Category: Music

Happy new year

It just turned 2011. To celebrate the occasion, here's The Bottom Line Band of Louisville, Ky., performing a blues-rock version of Bobby Troup's beloved road song.

Hello from Japan

This is a version of Bobby Troup's famous song by The Roosters, a Japanese rockabilly band that recorded in the late 1970s to the late 1980s. According to the YouTube listing, this is a previously unreleased song from a studio session.

So who wrote “Take It Easy”?

The omidog! blog, a site for dog lovers, answers two questions related to the Eagles' hit song "Take It Easy" -- who had the greater contribution to writing the song, and who does the statue on Standin' on a Corner Park in Winslow, Ariz., depict? The answer to the latter question isn't terribly thrilling. The … Continue reading So who wrote “Take It Easy”?

The fire is so delightful

Today, it's time to relax with an eggnog, with your feet propped up near a virtual Yule log fire. Music is by Sam Harris, who grew up just a few miles from Route 66 in Sand Springs, Okla.

“O Holy Night”

Route 66, a female a capella quartet based in Chicago, posted this Christmas-themed performance a few days ago. Alas, Route 66 does most of its work with sales conferences and private gatherings. So, if you notice a public performance on their schedule, catch them when you can.

Holiday road

Here's a new slide-show video of Route 66 sights in Arizona and California. Appropriately enough with Christmas fast approaching, Lindsey Buckingham's 1981 hit song "Holiday Road" is part of the soundtrack. The song is best-known for being included in the movie, "National Lampoon's Vacation."

More from Rock the Route

Another video was posted today from the recently completed Red Bull Rock the Route tour for two unsigned rock bands. You'll see a number of Route 66 sights in this clip:

Hello from Guatemala

Guatemala is about 2,000 miles from the closest point of Route 66. However, that doesn't prevent musicians in that nation from singing about it. This video shows road scenes in Guatemala, but includes Bobby Troup's famous tune. (Hat tip: Frank Kocevar of Historic Seligman Sundries)

Cotton to this

Here's a blues-based version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by Billy Branch and one of the greatest blues harmonica players in history, James Cotton.