High Fidelity has gone back to 1950 for “Red Ball Rocket Train,” a newly released bluegrass single originally recorded by country-gospel singer and songwriter Mac Odell.
The Rebel Records release is the first new music from High Fidelity since its 2023 gospel album Music In My Soul. It also offers the first preview of the band’s next album, expected this fall.
For a group known for digging into overlooked corners of 1950s and ’60s bluegrass and country music, the song fits comfortably into familiar territory.
High Fidelity Finds a Rare Mac Odell Train Song
Odell recorded “Red Ball Rocket Train” with his Alabama Jubilees in 1950.
Although he became better known for gospel songs, the train number shows another side of his catalog.
The song reached High Fidelity in 2020 after bassist Mike Bub sent frontman Jeremy Stephens a link to Odell’s original recording.
Stephens liked the song immediately, but the timing was wrong.
High Fidelity was preparing Music In My Soul, an all-gospel album released in 2023. So Stephens saved “Red Ball Rocket Train” for another project.
“We knew our next album at the time was going to be all gospel, 2023’s Music In My Soul, so I just made a note of the song to look at later,” Stephens said.
That later finally arrived.
“Red Ball Rocket Train is a classic train song that fits our style to a tee,” Stephens said. “And we hope the folks enjoy our arrangement of this song about a fine steam powered train!”
‘Red Ball Rocket Train’ Becomes a Full-Band Arrangement
Stephens handles lead vocals, guitar and bass on High Fidelity’s recording.
Meanwhile, Kurt Stephenson brings a Don Reno-influenced banjo approach. Corrina Rose Logston Stephens adds fiddle and harmony vocals, while Daniel Amick handles mandolin.
The arrangement developed as a genuine collaboration among all four members.
“Many times, one or two of us in High Fidelity will have a clear idea of how the song should go, but this one was a true band collaboration with everyone involved,” Corrina Stephens said. “It sets the stage well for the vibe of our latest music.”
That approach suits a song High Fidelity did not need to reinvent so much as pull forward into its own sound.
The group keeps the recording rooted in traditional bluegrass while giving each player room inside the arrangement.
A Train Song Continues an Accidental Tradition
“Red Ball Rocket Train” also continues an accidental pattern in High Fidelity’s catalog.
The band has included a train song on each of its albums that was not devoted entirely to gospel material.
That makes this one especially appropriate as the first preview of the group’s next full-length project.
High Fidelity formed in 2014 and quickly established itself around the sounds of Don Reno & Red Smiley, The Stanley Brothers, The Louvin Brothers and Jim & Jesse.
The group won the International Band Championship at the 2014 SPBGMA Awards. It later earned three consecutive IBMA New Artist of the Year nominations.
Music In My Soul took a different path by focusing entirely on gospel songs.
Now “Red Ball Rocket Train” puts High Fidelity back on the rails with a song more than 75 years old and still perfectly suited to the band’s musical world.
Listen to High Fidelity’s “Red Ball Rocket Train”.