Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Route 66 roadie Dave Hoekstra was in Prescott Valley, Ariz., for the first show of the Last of the Breed tour, the lucky dog. In case you haven't heard, the Last of the Breed tour features country-music legends Ray Price, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson with Western swing band Asleep at … Continue reading Last of the Breed
Category: Music
Better-quality “Our Town” scene from “Cars”
Someone has posted a better-quality version of the "Our Town" scene from the hit summer movie, "Cars." The Academy Award-nominated song was written by Randy Newman and sung by James Taylor. The previous "Our Town" scene posted on YouTube was OK. But this one is letterboxed, with better quality and sound.
Oscars says no to YouTube and “Our Town”
I was hoping by now to have a video clip of James Taylor and Randy Newman performing their Oscar-nominated song, "Our Town," from the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars," at Sunday's Academy Awards. But it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Variety reports that the Academy has banned YouTube from allowing any video clips from the … Continue reading Oscars says no to YouTube and “Our Town”
Jealous over Joplin?
Hank Billings' column today in the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, often filled with interesting historical tidbits, struck me as a bit of unseemly whining. He makes the dubious claim that "Does Joplin have a better press agent than Springfield or what?" by citing just two examples: A "Beverly Hillbillies" television episode in which Granny and Jed … Continue reading Jealous over Joplin?
“Cars” gets bypassed at Oscars
The hit Disney-Pixar movie "Cars" was bypassed for any Academy Awards victories on Sunday night, falling short in both the Best Animated Feature and Best Song categories. And you can blame it on global warming. But more on that later. "Cars" was favored to win Best Animated Feature, but "Happy Feet" scored a mild upset. … Continue reading “Cars” gets bypassed at Oscars
Sepia-toned scenes
Here's a different YouTube video with a Route 66 theme. These are sepia-toned images of decaying vehicles and spots along the Mother Road, set to Lyle Lovett's "The Truck Song."
Blue Whale blues
Canadian singer-songwriter Melissa McClelland has posted Part 4 of her video diary from last summer's trip down Route 66. In it, she wears a pretty white dress and belts out a bluesy tune, "Go Down Matthew," at the grounds of the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla. The song comes from her "Thumbelina's One Night Stand" … Continue reading Blue Whale blues
Blues jam with the Mediocre Music Makers
A fellow named Shadetree blows a mean blues harmonica while jamming with guitarist Harley Russell of the Mediocre Music Makers a block south of Route 66 in Erick, Okla. There's plenty of goofing around, but it's apparent that both are pretty good musicians.
Blues Brothers statue may greet Route 66 travelers
The city of Joliet, Ill., wants to draw more tourists into its suburban Chicago town. One of the ways it hopes to do this is by building a fiberglass statue of the Blues Brothers on Route 66, according to United Press International. The Blues Brothers was a "Saturday Night Live" routine by the Dan Aykroyd … Continue reading Blues Brothers statue may greet Route 66 travelers
Caravan country
Edith Grove with the Duke City Fix has an interesting article about Caravan East, a country-music club on Central Avenue (Route 66) in east Albuquerque. The sign outside says it was voted "America's #1 Country Music Night Club." I'm guessing that vote took place around 1972. But the large pictures of Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt … Continue reading Caravan country