Kings of the Road: From Ramblin' Jack to Kerouac

Get your key to the highway… this American Routes looks at “the road” as destination, inspiration and home away from home in blues, country, jazz and more. Folkie and fellow traveler Ramblin’ Jack Elliot recalls the allure of the road in music and life. Plus, historian and author Douglas Brinkley joins us to speak on travel as muse for beat author Jack Kerouac and others.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: 912 Greens Ramblin Jack Elliott
Me & Bobby McGee, Rounder

King of the Road James Booker
Classified, Rounder

I've Got a Mind to Ramble Alberta Hunter
Amtrak Blues, Columbia

Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train Louis Armstrong
The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, BMG

Railroadin' Some Henry 'Ragtime Texas' Thomas
Night Train: Classic Railroad Songs, Volume 3, Rounder

Train Whistle Blues Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family

Travelin in My Shoes Cindy Walker
Country Girl: The Complete Transcription Recordings of Cindy Walker, Vol.2, Soundies

Instrumental: A Mansion On The Hill Original Drifting Cowboy Band
Hank Williams Instrumentals, Landmark

(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle Hank Williams
The Complete Hank Williams, Mercury

Blue Train Johnny Cash
The Man in Black: 1954 - 1958, Bear Family

Wayside / Back In Time Gillian Welch
Soul Journey, Acony

SEGMENT: Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Instrumental: Bound For Canaan (Sieber & Davis) Ry Cooder
Music By Ry Cooder, Warner Bros

Ramblin' Fever Merle Haggard
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Merle Haggard, MCA

Six Days on the Road The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Definitive Collection, Hip-O

All I Want Joni Mitchell
Blue, Reprise

Wagon Wheel Old Crow Medicine Show
O.C.M.S., Nettwerk

Boxcar Neil Young
Chrome Dreams II, Reprise

End Bed: King of the Road Wes Montgomery
Ultimate Wes Montgomery, Verve

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Travelin' (Breakdown Take) Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Smith
Blue Bash!, Blue Note

Packin' Up Marion Williams
Born To Sing The Gospel, Shanachie

Hard Road to Travel Jimmy Cliff
Anthology, Hip-O

Travelin Man Stevie Wonder
Greatest Hits, Vol.2, Motown

Travelin' Blues T-Bone Walker
The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954, EMI

Roamin-itis Eddie Bo
Check Mr. Popeye, Rounder

Como un Errante (Like a Wanderer) Freddie Fender
Canciones de Mi Barrio: The Roots of Tejano Rock, Arhoolie

Instrumental: In Shades Tom Waits
Heartattack And Vine, Elektra

History of Bop Jack Kerouac
Readings By Jack Kerouac On the Beat Generation, Verve

Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop Lionel Hampton

Salt Peanuts Dizzy Gillespie

SEGMENT: Douglas Brinkley

Matchbox Sonny Burgess & Bobby Crafford and The Pacers
The Razorback Rock and Roll Tapes, Collector/IODA

Flight 505 The Rolling Stones
Aftermath, ABKCO

Instrumental: 501 Boogie Professor Longhair
Rum and Coke, Tomato

Key to the Highway Rockin' Dopsie, Jr.
Rockin' Zydeco Party, Mardi Gras

Another Travelin' Song Bright Eyes
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Saddle Creek

This Land is Your Land Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Naturally, Daptone

End Bed: Travelin' Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Smith
Blue Bash!, Blue Note