Final answer:
The 1941 song about a fictitious train through Tennessee that was the first to receive a gold record is “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first song to receive a gold record by selling 1.2 million copies was “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, which was released in 1941. This song is about a fictional train ride through Tennessee and it was performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The song was a significant hit during its time and has since become an iconic piece of American music history. It should be noted that the references provided, Josh Turner’s “Long Black Train” and Lisa E. Farrington’s book, do not relate to the question asked as they are about a different song and a book on African American women artists, respectively.