Added: 4 years ago
From: thecatkeaton
Views: 276,887
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (228)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • so this is the real original! 1946 it was the year of composing and editing?

  • Looked it up on Wikipedia. Bobby wrote it in 1946 and Nat King Cole had the first recording, & yes, it is considered a jazz song, but everyone sings it. Many know that Bobby played Dr. Joe Early on Emergency & Julie London, his wife & a top female singer of the 50s played Dixie McCall, the head nurse But, if you've seen the movie, not the TV show, M*A*S*H, Bobby was the driver of the jeep that Hawkeye stole. He has the closing line in the movie, a reference to the G**D*** Army.

  • @jbpink I specifically saw the movie version of M*A*S*H. It is tragic that few people know how talented Mr. Troup really was.

  • Looked it up on Wikipedia. Bobby wrote it in 1946 and Nat King Cole had the first recording, & yes, it is considered a jazz song, but everyone sings it. Many know that Bobby played Dr. Joe Early on Emergency & Julie London, his wife & a top female singer of the 50s played Dixie McCall, the head nurse But, if you've seen the movie, not the TV show, M*A*S*H, Bobby was the jeep driver of the jeep that Hawkeye stole. He has the closing line in the movie, a reference to the G**D*** Army.

  • At the opener, thats his wife Julie London, she played with him on the show "Emergency!" back in the 70's..I never knew he sang or was a jazz pianist!

  • Waitamunute waitaminute waitaminute, this rock & roll classic is actually a jazz song? I'm amazed! IMDb lists it as a 1946 Nat King Cole hit, but written by Bobby Troup (here)

    I'd like to hear the original recorded version, though I haven't been able to find it

  • The Cheetah Girls awesome? They butchered this song!

  • This isn't the best version of this song in my opinion, but there wouldn't be better versions if Bobby didn't write this song.

    The Cheetah Girls and Brian Setzer were both awesome, and Nat King Cole set the standard.

  • Comment removed

  • thought so that Dennis Budimer!

  • who are the band members? who's on guitar?

  • Man!! That's one sweet ALTEC microphone. Definitely did the job on this vocal.

  • Folks, this has to be one of the all time most covered songs in history. Anybody know how many covers there were?

    Bobby wrote and there were more talented people that sang it, but you have to love the original. I listened to this version every day on Armed Forces Radio Viet Nam and I never got tired of it. Besides, Julie London was a major babe back in the day.

  • i still like the stones version its on there first album

  • Lot's of versions, i prefer this one. Reminds me of Me and Bobby Magee. Everyone loves janis joplin's version, I prefer to hear it from it's author, Kris Kristopherson. I know I spelled that wrong, sorry. My connection to route 66 is a video i posted (SEE: route 66 festival with martin milner) that also includes lots of classic cars and a brief interview with Michael Wallis, who coined the phrase Mother Road. This song made me smile. thank you.

  • @RQVOutdoorMoovies Hi, I'm not sure what you meant by "I prefer to hear it from it's author, Kris Kristopherson." Bobby was the one that wrote this chart, you know that, right?

  • @bradhayashi I was refering to the song ME AND BOBBY MAGEE, as an example. Bobby Troup's version stands out because it is from the heart, it will always be THE theme song for that iconic stretch of road.

  • the rolligstones made this song rock but thanks for writing it bobby

  • @815robbie The Rolling Stones...are you kidding?

  • I DIG IT!!

  • He wrote the song MUCH better that he sang it.  A GREAT job of writing it.

  • Ok, I have to say this: NAT KING COLE'S WAS 100x BETTER!!!!

  • @bloodwolf729 Bobby Troup wrote this, and I think Depeche Modes version is the best.. I know Bobby Troup from watching Emergency! starring him and his wife Julie London as Dixie-and She was married to Jack Webb before who is the producer of Emergency! Sorry for the tangents but thats how I roll

  • @CocacolaCowboy1919 Well I have nothing against him, on the countrary, im glad he wrote it. I just like Nat's version better.

  • I know he's primarily known as a composer but he's not bad as a singer, I'll admit (and let's face it, he did make "beautiful music" with songbird Julie London) ;-D

  • Waaaay Cooool!

