Here on this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," you get not one, but two talented guitar-slingers in Popa Chubby (the bald, portly one) and Arthur Neilson. Great stuff.
Category: Music
Big Friendly Jazz Orchestra
BFJO is based in Japan, and does a version of "Route 66." Apparently a guest pianist sat in during this session (you'll see him later in the video), but the regular pianist is pretty good, too.
Cow Bop doing another Route 66 tour
The "cowboy jazz" band Cow Bop is doing another Route 66 Challenge tour, from Chicago to Los Angeles starting May 12. Cow Bop has done two other Route 66 tours for charity. It says on the band's Web site: Not willing to rest on the laurels of their past trips, they are once again proving … Continue reading Cow Bop doing another Route 66 tour
Notes from the road
A few things that should be of interest to most roadies: Roadside America has revamped its Web site. Not only did the purveyors of roadside oddities give it a spiffier design, but there's a new blog, more animation, new tools and more videos. Route 66 roadie Mark Potter reports that the Hot Dogs and Hot … Continue reading Notes from the road
Clearer Cheetahs
Most of you have already seen this music video. But this high-quality clip of the Cheetah Girls' version of "Route 66" came over on YouTube today. The sound is clearer, and you can see the details in the film -- including a bunch of "Cars" movie highlights -- a lot better, too.
Flying fingers
This performance by Hironobu Naganuma of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" is extraordinary. It's technically difficult, but it seems like he's having fun. Also, it grooves like mad.
Keep harping
Here's a folk-blues-country version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," with some good harmonica playing. The singer flubbed some lyrics, but that's OK.
Early R.E.M.
Googley5 has sent me this YouTube video that features the earliest live-in-concert recording of Rock Hall of Famers R.E.M., way back in 1980 at the famous 40 Watt Club in Athens, Ga. The four songs include "Route 66."
UPDATED: “Girl on the Billboard” was for real?
Today, I got a comment from a reader that stopped me in my tracks. Dennis chimed in with a post about Del Reeves' million-selling 1965 hit, "Girl on the Billboard": I lived in Edwardsville Illinois and remember that billboard on a curve about where Esic housing entrance is right now. They call that road 157 … Continue reading UPDATED: “Girl on the Billboard” was for real?
Country kicks
Canadian country artist Beverly Mahood contributes to a swinging version of "Route 66." Her band does a lot of nice soloing work here.