Which came first? North to Alaska or Slow Train

Subject: Which came first? North to Alaska or Sl
From: GUEST,GUEST, Jeff
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 06:42 PM

Wondering if anyone knows which came first, North to Alaska or Slow Train Through Georgia since they obviously have the same melody in the verse. I've heard Norman Blake do Slow Train Through Georgia and I believe he got writing credits on the liner notes although these can be inaccurate. I've also heard a couple of versions of North to Alaska and saw that it was written by Mike Phillips in 1960. The truth must in no way sully my image of Sir Norman which my whole world view is pretty well based on.

Subject: RE: Which came first? North to Alaska or Sl
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 08:31 PM

North to Alaska was early '60s. I remember seeing the movie when I was in college. I don't think Norman got much into songwriting until the early '70s, from the dates given in liner notes to various CDs. Slow Train Through Georgia evidently first came out in '76, on Whiskey Before Breakfast.

I agree with you about the similiarity of the choruses. More to the point, so does my wife, who has a vastly better ear than I. But I don't believe Norman did it on purpose. I prefer to believe is was either coincidence, or an unconcious thing.

Peter.