Nelson Riddle: "Route 66 Theme" (1962)

O.K., this is the first of what will likely be many songs that were not only great, but also T.V. or movie themes. Monahan's Songs has been looking at tapping that musical vein for some time, so here we go. This is the story of "Route 66".

Nelson Riddle (Nelson Smock Riddle Jr.), was born in Oradell, New Jersey,  a state that has boasted an incredible number of musical legends.  He was a legendary orchestral and band music arranger who's early credits include "Mona Lisa", sung by Nat "King" Cole, and was perhaps Nat's most famous hit.
 
Riddle got a reluctant chance to arrange an album in 1953 for Frank Sinatra who was not happy to shift from his favorite music formulas. The resultant album, "I've Got the World on a String," (a $1.29 download on Amazon?) was a big success and brought Sinatra into a whole new era recognition.

His motion picture accomplishments  included “The Young at Heart”, “High Society”, “Pal Joey”, “Paint Your Wagon”, “The Tender Trap”, “Can-Can”, and “The Great Gatsby” (Riddle received an Academy Award for that one).

Millions also know him for his amazing television themes including, “The Untouchables”, “Naked City” and “Route 66”, the first TV theme to become a chart-topper!

A brief background on the show, direct from Wikipedia:

Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America in a Chevrolet Corvette sports car.^[1] The show ran weekly on Fridays on CBS from October 7, 1960 to March 20, 1964. It starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and, for the first two and a half seasons, George Maharis as Buz Murdock. Maharis was ill for much of the third season, during which time Tod was shown traveling on his own. Tod met Lincoln Case, played by Glenn Corbett, late in the third season, and traveled with him until the end of the fourth and final season. The series currently airs on Me-TV, My Family TV and RTV.
Among the series more notable aspects were the featured Corvette convertible, and the program's instrumental theme song (composed and performed by Nelson Riddle), which became a major pop hit.
Bobby Troup composed a GEM when he created "(Get Your Kicks) on Route 66. This song may be one of the most covered songs ever and the lyrics make us want to feature this song on it's own someday. The lyrics are worth a read:
 Well if you ever plan to motor west
Just take my way that's the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2000 miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66 A great song, but the label (or Bobby) wanted more than the producers of Route 66 the TV show, were willing to pay. Good thing, or "Route 66" may never have been written. They approached Nelson Riddle and he composed a clear homage to Troupes tune, yet a uniquely original and catchy instrumental. The arrangement just sounds like movement!

While the show was a brilliantly written drama, critics credit Riddle's theme song and breezy episode arrangements as a big part of the shows allure.

On a final note, Nelson Riddle may have found his greatest recognition via Linda Ronstadt. They recorded three albums of old pop music the label's producers thought would bomb. The albums sold over seven million copies combined and Riddle was rocketed to fame again just before his death.

Please enjoy. There is something eternally hip about this song...Oh, and maybe we should throw in "(Get Your Kicks) on Route 66" as well!








Nelson Riddle