  • GREAT BEATNIK MUSIC FOR SURE!!!!!

  • Dr Joe Early from EMERGENCY=BOBBY TROUP!!!!!!

  • This guy was married to Julie London after she divorced Jack Webb. Julie & Bobby also appeared on the 70's TV series Emergency. Jack Webb was the director & producer.He got the job because Jack wanted to make sure that his kids (Jack's) had a roof over their head.

  • Your face when you realise this is Ren and Stimpy background music.

  • Very nice piano player and band !...

  • Dr. Joe Early from Emergency!

    Pretty talented guy who wrote many popular songs in his day. Supposedly, he was ticked off that they didn't use this song for the 60's TV show Route 66. Instead Nelson Riddle wrote that theme, which also became a classic. Amazing that two totally different great songs would share the same title.

  • Nice rendition by Bobby Troup,light and airy!

  • @CB48197 Bobby Troup wrote this song.....

  • This is really smooth. I like the change ups in this version. One of the most covered songs in history and pure America.

  • At the time many people got cars. This is a cool version with the man who made it. allthough I like the Stones version better, this version probably more the trend of driving a car in the late forties. The onther one is just a real good rock version.

  • I want to get my kicks in Pattaya, Thailand.

  • I prefer the Rolling Stones version

  • Swell.

  • the absolute ORIGINAL by the composer. also a god actor.

  • my class had to sing this song for Grandparents day

  • He wrote this in early 1946 and Nat Cole was the first to record it -- in March of 1946 on the Capitol Records label.

  • Thanks for posting!  This is Bobby's song- ignorance is so narrow minded!

  • Sweet looking Yamaha.

  • Who COULDN'T like this Vid???? dumbass

  • Wow, I didn’t know Bobby Troup wrote and sang Route 66. I have got to share this with my homeboys in the hood.

  • @whaledog77 Original version by NAT KING COLE in 1946

  • 10 people never got their kicks on Route 66

  • So funny, but my into to both Bobby Troup and Julie London was when they starred in the early 70's show "Emergency". Julie was "Nurse Dix" and Bobby played a Dr. in the ER. I was about 10 and loved the show and my mother told me who they were which meant nothing at the time. Love em both!

  • nice. i like it even though im only 14. You never hear this type of music on the radio these days. Its always stupid things like the song G6 or watever

  • @paramedicEmergency51 you have great taste. age has nothing to do with it. great username too. kmg365

  • A style that will never come back. Ya gotta go down to Memphis for this

  • pali koultouromalakies akous re nantia??? :p

  • Who would friggin' hit dislike on this?

    Obviously, there are at least ten azzhats walking among us.

  • if WMG or any of those ******* will take that off ill kill them with no mercy !

  • love the song, Bobby and Julie were not only Great singers they were a great pair of actors.R>I>P BT/JL

  • Great, joyful song. Many terrific versions of it are out there, but I love hearing it from the guy that wrote it.

  • What a Smashing Rendition...i want to be that cool!!

  • Nat, Natalie, Linda Ronstadt, Chuck and others do fine versions of this song. To say one is "better" than another is nothing more than an opinion, and that's fine!

    For those that like to analyze chord structures and so forth, spend some time with "Lush Life" and get back to us... Sheesh.....

  • @loocee95

    No offence and with all due respect, I enjoy most all renditions of this song, especially by the performers you mention, but it is Bobby Troup's song after all. The rest are just covering a great tune, albeit they do cover it well.

  • @dochaynes123 Absolutely agree 100 percent. My reply was to the guy who was analyzing the tune and didn't like because this that and the other thing from a technical pov which is why I mentioned Lush Life. My point is, Bobby wrote the tune, it's great and so are other versions for different reasons. IOW I'm agreeing with you, even though it didn't come across that way :)

  • Comment removed

  • Bobby's cool but ya gotta love Nat's version too!

    youtube(.)com/watch?v=dCYApJts­yd0

  • the Brian Setzer Orchestra did a jazzy version of this on their first album but more jazz guitar based

  • I think he does the Nat Cole piano better than Nat!!!

    (Well almost)!

    Nurse Dixie!!!

