Various - Lost Highways: American Road Songs 1920s-1950s

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4...according to our Brett on Thu 23 Jul, 2009.

Lost Highways: American Road Songs 1920s-1950s is a compilation so this is going to be one of those listy reviews. Well known people on this release include Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, Nat 'King' Cole, Woody Guthrie, Big Joe Williams, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis 'and many more'. Stylistically it's all over the shop with blues ramming into boogie and country stamping on the face of rock 'n' roll but it's all in service of the great American road tune, be they tales of escapist freedom or the beaten down resignation of a life spent drifting from town to town. It's like a Wim Wenders film in musical form and it's pretty hawt.

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* This is a unique album of classic Blues, Rock&Roll, Country and Soul that’s been created over many miles and one you should maybe listen to whilst taking a ’road trip’ all of your own, preferably under wide open skies - or just listen at home and let the songs fuel and colour your own imaginary journey!

* Among the legends featured on this collection are JOHNNY CASH, ROBERT JOHNSON, JERRY LEE LEWIS, WOODY GUTHRIE, NAT ‘KING’ COLE, SISTER ROSETTA THARPE to name but a few...
* The Mythology that has built up around America’s epic road system is as broad as the continent itself. Until recently it was the only way for normal folk to travel, passing through small towns, past farmsteads, gas stations, staying in cheap motels and watching the vast landscape through the windshield.

* It’s the world of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and the place where the ’Road Movie’ and the ’Road Song’ were invented. The U.S. route map penetrates the American song book to the core - musicians touring by bus or car on the way to their next show ate up the road influencing their lives and material whether it be Country, Blues, Gospel, Soul or Rock n Roll.

* TRACK LISTING: 1) Clarence Garlow - Route 90 1953 2) Buddy and Bob - Down The Line Demo Circa 1955 3) Amos Milburn - Down The Road apiece 12th Sept 1946 4) Jazz Gillum - Key to the Highway 9th May 1940 5) Nat ’King’ Cole - Route 66 15th March 1946 6) Woody Guthrie - Going down the road feeling Bad 24th April 1944 7) Sister Rosetta Tharpe - The Lonesome Road 1938 8) Norridge Mayhams and The Blue Chips - Stay on the Right side of the Road 1936 9) Gatemouth Moore - Highway 61 1948 10) Robert Johnson - Crossroads Blues version 1 27th Nov 1936 11) Howlin’ Wolf - Driving This Highway Sept 1951 12) McKinney’s Cotton Pickers - Rocky Road 3rd Nov 1930 13) Ashley and Foster - Haunted road Blues 2nd Dec 1931 14) Johnny Cash - Wide Open Road Sun Demo Circa late 1954 15) Big Joe Williams - 49 Highway Blues 25th Feb 1935 16) Jimmy Reed - State Street Boogie 3rd April 1957 17) Hank Williams - I’ve been down that road before Radio Session Circa 1951 18) Jerry Lee Lewis - End of The Road 14th Nov 1956 19) Jack Kelly - Highway No 61 Blues 1st Aug 1933 20) The Soul Stirrers - The Last Mile of The Way 17 Aug 1955

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