[Nachum]

Love it.
Route 66

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZ1k4d02KA

[AlexW]

It was a great theme song...I remember it well, from my teen years.

[Conservative4Ever]

Great show and great theme song. Still sounds good after all these years.

[dfwgator]

I like the Depeche Mode version...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqrKxBhKdFM

[bigbob]

Ironically, I just listened to the other “Route 66” by Asleep at the Wheel not 15 seconds before coming to this thread ;-)

And having just read Linda Ronstadt’s book “Simple Dreams”, where she speaks powerfully of her admiration for Nelson Riddle, I’ve listened to the Route 66 Theme a half dozen times in the last week. It’s one I can listen to all day and never get tired of, just a terrific piece of music from one of the most talented arrangers and composers of our time.

[Mortrey]

JEEZE!!!!

I LOVE that piece of music! Makes me wish I could play piano.

Thanks for posting this!

[dadfly]

striking use of stings. great arrangement.

[dfwgator]

Oh, I had assumed it was the Bobby Troupe “Route 66.” My Bad.

[greene66]

I have the complete tv-series on dvd. Filmed on-location all across America, circa 1960-64. One of my all-time favorites. Great scripts, tons of great guest-stars. Incredible americana.

[Steely Tom]

Here's a nice tribute video for Route 66. I've watched it many times. Contains an excellent recording of the theme song, along with representative footage from the series.

Including the final scene, in which Martin Milner is set to marry Jeannie!

[okie01]

Nelson Riddle did not write Route 66 -- though he did arrange and conduct the theme version for the TV show.

Music and lyrics are credited to jazz drummer Bobby Troup (1946) -- also known as the Julie London's husband.

Route 66 is one timeless composition that deserves a place on the list of All-time Top 100 American Songs.

[DemforBush]

“The program starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles...”

IMHO, Martin Milner is one of the more underrated actors of his era. He was excellent in both Route 66 and Adam-12, but he was also quite good in his early movie career. He turned in very solid performances in Sweet Smell of Success and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, among others. Very talented guy.

[Bobalu]

Peter Gunn Theme - From "The Blues Brothers" soundtrack - youtube

[fieldmarshaldj]

I caught the show in reruns as a teenager in the late ‘80s when it was on Nick at Nite. Haven’t seen it anywhere else since.

[Sparky1776]

Route 66, Naked City, Emergency can be seen on MeTV these days.

http://metvnetwork.com/wheretowatch

[ken5050]

GReat thread..thanks..especially since I can't sleep...LOL

Here's another oldie but goodie...great instrumental.. "Telstar"...The Tornados

[ken5050]

Here's another great old TV theme..by Henry Mancini.... Peter Gunn

[Joe Boucher]

three summers ago my family left South Florida.
Drove the R.V. to Chicago’s Art Museum where across the street is the start to Route 66.
We drove the “Mother Road”, all the way to the end, The Santa Monica Pier where I use to hang out as a kid.
Most wonderful time was had by all.

[CharlesOConnell]

Nelson Riddle’ s Route 66 has enough harmonic similarity with the version recorded by Nat King Cole, written by Bobby Troup, I hear them together.

This type of thing was done as a musical joke, in the Quodlibet, Goldberg Variation 30, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldberg_Variations#Variatio_30._a_1_Clav._Quodlibet .

[driftless2]

I liked Route 66 when I was a kid, but I laughed hysterically when I read the Mad Magazine satire that ensued. (I wish I had all my old Mad magazines.) In the satire, the main characters were depicted as busybodies who interjected themselves without invitation into the lives of average people often screwing things up worse for the people they were trying to help.

And although I like the show's theme, the original song (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 by Bobby Troup shortly after WWII and sung by countless singers since was better. Especially Nat King Cole's version.