    Stat!

    Great talent....BTW look for Snootie Little Cutie...his best...

  • sweetness!!

  • This version is super cool... I really like. I will say Chuck Berry's version was the most important, because the Rolling Stones covered a lot of Chuck Berry songs and one of them was Route 66!!

  • Paging Dr. Joe Early!

  • Here's the guy who wrote it ... one of the most popular songs out there... every band has their version of "Route 66" -- and the thanks goes to Bobby Troup.

  • I agree with you about Troup vs. Cole versions. But The Rolling Stones' version rips them both to shreds.

    If you listen to Troup's and Cole's renditions, you may hear some tinkling of chords that are used by Nelson Riddle in theme song for TV show of same title, "Route 66," which starred Martin Milner & George Maharis.

    Reportedly, the rights to Cole's version were too expensive, so Nelson came up with original, using same title, which may not be copyrighted due to artistic license.

  • Bobby T, You is da Shizzit!

  • Nice guitar work!

  • A great musician and a surprisingly great singer too.

  • nice

  • I dig this Mutha!

  • Thing of beauty.

  • just a lounge man

  • What more can one ask for!

  • A great song can have many lives and can end up in unexpected places. From Troup to Cole to Berry to the Stones...each version is spectacular.

  • @hassledguy you said it man, covers suck ,but when you own it, it's yours :)

  • I think Troup and Cole's versions are very boring! Somebody had to make this song better, Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones did that.

  • @dwiganstube You just don't "get it". How sad... and then you show your ignorance of music and "what it's all about" with with your lame and silly post. To compare Nat King Cole with Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones is like comparing Einstein to a couple of single cell organisms.

  • @DrumTchr Well I think it's pretty "lame and silly" when someone accuses someone else of being musically ignorant just because they don't share the same opinions on music as you do and that is exactly what it is an OPINION!

    I hate rap but when someone that likes rap doesn't share the same views on the type of music I like I don't tell them their comment is lame and silly I tell them that is their opinion.

    Don't start crying on me now!

  • @dwiganstube Feel better now? I agree with you about rap actually. "There is no accounting for taste" as Frank Zappa said.

    Hey, it's no problem... I'll listen to Nat King Cole and you listen to Chuck Berry. But when it comes to actual knowledge of music, creativity, chops (technical ability), and sophistication,,, Chuck Berry couldn't shine Nat King Cole's shoes much less be musically compared to him. That's just the way it is. Sorry. But enjoy the music that you enjoy. That's Cool.

  • @DrumTchr so what if he showed his ignorance of music? Are you claiming to be a genius? We're all ignorant in some ways, I don't see what the big deal is. If someone is open about their ignorance I think that's a good thing

  • @csplendrig Sure sounds like you are bored. Replying to a post I made 4 months ago. Don't you have some "power chords" to work on with your Flying V? But actually you are right. Much of being smart is realizing your areas of ignorance.

  • @DrumTchr hey Drumtchr... yeah I was kind of bored, sorry if my reply bothered you was just killing time. Hope everything is going okay with you

  • @dwiganstube have to agree with you there

  • Strictly from coolsville! How nifty to hear the song sung by the fella who wrote it! And dig that crazy crew cut! And this hep cat sure plays a mean piano! THANKS so much for sharing this delightful "blast from the past" for us to enjoy! Jazz at it's best! CHEERS!  :)

  • Awesome - completely awesome!!!

  • Everyone's gettin' in on the act now. First of all, it's a Brian Setzer song, then nat King Cole covers it. Now wahddya know this new guy Bobby troup copies 'em! Sheesh!

    Tongue firmly in cheek! What a guy to write such aunique song!

    Mikey xx

  • This is the best version of this song. Naturally, Mr. Troup knew how his song should be played. He wanted Nat Cole to do it, which he did, second best. But nobody played it like Bobby.

  • Asleep at the Wheel does a rocking version of this song, which is great, but Bobby does the definitive version.

  • Bravoooooo....

  • is that dennis budimer on guitar? can anyone pls identify band members, thanks

  • In addition to having written this song, he married Julie London, a beautiful singer and actress in her own right. (Her previous husband was Jack Webb!)

