If you're out cruising Route 66, make sure you keep your speed down. That's Junior Brown -- and his combination electric guitar and steel guitar -- providing the note of caution.
Category: Music
Programming note
A few of you may have noticed more music videos being posted in recent days. We're sliding into the slow winter season at Route 66 News. So I've decided to track down as many road-related songs as possible on YouTube and Google Video, and post them when there's not much to report from the Mother … Continue reading Programming note
Both sides now
Scott Leitner of Athos Video Productions has posted two very good videos that were inspired by the "Cars" movie to YouTube. Made about 18 months ago, they originally were big Windows Media files that took a few minutes to download before viewing. YouTube files are more user-friendly. Here is his moving video of declining landmarks … Continue reading Both sides now
Drew’s road trip
This is a segment from the 2005 movie "Elizabethtown." You'll see Route 66, then the Round Barn and Hillbillee's in Arcadia, Okla., at the 7:14 mark. I was about to say it seems unlikely that anyone would put 42 hours of music on CDs for a road trip -- until I realized that I have … Continue reading Drew’s road trip
“Just fallen brick … and broken glass”
This is Son Volt singer Jay Farrar, performing an acoustic version of the country-rock band's song, "Way Down Watson." It is based on the demolition of the Coral Court Motel on Watson Road, aka Route 66, in St. Louis in 1995. It's a bit hard to hear the words, so here are the song's lyrics … Continue reading “Just fallen brick … and broken glass”
The father of rock ‘n’ roll
Chuck Berry wrote a whole bunch of driving tunes. This one, "No Particular Place to Go," inspired many road trips.
Square dancing on 66
The Ozark Whirlers is a square-dance club that has been based in Eldon, Mo., for 52 years, and the group still meets for dances at least twice a month, according to a feature article in the Lake Sun Leader of Camdenton, Mo. Many members are in their 70s. And the dancers must have had some … Continue reading Square dancing on 66
“Girl on the Billboard”
Finally found a video of Del Reeves singing his biggest hit, "Girl on the Billboard," that I could embed here. This clip is from 1965. Listen closely for the Route 66 reference near the end.
“Here I am walking down 66 …”
I couldn't find Charley Pride performing "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" on YouTube. But I did find Buck Owens covering it. And that's Buck's longtime cohort, Don Rich, playing fiddle and providing backup vocals. "Here I am walking down 66, wishing she hadn't done me that way ..."
Play it loud
Here's a fast, sweaty and rollicking version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," performed by British rock band Dr. Feelgood. This is one of the best versions of that song I've heard, if for no other reason than because it rocks.