YouTube Gold: Route 66

Still one of the hippest American songs ever written.

In 1946, a married couple was heading West. The husband had dreams of being a songwriter and thought he might write a ditty about US 40. His wife fortunately suggested that he write a song called “Get Your Kicks On Route 66.”

Bobby Troupe’s song ended up becoming a Nat King Cole Classic. Later, Chuck Berry recorded it. After that, The Rolling Stones did a great version.

Over the years, many people have covered it, including Ray Charles, Bing Crosby, Depeche Mode believe it or not, Argentinian singer Pappo (Rutta 66) and perhaps most recently, John Mayer covered it for the Pixar classic Cars, thus ensuring that young boys will be singing it for decades to come.

A fun little ditty about driving down Route 66, which was America’s main highway west before the Interstate system was built, the song touches on several cities along the way, starting in Chicago and going through St. Louis, Joplin, Missouri, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona, Winona, Kingman, Barstow and San Bernardino.

Starting as a jazz classic, the song has moved into rock and roll and far outlived the highway’s heyday and doesn’t appear to be losing steam. So fire it up for your next road trip!