THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

667-Gladys Knight & the Pips-Midnight Train to Georgia.

1973-It was not a hit in the UK, until being re-issued in 1976, when reaching Number 10.

Best Bit-At 1.28. Back in 1952 when they first formed, Gladys Knight, was also just a ‘Pip.’

Gladys Maria Knight (see also best songs 214) who is known by the honorific title of ‘The Empress of Soul,’ was born on May 24th, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was in 1952 that the first incarnation of the ‘Pips’ were formed, by Gladys Knight, her brother Merald ‘Bubba’ Knight, her sister Brenda, and her cousins William Guest, (1941-2015) and Eleanor Guest, (1940-1997) their stage name being inspired by another cousin’s nickname, James ‘Pip’ Woods. After a couple of years performing in talent shows, the group were signed by ‘Brunswick Records’ in 1957, and recorded two singles that failed to chart. Brenda Knight, and Eleanor Guest eventually left the group, and were replaced by another cousin, Edward Patten, (1939-2005) and a non-relative, Langston George (?-2007) in 1959, he remained a group member until 1962. It was also in 1959 that they officially became ‘Gladys Knight & the Pips,’ and they remained active until 1989, when Gladys Knight parted ways, in order to pursue a solo career.

‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ was written by Jim Weatherly, who was born James Dexter Weatherly, on March 17th, 1943, in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States, he died of natural causes on February 3rd, 2021, at the age of 77. Jim Weatherly was a singer/songwriter, in the genres of ‘Country Music,’ and ‘Pop Music,’ before turning his hand to music in 1964, he had been a successful American footballer, playing quarterback at the University of Mississippi. During his near 50 year music career, Weatherly released 11 Albums between 1972-2008, and eight singles between 1973-1980, with his 1974 song ‘The Need to Be,’ providing him with his only Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit, when reaching Number 11. Jim Weatherly also wrote two other hit singles for Gladys Knight & the Pips, ‘Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye,’) (1973-Billboard Number 2 & UK Number 31) and “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” (1974-Billboard Number 3 & UK Number 7.) Other artists to record Weatherly’s songs include Brenda Lee, Lynn Anderson, (1947-2015) and Ray Price (1926-2013.)

Jim Weatherly wrote and recorded the original version of ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ in the ‘Country Music’ genre, calling it ‘Midnight Plane to Houston.’ Some months later the management of the American ‘Soul’ singer Cissy Houston, (Whitney Houston’s mother) got in touch, asking if they could record the song, and change the songs title, as they didn’t want the word ‘Houston’ appearing in both the artists, and songs title name. The Cissy Houston recording appeared on her 1970 Album ‘Presenting Cissy Houston.’ Gladys Knight & the Pips had already had success with the Jim Weatherly song ‘Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye,’) which had been issued as their final single for ‘Motown’ records, before they joined the ‘Buddah’ label. ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ which was recorded in the same style as the Cissy Houston version, gave Gladys Knight & the Pips their first Billboard Number 1 single, and the track has become Gladys Knight signature song.

Jim Weatherly has explained how he got the idea for ‘Midnight Train to Georgia,’ ‘The song actually came about after a phone call I had with Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009.) Lee Majors was a friend of mine. We’d played in the Flag Football League together in L.A. He had just started dating Farrah. One day I called Lee and Farrah answered the phone. We were just talking, and she said she was packing. She was gonna take the midnight plane to Houston to visit her folks. So, it just stayed with me. After I got off the phone, I sat down and wrote the song probably in about 30 to 45 minutes.’

‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ was the second of four singles released from ‘Imagination,’ the 11th studio Album from Gladys Knight & the Pips, from October 1973, the song was written by Jim Weatherly, with the production credited to Tony Camillo, (1928-2018) and Gladys Knight & the Pips. Fans of 1970’s ‘Disco’ music will remember Tony Camillo best for his 1975 hit ‘Dynomite,’ (Billboard Number 10 & UK Number 28) which was issued by ‘Bazuka,’ an instrumental group put together by Tony Camillo.

In her autobiography, ‘Between Each Line of Pain and Glory,’ Gladys Knight wrote that ‘She hoped that ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ was a comfort to the many thousands who come each year from elsewhere to Los Angeles, to realise the dream of being in motion pictures, television or music, but then fail to realise that dream, and plunge into despair.’

L.A. proved too much for the man, so he’s leavin’ the life he’s come to know, ooh. He said he’s goin’ back to find, ooh ooh ooh, what’s left of his world. The world he left behind, not so long ago.’