# Which Train do you Take? (Gotta read the OP) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443 "2020-05-25T14:06:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/1 "2020-05-25T14:06:17Z")
Mankind has achieved eternal peace and harmony, all of us brothers, imagining no countries (or religions, too). It was touch and go there for a while, but we did it, ladies and gents! World peace is at hand! However, you gotta travel to get to this world, via 1 of 4 trains for the 10-day, 9-evening train ride: 1. The [Peace Train](https://youtu.be/fY-nZPa2h98), containing every white musician of note from the 1960s. Patsy Cline to the Beatles to (post-Army, sorry) Elvis. Hell, you could even get early Led Zep jamming with the Beach Boys with George Martin (he played, right?) producing. 2. The [Love Train](https://youtu.be/2vTKmVvyNRc), containing every African-American and Person of Color musician of note from the 1960s. Motown. Nat King Cole. Duke Ellington. Muddy Waters. BB King. James Brown. Every name is a giant. 3. The [Crazy Train](https://youtu.be/FVovq9TGBw0), containing every white musician of note from the 1970s. From Ozzy to John Denver to the Bee Gees to Supertramp to ELO to James Taylor to even Sha Na Na, there’s literally something here for every taste. Thinking this will be the loudest train. Bring earplugs. 4. The [Soul Train](https://youtu.be/yC9AwVpzMow), containing every African-American and Person of Color musician of note from the 1970s. As a special note, the conductor is Don Cornelius. This is a surprisingly deep field, including not just Motown and many of the names above, but also the beginnings of rap and hip hop. Diana. Michael. Marvin. The O’Jays (and I don’t care if I gave their 1973 song to the 60’s, they were an act throughout the 60s, so deal). Donna. Philly Soul. Just _deep_. You, the passenger, get to interact with, listen to, party with, drink and drug alongside, and… if you got game… hook up with any of the artists on your train. Rules: 1. For artists who straddle decades, you can put them in whatever decade you choose. Want Marvin Gaye on the Love Train? No problem. Paul McCartney on the Crazy Train? Sure, why not? Note that you get _that decade’s_ version of that person. 2. Not limited to Americans or even English singing artists. You all end up in the same land of peace, harmony, and avocado spread, but the journey is yours to choose. The Peace Train? Soul Train? Crazy? Love? All aboard! …All votes are public… * * * For me, I’m taking the Soul Train. I expect to be stoned all 240 hours due to the 2nd and 1st-hand pot smoke, and the music will just be fantastic. But even more, of all the trains, this may be the most _chill_ of the four. Thinking the Crazy Train might be too much for yours truly, and in the Peace Train there is the chance of running into Tommy James and the Shondell’s, whose music is just irritating as all hell to me. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/2 "2020-05-25T14:26:42Z")
No hesitation in jumping on the Soul Train. Hopefully the journey is in mid-may as I will get to party with Stevie Wonder on our birthday. Although the conversation about what age we are will be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/3 "2020-05-25T14:46:09Z")
I’m hopping on the Crazy Train to hang out with Queen and David Bowie. But also Pink Floyd at their rockiest, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Roxy Music, Bob Dylan, T. Rex, Blondie, The Clash… 10 days would not be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/4 "2020-05-25T16:03:01Z")
Do we get to choose who on our train we do _not_ hang out with or listen to? Because I can come up with musicians I enjoy on any of those four trains, enough of them to make the entire journey enjoyable… but I can also come up with musicians on any of the four trains that I’d definitely want to avoid. If we can’t avoid musicians, then I’ve got to go with Love or Soul, just to be sure I’m safe from listening to Sinatra. Probably Love, so I also don’t have any disco or hip-hop. If we can avoid musicians, then there’s just too much to pass up on Crazy. Sure, I’d miss out on the Beatles, and most of Simon and Garfunkle and Peter, Paul, and Mary, but I’d still have John Denver, Johnny Cash, Queen, and Tommy Makem, and while I’m not as big on psychadelic and metal as some folks, they’d provide some nice change of pace. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/5 "2020-05-25T16:10:29Z")
I know this is not the intent, but . . . I’m wondering what kind of universal peace and harmony we’ve truly achieved if the trains to get there are “whites only” and “blacks only”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/6 "2020-05-25T16:15:44Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I know this is not the intent, but . . . > > I’m wondering what kind of universal peace and harmony we’ve truly achieved if the trains to get there are “whites only” and “blacks only”. Blame Don Cornelius. He’s the one who insisted on the Soul Train, then the others just kind of fell in line. Anyway, the genesis of this question was when Peace Train and Love Train came up back-to-back in one of my randomized playlists. Both songs literally are about the same concept, but from different racial perspectives. So… 40 years later… this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/7 "2020-05-25T16:20:53Z")
I’m still thinking about my answer. In the meantime, you could have come up with a better video for [Love Train](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w6p4gYHd-E). ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/8 "2020-05-25T17:51:57Z")
I picked the Crazy Train. Looking forward to the likes of Sweet and all the ooey gooey bubble gum and glam rock bands from that era. Though all the trains sound pretty good!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/9 "2020-05-25T18:21:31Z")
Definitely the Peace Train, if just for the Beatles and Elvis. Toss in all the San Francisco groups from The Summer of Love and I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/10 "2020-05-25T19:42:22Z")
A thought: What of bands with members of different races? Do they take separate trains, or make token appearances? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/11 "2020-05-25T20:06:34Z")
Crazy train, because there were many great artists of the 70s I’d like to see. New wave and Punk bands, plus 60s groups like the Who and the Stones. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/12 "2020-05-25T20:08:29Z")
Poll has no option for Rock Island Line. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/13 "2020-05-25T20:34:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A thought: What of bands with members of different races? Do they take separate trains, or make token appearances? Phil Lynott will most definitely be riding The Crazy Train. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/14 "2020-05-25T23:45:38Z")
None of those are especially thrilling to me as my only musical choice. If I _had_ to pick one decade and one race, I go with a 1980s white train. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/15 "2020-05-26T06:15:14Z")
World Peace can apparently go to hell, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not riding any of your trains: a) I grew up in a place and time where trains actually still had Whites only/Non Whites Only carriages, so it’s offensive morally b) Cutting off at the 70s, while perfectly on-brand for the musical dinosaur tone of this forum, nicely cuts out almost all music I have any interest in. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/16 "2020-05-26T12:28:38Z")
Went with the Peace Train, because of the Cat Stevens song. Only after I voted did I remember that that song was on _Teaser and the Firecat_, which didn’t come out until late 1971. So I wouldn’t hear “Peace Train” on the Peace Train. And seconding what **MrDibble** said about “the musical dinosaur tone of this forum.” ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/17 "2020-05-29T21:59:22Z")
I went with the Love Train because I expect it would have the best bluesmen. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/18 "2020-05-29T22:11:56Z")
Why do I have to choose music based on race? Why can’t I smoke weed with Hendrix while listening to Zeppelin? Or drink Southern Comfort with Janis while we listen to Tina (because well…fuck Ike)? Or party with Sly and the Family while stoned and singing Free Bird with Ronnie and the boys? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/19 "2020-05-30T00:50:57Z")
I get on board the [Love Train,](https://www.google.com/search?q=love+train+lyrics&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS866US866&oq=love+train+lyrics&aqs=chrome.0.69i59.3638j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) of course. It takes the most scenic route: Russia, China, Africa, Egypt, Israel. And it doesn’t need tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-train-do-you-take-gotta-read-the-op/854443/20 "2020-05-31T19:57:13Z")
I’l take the Love Train, because it best combines “music I like” and “music I don’t listen to very often”.