WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B were on the same
page and, often, in the same song. Our primary focus is on the music of the
Jump Blues Era of the 1940s which blended into the early Rock & Roll & R&B Era
of the 1950s, and follow on how those styles and artists have evolved over
the years. We also bring you jazz from the era along with the occasional page
from the Great American Songbook.
Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
streaming worldwide over our free mobile app and WRFG.ORG.
Become a WRFG Route 66 Supporter
Follow us on Facebook @ WRFG Route 66 Jumps
Subscribe to our weekly podcast @ MixCloud.Com
It’s different from our live show.
You’ll find the one for this week at the bottom of this post.
Count Basie is our featured artist. William James Basie was born in Red Bank,
New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. His parents were both musicians and as
a young man he dreamed of a life of travel. He cut his teeth musically playing
piano in a silent movie theater then joined several musical organizations before
forming the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935. He made his first recording in
Chicago in 1936. He led the orchestra until shortly before his death in 1984.
The Count is gone, but the organization he founded lives on.
The Count Basie Orchestra is still recording and performing and is
celebrating it’s 90th anniversary this year.
COUNT BASIE RESOURCES
Court Basie’s biorgraphy @ wikipedia.org
Count Basie discography @ discogs.com
Count Basie Orchestra discography @ discogs.com
Count Basie Center for the Arts
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2025
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Theme from M Squad
Jay Geils
Toe Tappin’ Jazz 2009
Blue Skies
Count Basie & His Orchestra w/ Jimmy Rushing
Columbia Records 1945
Stormy Monday
Count Basie Orchestra & Bettye LaVette
Basie Swings the Blues 2023
Oh, What A Beautiful Morning
Ray Charles & The Count Basie Orchestra
Ray Sings Basie Swings 1973
Bloodshot Eyes Wynonie Harris King Records 1951
Walkin’ & Talkin’ Dinah Washington Mercury Records 1948
I Want to Hug You
John Lee Hooker
Mr. Lucky 1991
Boogie Rambler
(Brown & Hooker)
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Peacock Records 1950
I’m In The Mood
John Lee Hooker
Modern Records 1951
Friday was probably the 113th or 108th anniversary of John Lee Hooker’s birth.
Now, all the sources agree that he was born on August 22 at one of two locations
in Mississippi, but depending on who you ask he was born in 1912 or 1917
and some sources say he could have been born as late as 1923.
You might ask him the next time he calls.
Poor Little Rich Girl
(Noel Coward)
Tony Bennett w/ Count Basie & His Orchestra
Basie Swings, Bennett Sings 1959
After Supper
Count Basie & His Orchestra
The Atomic Mr. Basie 1957
Goin to Chicago Blues
(Count Basie)
Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends
Capitol Records 1952
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie Los Angeles Side Hustle (self-titled) 2025
Train Blues Roy Milton & His Solid Senders Specialty Records 1948
But Beautiful Kandace Springs Lady in Satin 2025
Boogie Woogie Woman B.B. King R.P.M. Records 1952
Roll ‘Em Pete
Count Basie & Joe Williams
Count Basie Swings & Joe Williams Sings 1956
Jumpin’ at the Woodside
Johnny Otis & His Orchestra
Spirit of the Black Territory Bands 1992
Good Mornin’ Blues
Jimmy Rushing w/ Count Basie & His Orchestra
Excelsior Records 1947
Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby Louis Jordan Decca Records 1943
Minnie the Moocher Cab Calloway The Blues Brothers 1980
Summertime Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald Porgy & Bess 1957
God Bless The Child & Now or Never
Billie Holiday w/ the Count Basie Sextet
Live 1950
April In Paris
Count Basie & His Orchestra
April in Paris 1957
Jelly Jelly
Count Basie Orchestra & Billy Eckstine
Basie/Eckstine Inc 1959
Mean To Me
Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan
Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan 1961
Flip, Flop And Fly
Big Joe Turner w/ Count Basie
Flip, Flop & Fly 1972
One O’Clock Jump
Jack Parker & Etta Jones
Decca Records 1954
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
THE PLAYLIST FOR THE PODCAST
Theme from M Squad – Jay Geils
Blue Skies – Count Basie & His Orchestra w/ Jimmy Rushing
Stormy Monday – Count Basie Orchestra & Bettye LaVette
Oh, What A Beautiful Morning – Ray Charles & The Count Basie Orchestra
Poor Little Rich Girl – Tony Bennett w/ Count Basie & His Orchestra
After Supper – Count Basie
Goin to Chicago Blues – Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends
Roll ‘Em Pete – Count Basie & Joe Williams
Jumpin’ at the Woodside – Johnny Otis & His Orchestra
Good Mornin’ Blues – Jimmy Rushing w/ Count Basie & His Orchestra
God Bless The Child & Now or Never – Billie Holiday w/ Count Basie Sextet
April In Paris – Count Basie & His Orchestra
Jelly Jelly – Count Basie Orchestra & Billy Eckstine
Mean To Me – Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan
Flip, Flop And Fly – Big Joe Turner w/ Count Basie
One O’Clock Jump – Jack Parker & Etta Jones
Tag (You’re It) – Little Charlie & The Nightcats
WRFG Route 66 