# Get Your Kicks on Route 66 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134 "2005-06-06T14:54:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/1 "2005-06-06T14:54:02Z")
I have CD’s with at least three different versions of Route 66, all in different styles, all of which I like. First, [there’s the version by _Manhattan Transfer_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000336G/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/102-8007223-6676903?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples); laid back tempo, cool jazz piano, great bass line and their trademark harmony. Then, [there’s _Nat King Cole_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002TRT/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/102-8007223-6676903?v=glance&s=music&n=507846&vi=samples): piano and bass, a nice jazz guitar solo and Nat’s ultra cool voice. But [my favorite is by \*Asleep At The Wheel](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000257Q8/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/102-8007223-6676903?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples)\*; big, brash boogi-woogie piano and brass section, with a western swing twang with Big Ray & Co (sorry, no online sample, but it was the one used in a motel commercial recently). What is your favorite version of this icon of hip? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/2 "2005-06-06T15:07:33Z")
I’ll always be partial to the Stones’ version on their (US) album _December’s Children_ – partly because it’s the first one I heard, and partly because it gives a good feel for the energy of the band and their audience circa 1965 – and for the Stones’ deep love and respect for American music and geography. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/3 "2005-06-06T15:20:27Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’ll always be partial to the Stones’ version on their (US) album _December’s Children_ Ooh, I forgot about that one, nice call.[There’s a sample of it on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003BDV/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/102-8007223-6676903?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples). ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/4 "2005-06-06T16:09:13Z")
Depeche Mode. I generally hate ‘depresso-rock’ but that version kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/5 "2005-06-06T16:40:59Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Depeche Mode. I generally hate ‘depresso-rock’ but that version kicks ass. Nice one, got that driving down the desert highway beat. [Sample on Amazon.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002M2O/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/102-8007223-6676903?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/6 "2005-06-06T16:50:40Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Depeche Mode. I generally hate ‘depresso-rock’ but that version kicks ass. I also like the “beatmasters remix” of Depeche Mode’s version. Good dance version. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/7 "2005-06-06T16:53:36Z")
**Stones**. It was the first version I heard, and since I saw the Stones in San Bernardino way back when, it just seems…proper. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/8 "2005-06-06T17:00:57Z")
I saw **The Plimsouls** play a badass cover of it live in 1981. I don’t think it’s available on any of their recordings. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/9 "2005-06-06T17:01:23Z")
Funny thing about that Stones version: isn’t Jagger singing “Moscow” instead of “Barstow”? ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/10 "2005-06-06T17:05:22Z")
Many people know this, but “Route 66” was written by the guy who played Dr. Joe Early on the old “Emergency!” TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/11 "2005-06-06T17:09:03Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > Many people know this, but “Route 66” was written by the guy who played Dr. Joe Early on the old “Emergency!” TV show. [That would be the seminal Bobby Troup version.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000181G/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/102-8007223-6676903?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/12 "2005-06-06T17:20:10Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’ll always be partial to the Stones’ version on their (US) album _December’s Children_ – partly because it’s the first one I heard, and partly because it gives a good feel for the energy of the band and their audience circa 1965 – and for the Stones’ deep love and respect for American music and geography. Triva: the Stones’ version is regarded to have been the very first FM broadcast on the BBC. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/13 "2005-06-06T17:31:12Z")
[Nelson Riddle’s](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002TZM/qid=1118079621/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-2249017-3180160?v=glance&s=music) cool version, as found on the very listenable _Ultra Lounge_ series. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/14 "2005-06-06T18:09:19Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > [Nelson Riddle’s](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002TZM/qid=1118079621/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-2249017-3180160?v=glance&s=music) cool version, as found on the very listenable _Ultra Lounge_ series. Actually, that is not a version of Bobby Troups’s _Route 66_, but an original theme Nelson Riddle wrote for the [TV series, _Route 66_](http://www.tvtome.com/Route66/), which aired from 1960-64. Very cool, though. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-your-kicks-on-route-66/307134/15 "2005-06-06T18:17:43Z")
I like \*\*Chuck Berry’s \*\* version.