Train, Train

Blackfoot, 1979, from Strikes. Solo by Rickey Medlocke.

A harmonica intro gives way to a hard-charging boogie with a punchy Medlocke solo.

Train, Train starts with a bluesy harmonica intro before exploding into a hard-driving boogie, and Rickey Medlocke's guitar takes over from there. The riff chugs like the train of the title, and his solo is punchy and aggressive, packed with fast pentatonic runs and stinging bends. Blackfoot leaned heavier than many southern rock bands, and this track shows that tougher edge clearly. The song came from Medlocke's family roots in the blues, which gives it a sense of tradition beneath the volume. Listen for the way the guitar picks up the harmonica's train-like rhythm after the intro, and notice how the solo keeps that locomotive momentum rather than slowing down to show off.

Train, Train by Blackfoot is featured in our Southern Rock (#23) list. The solo is played by Rickey Medlocke and the song was released in 1979.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Southern Rock Guitar Solos — #23
• The Best Blackfoot Guitar Solos — #2

Sources