Route 66

Album: Best Of Nat King Cole (1946)
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  • If you ever plan to motor west
    Travel my way, take the highway that is best
    Get your kicks on Route sixty six

    It winds from Chicago to LA
    More than two thousand miles all the way
    Get your kicks on Route sixty six

    Now you go through Saint Looey
    Joplin, Missouri
    And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty
    You see Amarillo
    Gallup, New Mexico
    Flagstaff, Arizona
    Don't forget Winona
    Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino

    Won't you get hip to this timely tip
    When you make that California trip
    Get your kicks on Route sixty six

    Won't you get hip to this timely tip
    When you make that California trip
    Get your kicks on Route sixty six
    Get your kicks on Route sixty six
    Get your kicks on Route sixty six Writer/s: Bobby W Troup
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 7th 1960, the drama series 'Route 66' debut on the CBS-TV network...
    The series ran for four seasons with a total of 116 original episodes...
    Two years later on May 27th, 1962 "The Route 66 Theme" by Nelson Riddle* & his Orchestra entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #93; and on August 5th, 1962 it peaked at #30 {for 1 week} and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    One of the series' leading actors, George Maharis, had five records make the Top 100; with "Teach Me Tonight" being his biggest hit, it peaked at #25 in 1962...
    R.I.P. Mr. Riddle {1921 - 1985} and Mr. Maharis celebrated his 86th birthday last month on September 1st {2014}...
    * Mr. Riddle was also the song's composer.
  • David from Hudson, OhI have heard most all of the different cuts of this song, and I have to agree with the earlier comment that "Aleep At The Wheel" does the best version.
  • Joel from Manhattan, NyI can just picture some hipster like Jack Karowack
    (yes I know that's not how you spell it it but that is beside the point) cruising along in his car sipping coffee from a thermos and jotting down notes for a book.
  • Colt from Chicago, IlThere's still a stretch of route 66 between Bloomington and Decatur, IL. I only know because I took an exit I shouldn't have - too bad it wasn't daylight or I might have checked out what kind of town it goes through.
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaNat Cole, one of the great jazz pianists!
    Great stuff!
  • John from Mansfield, TxThere are a few stretches of Route 66 that you can still drive over.
    In 2006,My Wife and I were in OKC on Vacation,so we drove out Route 66 from OKC to Elk City.
    There's a really cool Route 66 Museum in Clinton.
    Also,we went to New Mexico last year and if you get off I 40 in San Jon,Old 66 is the back road into Tucumcari.
    And"Cars"is probably the most appropriate movie to play the Drive In Movies.
    We saw it in June 2006 at the Galaxy DI in Ennis,Texas.
    FYI:Asleep at the Wheel does the best version of Route 66.
  • Katrina from Pullman, WaJohn Mayer Covered this song for the Pixar Movie "Cars"
  • Dmitry from Moscow, EuropeI first heard Route66 in 1965 performed by Rolling Stones and I was simply "pinned down" by this song. I was then a young student of English in Moscow, at that time totally isolated from the West. The only words I could understand from the worn-out tape which I borrowed from a friend, were "Route 66" and "Chicago..." The rest was a mistery, yet to be discovered.
    Since that time I have learnt a lot about the World, including the US geography, history and culture. Also, I have been there twice on longer trips. But even now, after decades have passed, there is nothing better than this song, from which I am still getting my kicks.
    Dmitry, Moscow
  • Walter from Antwerp, BelgiumThis song was first recorded and copyrighted in 1946 (not 1942). There were at least half a dozen versions before The Stones (or Chuck Berry) took this famous route, Perry Como, Louis Jordan, Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters among them.
  • Dian from Columbia, United StatesFirst of all, please remember how to spell the names of the stars, Martin Milner and George Maharis. I saw George Maharis recently at an outdoor cafe in West Hollywood. He must be in his late 70's and he still looks GOOD! IF ANY OF YOU LIVE IN LOS ANGELES OR NEW YORK YOU CAN VISIT THE MUSEUM OF TELEVISION AND RADIO AND FOR A SMALL FEE YOU CAN REQUEST EPISODES OF ROUTE 66. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN SYNDICATED BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE SHOW ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AFTER THE SERIES ENDED SO VERY LONG AGO. SOME OF MY HAPPY MEMORIES AND GROWING EXPERIENCES OCURRED BECAUSE OF THAT SERIES. I BEGAN TO QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THE SMALL-TOWN LIFE I WAS LEADING AND VENTURE FORTH INTO THE GREAT BIG WORLD.
    DIAN HILL MELZER
  • Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaDon't forget the TV show with Martin Milnar, George Mahris and a "cool" ' 62 Vette.
  • Dee from Indianapolis, InRoute 66 has been slowing making a come back over the last few years. I would like to travel what is left of it one of these days soon. You can't beat the back road adventure it has to offer. I have been blessed to travel some of it a few years ago, but want to see it all. Depeche Mode did a great cover of this tune, and is on the soundtrack for "Earth Girls are Easy".
  • Keith from Slc, UtUS Route 66 was abandoned after being replaced by the Interstate highways. The last stretch of Route 66 to be closed was at Williams, Arizona. The event was commemorated by a celebration at which Bobby Troupe sang the song. Most of the original Route 66 roadway was destroyed to give the land back to the original owners (mostly farms and ranches), courtesy of the environmentalists. Several long stretches of the original roadway still exist, some running miles in a perfectly straight line alongside Interstate 40 in northern Arizona, so you can still get your kicks. BTW, Julie London married Troupe after divorcing Jack Webb, years before she and Troupe starred on "Emergency!," which was produced by Jack Webb.
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