# ID song heard on WXRT in mid-80s

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 12, 2020, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415 "2020-09-12T11:06:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415/21 "2020-09-14T12:37:32Z")

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Thanks, **mikecurtis** , but it’s newer than that. The singer’s voice is very similar, though.

Last night, I listened to some tracks of The Blasters and didn’t find what I’m looking for. But I see they recorded four studio albums between 1980 and 1985, and it might be on one of them.

Thanks again!

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**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415/22 "2020-09-26T10:02:29Z")

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Hey, I found it!!! It’s “[The Conductor Wore Black](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUxl995suqY)” by Rank and File, released in 1982.

Damn that brings back some fine memories, and it sure feels nice to scratch that itch!!!

Thanks to **all of you** for your help and I hope you like it!

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**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415/23 "2020-09-26T19:54:29Z")

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How did I not know about Rank and File until now??  
That’s exactly the kind of thing I was into back then: Blasters, Beat Farmers, Jason & the Scorchers…

Thanks for finding this, **alovem**. Great stuff!

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**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415/24 "2020-09-26T21:57:45Z")

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Oh yeah…I remember that song!  
I’m surprised Lin couldn’t come up with it. I seem to remember it played pretty regularly for a while.

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**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415/25 "2020-09-27T00:32:32Z")

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Btw the lyrics are  
This train carries _liars_  
This train carries _thieves_

Not _iron_ and _steel_

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**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-song-heard-on-wxrt-in-mid-80s/920415/26 "2020-09-27T04:38:22Z")

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FWIW, I messaged Lin again After the song was identified, and he replied simply, “One of my favorite bands.”

No further elaboration, but my guess is he would have nailed it with the right lyrics. Anyway, I don’t feel like bugging him any further about this.

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