"She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)" is an upbeat blues written by Taj Mahal and James Rachell.[1] It was first released on Taj Mahal's 1968 album The Natch'l Blues,[2] and is one of Mahal's most famous compositions.[3]

The song has since become a blues standard and has been covered many times. It was used on the soundtrack for the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers (the song plays over the opening credits as Jake Blues leaves prison).[4] According to John Belushi's widow, it was Belushi's favorite blues song.[5]

The "Katy" refers to the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ratliff, Ben (20 April 1997). "Yank Rachell, 87, Mandolinist And Elder Statesman of the Blues". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  2. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The new Rolling Stone album guide. Simon and Schuster. pp. 801. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ^ Coyle, Jake (25 February 2009). "Taj Mahal to be inducted into Blues Hall of Fame". FOX News. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  4. ^ Denisoff, R. Serge; William D. Romanowski (1991). Risky business: rock in film, Volume 1990. Transaction Publishers. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-88738-843-9.
  5. ^ Johnson, Jeff (20 April 2004). "Blues Brothers bonanza: 12 of the best". Chicago Sun-Times.
  6. ^ Scheer, George (1991). Booked on the morning train: a journey through America. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. pp. 62. ISBN 978-0-945575-40-5.


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