella while he was chopping wood, to demonstrate its origins. After reading Driftless and Jewelweed this was a bit dull. If you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it Rock Island Line is a dark, extremely well written novel. Following is the summary, but it doesn't express the excellent writing or emotions engendered by this unlikely story. [5], Lonnie Donegan's recording, released as a single in late 1955, signaled the start of the UK skiffle craze. One of my best reads of 2009. 5 out of 5 stars (74) $ 13.99. The first recorded performance of "Rock Island Line" was by inmates of the Arkansas Cummins State Farm prison in 1934. The Rock Island Line is written by David Rhodes, who also wrote Driftless. The story of his getting along in his little concrete bunk....it is almost like a kid's dream come true. Prequel to Driftless, long winded in places but writing is so evocative of both rural and urban settings that it drew me in to each type of setting. Featured New Releases ... Song Genres. Check out Rock Island Line - The Singles Anthology 1955-1967 by Lonnie Donegan on Amazon Music. (The author was in an accident a few years after publishing Rock Island Line that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Have not reviewed it on Goodreads so I'm going to reread it right now so that I've read it in the correct order and will then review it. Johnny Cash (single 1970) – from the album, This page was last edited on 2 April 2021, at 18:39. Too sad a life to not impact you. Unfortunately, this ambitious lot did not have the needed funding to begin construction right away, the bane of so many such projects. The October 1934 recording, by Kelly Pace and a group of convicts, was released on the compilation album. Rock Island Line. Here he focused on several generations of one family, as compared to writing about many other characters in his later books. Starts out slow and a bit confusing to follow. What starts off as a bit confusing, a bit of magic realism in a small town near Iowa City (but not to the WP Kinsella level), “Rock Island Line” explores loss, and more than that, fear. Rock Island Line est une chanson américaine écrite par Kelly Pace et enregistrée pour la première fois par John Lomax en 1934, chantée par Pace et d'autres détenus dans une prison d'État Alabama, et … I felt the author had a real, palpable affection for July. July’s grandparents and parents were exemplary people full of complications and intelligence. Do people realy have that much bad luck? (I have given those two books four stars.) July, our protagonist, has a fairly lucky experience despite misfortune. New Releases. The Rock Island Line is a mighty good road I literally had to pull myself out of the world Rhodes created to think objectively and critically about the novel. The Rock Island Line. The Rock Island Line is the road to ride The lyrics to this version are largely different to the version that later evolved and became famous, with verses describing people and activities associated with the yard. Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! One of these recordings was studied and imitated phrase by phrase, by a young English singer of American folk songs [referring to Lonnie Donegan], who subsequently recorded it for an English company. That being said, I am so glad this class introduced me to David Rhodes. This action video depicts the fast moving trains of the Rock Island from the 1950's into the 1970's. I'm definitely up for the recent sequel (Driftless), published 30 years after this one. I enjoyed Rock Island Line and can't wait to compare the two, because the author's voice in this one is definitely that of a young man, and it will be interesting to hear his "mature" voice in Driftless. Lacks the multiple points of view and intersecting storylines that I love so much about his better books. The System Develops--1893 to 1933 1893 - 1902. It’s just too bad the horrible. Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On May 19th 1956, Lonnie Donegan and his Skiffle Group performed "Rock Island Line" on the NBC-TV program 'The Perry Como Show'... At the time the song was at #24 on Billboard's Top 100 chart; one month earlier on April 5th, 1956 it had peaked at #8 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Best Sellers in Stores chart and stayed on the Top 100 for 17 weeks. I read Rhode’s “Driftless” before reading this. The press (Milkweed Editions) reissued Rock Island Line and released its sequel, Driftless, which I'm about to read next. We are 75 pages into the book before the main character is born (in 1953). The RTA bought it in 1982. Vintage Ad VintageBlastOfAds. The locations stick with you. July Montgomery runs away from his relatives after his parents die. July seems to have changed for the worse after his trip down memory lane, and some subplots, especially how they were written, take away from the development of the character earlier on. He is brilliant and us. When a young woman appears to free him from his malaise, they return together to the Iowa heartland, where the novel soars to its heartrending climax. Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian, Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West, Carryin' On with Johnny Cash & June Carter, America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song, Johnny Cash Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous, All Aboard the Blue Train with Johnny Cash, 16 Biggest Hits: Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words, Johnny Cash! He begins selling newspapers. [2], The earliest known version of "Rock Island Line" was written in 1929 by Clarence Wilson, a member of the Rock Island Colored Booster Quartet, a singing group made up of employees of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad at the Biddle Shops freight yard in Little Rock, Arkansas. Alan and Sharon Kline's website. After providing family background through a few generations, the story focuses on young July Montgomery, who loses everything he’s known in a short length of time and decides, at 12 years old, to venture out on his own. Explore releases from Rock Island Line at Discogs. Rock Island Line follows July Montgomery from his grandparents' life in Iowa to a tumultuous period in the east followed by a return to life outside Iowa City. Though he briefly considers begging like other young street denizens, he makes a decision to work. I found this very hard because I kept getting swept up into the characters and plot. The story of one young man and how he thought he had to leave home to find what he needed, but in the end it was returning to his small town roots that was his best life. How do I obtain information on my lot dimensions? British Folk (8) Skiffle (8) Add Styles. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Loved them both. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Great writing, good story. David Rhodes, one of America’s finest writers, created a memorable character in his exquisitely crafted novel, “Rock Island Line.” With remarkable sensitivity, Rhodes quickly transports the reader through three generations of Montgomery’s until finally focusing upon the tragic life of young July Montgomery. This is where I need decimals in the Goodreads ratings! I wanted to learn more about July Montgomery, a main character in Driftless. I didn't much care for the beginning; it was only after July entered the story that I felt it come alive. Raised in an idyllic Iowa town, young July Montgomery is rocked by the tragic death of his parents. Loved them both. They were the type of people the Midwest is known for. It was sung a cappella. The conversations, especially between all the couples, were really wonderful. While I didn’t like the ending as much as the way we get there, I really enjoyed the book. Rock Island timetables are “Rocket Red” for the Rock Island… I had liked Driftless so much that I wanted to read more of David Rhodes' books, so I chose Rock Island Line because the two books shared a central character, July Montgomery. Only 1 left Favorite Add to 1945 Rock Island Lines "Into A Thousand Glorious Tomorrows!" Refresh and try again. Lonnie Donegan's Skiffle Group – Rock Island Line / John Henry (1954, Shellac) - Discogs. Had to force myself to finish this one--grim story and about a hundred pages too long. John LaGale Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was an American country music, honky tonk and rockabilly singer and musician, during the 1950s and early 1960s, best known for his saga songs that became international hits beginning with the 1959 single "The Battle of New Orleans", which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line, Many artists subsequently recorded it, often changing the verses and adjusting the lyrics. But the sadness and misfortune that July (ultimate character the story was about) had to deal with broke my heart. One’s compassions are immediately aroused for the boy, who must deal with the senseless death of both his parents and the fears and childhood perplexities that result. Song information for Rock Island Line - Lonnie Donegan on AllMusic AllMusic. After providing family background through a few generations, the story focuses on young July Montgomery, who loses everything he’s known in a short length of time and decides, at 12 years old, to venture out on his own. September 1st 2008 I could picture many of the roads and towns that were mentioned in this book. Rhodes has a authentic ear and feel for the rural America - what keeps people tied to the land and its small towns and what makes life there so challenging. While in Driftless the characters felt as real as our neighbors, here they are stereotypes. I have to give a book review presentation, a critical book review and then a 15 page critical analysis of the book. This recording featured Donegan, Chris Barber on double bass and Beryl Bryden on washboard. 5 out of 5 stars (587) $ 5.00. I w. Having grown up in Rock Island, IL, (across the Mississippi River from Davenport, Iowa) I often road the Rock Island Line back and forth to college, so this title grabbed me! Be the first to ask a question about Rock Island Line. He lives under the subway, hustles selling newspapers, falls in with a few crooks, gets to a school and finds love--and then returns to Iowa. The first recorded performance of "Rock Island Line" was by inmates of the Arkansas Cummins State Farm prison in 1934.[1]. [Chorus] Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road, Oh that Rock Island Line is that road to ride, Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road, If you want to ride, you got to ride it like you find it, Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line. He published three novels while in his 20s, then was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident and never published again until thirty years later, when a small-press publisher got hold of this book, looked him up, and asked him if he'd written anything since. He published three novels while in his 20s, then was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident and never published again until thirty years later, when a small-press publisher got hold of this book, looked him up, and asked him if he'd written anything since. Donegan had synthesized American Southern Blues with simple acoustic instruments: acoustic guitar, washtub bass and washboard rhythm. I've also since read the latter.