"The Lonesome Road" is a 1927 song with music by Nathaniel Shilkret and lyrics by Gene Austin, alternately titled "Lonesome Road", "Look Down that Lonesome Road" and "Lonesome Road Blues." It was written in the style of an African Americanfolk song.
The lyricist and composer were both extremely popular recording artists. Gene Austin estimated he sold 80 million records, and Nathaniel Shilkret's son estimated his father sold 50 million records. Joel Whitburn lists recordings by Austin, Bing Crosby, Ted Lewis, and Shilkret (see list of recordings below) as being "charted" at Numbers 10, 12, 3 and 10, respectively.[1]
There are no reliable sales figures that can be used to verify or dispute any of the estimates above.
It was used in the television series The Andy Griffith Show (Rafe Hollister Sings, Episode 83 - The Hollister /Jack Prince rendition was viewable on YouTube at the time of this writing), Peter Gunn (The Dummy), Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (Gomer Says `Hey', Episode 97), Matlock (Class), and The Odd Couple (Rent Strike, Episode 107).
"Lonesome Road" was included in the television productions Vintage Sinatra (PBS, 2003), Now (with David Brancaccio, 2005), and Smuckers Presents Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate (2006), and in the Radio City Music Hall production Frank Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way (2004).
Future ABBA member Anni-Frid Lyngstad recorded a Swedish version titled "När Du Blir Min" which was released as a B-side to the 1968 single "Mycket Kär". This version was considerably sped up and had more swing compared to recordings by other artists[7]. The development of the Swedish rendition started in 10 October 1967 with an early version, titled "En Dag Om Våren" (Translation: A Day In Spring)[7]. This was recorded in two takes, the first in EMI Studios, Stockholm with Lyngstad’s second single "Din" also being recorded, and the second in Europa Film Studios, Stockholm, with latter having different vocals and a remixed backing track (the brass, strings and Hammond organ being more prominent)[7]. Lyngstad and Ollie Bergman had not been satisfied with the end result, resulting in further work needed to develop the song for release[7]. Almost a year later, on 6 September 1968, Lyngstad has recorded "Mycket Kär" in two takes for single release and the finalised version of "En Dag Om Våren": "När Du Blir Min" (Translation: When You’ll Be Mine), with rewritten lyrics and a new title. The backing track for "När Du Blir Min" had also been remixed and sped up, with more echo[7]. Another inclusion was Lyngstad’s scat vocal in the instrumental break[7]. On 11 September 1968, "Mycket Kär" was released with "När Du Blir Min" on the B-Side[8][7]. In November 1968, "När Du Blir Min" peaked in the Toppentipset chart in 11th place[9].
Charts
Chart (1969)
Peak
position
Sweden (Toppentipset)
11
Bob Dylan borrowed the melody and a few lines for his song "Sugar Baby", on his 2001 album Love & Theft.
Genres
"Lonesome Road" has been recorded in the jazz, gospel, blues, big band and dance music genres. There is a hint of humor in the Louis Armstrong and Hoyt Axton recordings, and the Dean Elliot recording is notable for its unusual sound effects, provided by Phil Kaye. The Keith Textor album was made by RCA to demonstrate sound effects using stereo; the "Lonesome Road" track demonstrates someone snapping their fingers and whistling, going from left to right and then back. The Wilbur Bradley recording contains a short passage identifiable as "Lonesome Road" at the beginning, with the remainder of the recording being a drum solo by Bradley's co-leader Ray McKinley. The Ivory and Gold recording features a flute solo.
In some jazz recordings, such as the one by Morris Grants, which credits Austin—Shilkret, the jazz improvisation is so dominant that the relation to the Austin—Shilkret Lonesome Road, if any, is obscure. The Montenegro recording is licensed, but here also the relation to the Austin—Shilkret song is obscure.
Many of the recordings are usable for dancing. The Sid Phillips recording is excellent for (International Style) foxtrot, and the Madeleine Peyroux recording is also suitable for foxtrot. The recording by The Fashions is a quickstep. The Hoyt Axton recording is a good jive. Quite a few of the recordings are usable for East Coast Swing, and the Floyd Cramer recording is suitable for West Coast Swing. The twist could be danced to the recordings by Lyndstadt and the Collins Kids. The Chantays' recording has a cha cha beat.
Sources
Bradley, Edwin M., The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography, McFarland, 2004, p. 166. ISBN0-7864-2029-4
Parish, James Robert and Pitts, Michael R., Hollywood Songsters: Singers who Act and Actors who Sing: a Biographical Dictionary, 2nd Edition, Routledge, 2003, p. 56. ISBN0-415-94332-9
Shilkret, Nathaniel, ed. Niel Shell and Barbara Shilkret, Nathaniel Shilkret: Sixty Years in the Music Business, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Md., 2005. ISBN0-8108-5128-8
Whitburn, Joel, Pop Memories 1890—1954, Record Research, Menomonee Falls, WI, 1986. ISBN0-89820-083-0
