The song has become a standard and has been recorded by numerous artists: • In 1964,
the Rolling Stones included a version on their
self-titled debut album. In a song review, critic
Richie Unterberger called it "the most famous rock version of the song... one of the best songs on the Rolling Stones' debut album, and one of their most popular in-concert numbers on their early tours". In 1965, a live version was included on the U.K.
EP Got Live If You Want It! and in the U.S. on their fifth
LP ''
December's Children (And Everybody's). It also earned the group a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group and was included on the soundtrack album for the film Sharky's Machine'' (1981). •
Billy Bragg recorded an anglicised version of the song titled "A13 (Trunk Road to the Sea)" for a
John Peel session in 1985. It uses the original music, but the landmark cities are replaced with English towns along the route of the
A13, with Bragg inviting listeners to "Go motoring, on the A-thirteen". According to Bragg, he wrote the lyrics while playing with his band Riff Raff in 1977: while the band played "Route 66" as part of their set, Bragg "objected to singing about these places that (he) didn't know... there's a tradition of driving down the A13 to the glory of Southend. Growing up in Barking, that was the promised land, in quite a Springsteenish way". The song was originally meant to be released on Bragg's 1983 debut album, ''
Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy; however, it was ultimately not included due to problems getting permission to use the music of "Route 66". It was finally released commercially on the bonus disc of the 2003 compilation Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg''. • A version by
Depeche Mode in a medley with "
Behind the Wheel" reached number 61 on the
Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in May 1988. •
Michael Martin Murphey recorded the song for his 1989 album
Land of Enchantment. Released as a single in 1990, it peaked at number 67 on the
Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. • Cole's daughter Natalie also recorded the song on the tribute album to her father
Unforgettable … with Love which was released in 1991. • The 2006
Disney/
Pixar animated film
Cars includes renditions by
Chuck Berry and
John Mayer. Mayer's version was nominated for a Grammy award for
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. ==See also==