  • I kept waiting for him to advise Squad 51 to start an I.V. with D5W!

  • I like that... What more can i say? Really a kind of songs making our lifes better.

  • 1st listen to Bobby. I likey a lot.

  • @zztothegg222 You do have some people, not known, who do play along this line. Even some known, like Brian Setzer. Good voice and great guitar work too.

    The cool jazz stuff is still played too. Check out Alex Skolnick Trio. He is a rock guitarist having worked with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but plays cool jazz like this too.

    As for rap, it's stupid cause it isn't music. Period. Just a gimmick that goes on and on and on.

  • Thanks for sharing this wonderful video.

  • i like this song i am singing it in my middle school choir:)

  • Wow....sooo nice to see the originator doing his own version of this timeless track.

    Get hip..........

  • Despite all the other versions, the original is the best. Check the 1956 version by the said Bobby Troup, the first and the best., listen to the scat,brilliant.

  • I second that.

  • 1sixgun1 - exactly right... you got it....

  • Excellent! He clearly understands the true "beat" spirit, which is a mix of "cool" and "detachment". Very, very nice.

  • Comment removed

  • Comment removed

  • This road built Albuquerque, before the construction of rt 66, the entire population of the state of New Mexico was less then 10,000.... By 1955 albuquerque's population grew to 100,000+

  • Jack Webb was the producer of "Emergency", and Julie was his ex-wife. Pretty decent of Webb to give them both staring roles in the T.V. show.

  • @citywide44 A talented trifecta, if ever there was one.

  • He not only wrote this song, he played "Dr. Joe Early" on the TV show "Emergency!". His real-life wife Julie London (a noted torch song singer in her own right) played "Nurse Dixie McCall" on the same show.

  • USA, the most beautiful country in the world!

    Get Your Kicks On Route 66

    The Star Spangled Banner

    Stars and Stripes

    Oh, say can you see.........

    Barack Obama

    I from switzerland

  • Lucky you, I'm quite jealous. Agree 1000% with you about their talent and class.

  • My family met and became friends with Julie and Bobby back in 1961. Bobby was the coolest, sweetest man. I spent some time at their home in Encino. What a great and talented couple. May they both rest in peace.

  • @candirob1 There's seemed like such a true love story. Didn't they die within months of each other also?

  • They died a year apart, with Bobby going first. Yes I believe it was a true love story.

  • My mom became friends with Bobby in the mid 1960s. I was playing jazz guitar and had my 16th birthday at the China Trader. Bobby was the quintessential "cool" lounge act. Never took himself too seriously, always a twinkle in his eye, and irony in his delivery. Plus, he surrounded himself with great musicians. Are you in touch with anyone in the family?

  • That's very cool. Bobby was always one of my favorite people. Such a sweet sweet man, and being a kid at the time, was just the best. I brought along a friend to see them in NYC at the old Americana Hotel and Julie was sleeping but Bobby treated my friend like someone he's always known. A real sweetheart. I'm not in touch with anyone, but am attempting to get in touch with Lisa. The twins were very small when I was at their house, and unfortunately Kelly passed away.

  • Let me know if you succeed in making contact. It would be fun to be able to talk over old times.

  • I live in NYC, are you in Cali?

  • Yes, I live in LA. Aside from my "day job", I play bass in a trio. We play "Route 66" and it would be fun to do "Girl Talk", if weren't so outrageously sexist!

  • Where do you play? My brother lives in LA and was also friendly with Bobby and Julie.  Maybe he can come by and listen. My son had played Route 66 in his jazz band back in HS (he played flute) and when he heard I actually knew the composer, he was very excited.

  • How can we shift our conversation off of YouTube, so that it is private?

  • Cool!

  • great

  • What a great voice -- by the man who wrote the song... he was really cool. Also, from this same show, check out Julie London and her version of "Deed I Do"... another very cool singer...

  • always loved this song.

    stones is my fav...

    but got to say...

    thanks for the tune bobby!

    dig your first version too!

  • jajaja pappo ladron? nada que ver! esta es la cancion con mas covers en el mundo

  • pappo ladron !!!!!!!!!!!

  • It's so wierd watching Dr. Early singing and playing the piano when he had dark hair.

  • Wow! The late great Mr Troup was not only a fine songwriter and musician, but not a bad vocalist either! And his stint on the 70's TV show "Emergency!" showed that he could even act too! And dig his crazy crew cut here! Way out, daddy-o! Many thanks for sharing this little known gem with us! :)

  • damn... that's, smooooooooooooooooth...

  • Love this.. this is from his Japan concert 64, with his gorgeous torch song singer wife.. Julie London. Pure magic.

  • If I ever drive it, and I hpe I do, this is how I would like it to be, layed back, sunset, relaxed and interesting. . The world thanks you Bobby. x

  • Check out both the Beach Boys and the Four Freshmen doing another Bobby Troup effort: Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring.

  • The composer knows best how it should be sung /played in terms of tempo and feel.......lovely, lovely man Bobby Troup. Of course Nat knew exactly what the composer had in mind too!

  • Bobby was from Lancaster, PA!

  • this guy wrote it.. check out the best ever version - Nat Cole's..

    Mikey xx

  • the best version on youtube - by the man who wrote it... very cool.

  • To my ears, still the most laidback and coolest version of this immortal classic. Although a jazzer to boot, Bobby also wrote "The Girl Can't Help It" for Little Richard.

    Feel free to drop by my jazz blog, recently praised by the great Marc Myers of JazzWax -- for link see my profile.

    Get your kicks ;-)

    Brewster

  • soooooo coooool. thank you!

  • scatmans version is better

  • I have a scatman record...a tops issue with a classic shot of him close with a mic...Ghost Riders In The Sky is on it...and well, the whole album is great!

  • Troup wrote it I think.

  • He did. What an talent.

  • i agree - scatman john has a very cool version of this classic -- check it out.

  • Woe, I love his music and voice but sadly have never heard of him but I loved his wife Julie London.

  • They both starred on the 70's TV show EMERGENCY! (Bobby Troupe played a doctor, Julie London a nurse). He wrote the similar sounding theme song for THAT DARN CAT!

  • Hell of a pianist. Not so much of a singer. Good guy, though. Maybe I just don't get it.

  • the dude wrote it!

    Mikey Setzer

    xx

  • I Love This Old Song :D

  • Yeah back to an era where musicians had CHOPS and could read music. Actually play! I played some stuff like this at work on a CD one time in the break room and some of my fellow employees response was "What's this shit!!" Back to rap for them that is if you can call rap music music, what an insult

  • wherever you work, i feel for you

  • yeah, man. i am with you. CHOPS. do you think anyone knows what that means anymore, save for jazz hounds. very cool.

  • Yeah the original is still the best!

    get your kick's on route 66 hmmmm even today it just stil might work out somehow route 66!

  • here is one of the "coolest" performers of all time -- not the greatest ... the "coolest"... he is so cool. great voice and very nice, tasty piano playing... plus excellent back-up. One of my favorite tunes and performers of all time...

  • Check out Holly Cole sing the "Train Song"

  • I absolutely LOVE Bobby Troup and always reccomend him to my friends.

  • littleb23: last night I was remembering all the times I would go with my mom to see your grandad play at the China Trader. John Collins played guitar. The bass player's first name was "Whitey". Bobby was always funny and cool. My mom was friends with him and Julie. One night he was at our table and asked if I knew the group, The Rolling Stones. He thought it was interesting that they wanted to do Route 66. It ended up on the flip side of "Satisfaction"!

  • I went to China Trader in Toluca Lake, with Lisa (Julie's daughter) to watch Bobby sing. He dedicated a song to her.

    That was in 68 I believe.

  • Candi: that was such a great time. John Collins played beautiful guitar behind Bobby. I can't remember the name of the bass player, except that it sounded funny at the time... How did your folks know the Troup family?

  • We belonged to the Malibu Beach Club in NY and Julie was performing there. Bobby asked if we had an extra swimsuit to borrow, and the families became friends. I remained friends with Lisa (Lisa and Stacey were with them during this time) and she stayed at my home in NY and then I stayed at theirs in Encino. My mom travelled with Julie to some shows and took sick, passing away soon after.