On this day in 1961, Ray Charles started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “Hit The Road Jack.” The song won a Grammy award as the Best Rhythm and Blues recording. If you haven’t watched “Ray” with Jamie Foxx, do yourself a favor and watch it. It ranks up there with Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” as among the best portrayals of a musician in a film. Quincy Jones, a lifelong friend of Ray Charles, commented upon screening the film that he forgot he wasn’t watching his friend Ray in the movie.
Ray’s song is among the inspiration for this Road playlist, “ROAD To Nowhere.”
John Lennon, born on this day in 1940, appears on the playlist as a Beatle with “The Long And Winding Road”, and solo with “Old Dirt Road”, a pretty song which I had never heard before researching this list. Also born on this day in 1948, Jackson Browne, appears with “The Road.” The set includes one of my all-time favorite harmony songs, the Eagles live performance of “Seven Bridges Road.”
You might notice this word-themed playlist includes a song, The Eagles “Take It Easy” that does not contain the word road in its title. I have decided to include the occasional song that so prominently features a word in its lyrics yet not in its title in my word-themed playlists from time to time, as I believe they belong and contribute to the overall theme. As this classic song lyric echos:
Well, I’m running down the road
Tryin’ to loosen my load
I’ve got seven women on my mind
Four that wanna own me
Two that wanna stone me
One says she’s a friend of mine
Take it easy
Take it easy
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels
Drive you crazy
Future planned playlists in a similar vein include:
“Rockin’ Down The Highway” – Highway, Boulevard & Avenue Songs
“Takin’ It To The STREETS” – Street Songs
“Further On Up The ROAD” – Compilation of Road, Street, Highway, Boulevard & Avenue Songs
They’re equally great. Stay tuned. You won’t want to miss them!
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment
Enjoy the moment
Love the moment
Listen to the MUSIC!