Honky Tonk Train Blues — Meade Lux Lewis (Paramount, 1927)
Although now regarded as a seminal classic of boogie woogie piano, “Honky Tonk Train Blues” didn’t have much impact when first released in 1930—two and a half years after Meade Lux Lewis had recorded it in Chicago, c. December 1927, according to discographies. Paramount Records allotted Lewis only one side of the single, pairing his instrumental with that of another pianist, Charles Avery. In the meantime, Pine Top Smith had come ouh with jis own boogie woogie in 1929, elevating him to the top of the genre. Lewis’ robust impression of a speeding train traveling on 88 keys did inspire legendary record man John Hammond to seek him out later to re-record the tune and eventually launch a boogie woogie craze headlined by Lewis, Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson.