Billy Bragg – A13 (Trunk Road To The Sea) (1983)

A wonderful Anglicisation and update of Bobby Troup’s all-time classic Route 66 (previously posted here by The Rolling Stones and here by Nat King Cole).

Finding the names of the towns along Route 66 a little hard to relate to, Billy brings the song closer to home and to his native Essex. In the days before Sat Navs, this was how everyone used to remember the different routes across the UK ….

Featuring one of the greatest opening lines in the history of popular music:

If you ever have to go to Shoeburyness

Take the A road, the okay road, that’s the best

Go motoring on the A13

Originally recorded as part of a John Peel Session in 1983, two versions for you. The original Peel version and then a fantastic live version from Germany in 1985 with Billy explaining to the assembled the background to what they are about to hear!

The Rolling Stones – Route 66 (1964)

Pretty much my favourite version of one of my all time favourite songs.

Originally written by Bobby Troup in 1946, it was first recorded by Nat King Cole in the same year (to see an earlier post and wonderful live footage of Nat King Cole’s take, check here).

Chuck Berry did a great version in 1961 but the Stones’ reading really is the killer with Keith Richards providing a wonderful performance on guitar.

The early discography of the Stones is a little confusing as they released different LPs in the USA and the UK. Route 66 was released as a single in January 1965 but first appeared on The Rolling Stones (the debut LP in the UK) and England’s Newest Hitmakers (the equivalent US release) in 1964.

The LP/single version …