Midnight Plane to Houston

Wait, don't I mean "Midnight Train to Georgia"? The song made famous by Gladys Knight and the Pips? That one, right?

No. But also, yes.



"Midnight Plane to Houston" is the original version of this classic song. Interestingly, it's essentially a country song in this performance by songwriter Jim Weatherly. It was only when it got a makeover into soul that it became "Midnight Train to Georgia".

But that wasn't by Gladys either.



Cissy Houston did the first version of "Midnight Train to Georgia". I understand part of the rationale in changing the destination is because it would've seemed silly for Cissy Houston to sing about a Midnight Train (or Plane) to Houston.

Both of these versions are quality music. But even after learning they came first, I still think it's the version by Gladys Knight and the Pips that truly merits the term "classic".