I realized at the report of Ernie Edwards' death at age 94 that no footage of him apparently existed on the Internet. I decided to rectify that by mashing together footage from Canadian musician Melissa McClelland's "Pedal to Steel" documentary from 2006, when she embarked on a tour of Route 66. She visited Edwards at … Continue reading A memory of Ernie Edwards
Category: Music
Pipes and Sticks on Route 66
A couple of videos have trickled in since Pipes & Sticks on Route 66 -- an all-star group of Scottish-style musicians -- started a tour of the Mother Road. Here's the group at the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial: https://youtu.be/PDZM-ZUCWfc And here's one of the bagpipers performing AC/DC's "Thunderstuck" in St. Louis. … Continue reading Pipes and Sticks on Route 66
“Route 66: The Neon Highway” revisited
Andrew Wood, a communications professor at San Jose State University and an avowed roadie, shot and produced a short video about the neon signs of Route 66 in 2008. You can view it here. Wood just completed another journey on Route 66, and created a new video with the same theme: https://youtu.be/OTEP6pb340s Music is "Route … Continue reading “Route 66: The Neon Highway” revisited
No, he’s not that Dick Dale
Here's a performance of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by Dick Dale with Kenny Trimble and Charlie Perlato, along with Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan, and Jack Imel in their tap shoes in a 1973 episode of "The Lawrence Welk Show." https://youtu.be/rCrX_DwwbcM It's so square it's almost cool. Almost. I admit to being disappointed the performance didn't feature the … Continue reading No, he’s not that Dick Dale
Straight from the garage
Here's a version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" that I've never heard, by Los Jockers in 1967. https://youtu.be/ID3FE6QargE Evidence indicates that Los Jockers were based in Chile. I found another band from Mexico by the same name, but it broke up in 1962.
Black Canyon Tours promo video
I see quite a few videos put together by motorcycle tour companies. This one, by the United Kingdom-based Black Canyon Tours, is one of the best and most enticing I've seen. And, yes, Route 66 is part of the company's itinerary. https://youtu.be/prOqp25aFeI Music is "The Last Race," by Jack Nitzsche. He was a prominent songwriter … Continue reading Black Canyon Tours promo video
Behind the music of Cars Land
The folks at the Disney Parks Blog took a video camera into a recording studio, where Disneyland house band Billy Hill and the Hillbillies recorded music for tourists when they eventually enter Cars Land. https://youtu.be/uqyJ-o8acUo Cars Land is inspired by the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, as depicted in the Disney-Pixar films "Cars" and … Continue reading Behind the music of Cars Land
“That’s in Barstow”
I've watched this clip several times. I'm not sure whether Barstow Bob and the Boxcar Boys have created a whimsical tribute to the Route 66 town of Barstow, Calif., or something more sardonic in mind. https://youtu.be/MRmPk37ZteA A little of both, perhaps.
Holiday in the Golden State
Here's a trip to Southern California, in which Route 66 plays a prominent role: https://vimeo.com/38712437 Danged if I know who playing the music, but it sounds like the Ramones.
It’s not a joke
Here's the most original arrangement to Bobby Troup's "Route 66" that I've seen in a lonnnnnnng time -- and I've seen a lot. This one's by Bad Jokes, a band based in Italy. https://vimeo.com/38571843