"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-American folk 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. There are no reliable sales figures that can be used to verify or dispute any of the estimates above.
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The composition was notably used as a substitute for Ol' Man River in the finale of the part-talkie 1929 film version of Edna Ferber's novel Show Boat. It was performed onscreen by Stepin Fetchit as the deckhand Joe. Fetchit's singing voice was supplied by bass-baritone Jules Bledsoe, who had played Joe in the original stage version of the musical. The Shilkret autobiography contains a brief account of the motivation for using the song in the film.
The song was also used in the motion pictures Submarine Command (1951), Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! (1956), California Split (1974), Wild Man Blues (1997) and Crazy (2007). It was featured on two soundies, one with the Lucky Millinder orchestra, with vocal by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and another with the Al Donahue Orchestra. Both soundies could be viewed on youtube at the time of this writing.
It was used in the television series Andy Griffith Show (Rafe Hollister Sings, Episode 83), 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). The Hollister rendition was viewable on youtube at the time of this writing.
"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).
It was initially recorded September 16, 1927, by Austin, accompanied by Shilkret directing the Victor Orchestra. There have been over two hundred recordings of "Lonesome Road," including these from CDs, discs and tapes in the Shilkret archives and in audio files available on the amazon and youtube websites: Danny Aiello, Earl Anderza, The Andrew Sisters (from a Paul Whiteman radio broadcast), Louis Armstrong, Paul Anastasio, Eddy Arnold, Maki Asakawa (two recordings) (Japanese), Chet Atkins, Gene Austin (accompanied orchestra directed Nathaniel Shilkret, 1927), Hoyt Axton, Joan Baez, Mildred Bailey, Barrelhouse Jazzband (live performance 1964 in Germany), Gail Bliss (privately produced), Pat Boone, The Boswell Sisters, Will Bradley (Schwichtenberg) (with drum solo by Ray McKinley), Ruby Braff, Brazilian Jazz Quartet, Jim Breedlove, Bob Brozman, Dave Brubeck (April 1959, Hollywood; July 1959 at Newport Jazz Festival), Teddy Buckner, Donna Byrne, Paul Cacia, Ace Cannon, Anita Carter (radio broadcast), Eddie Chamblee (uncredited), The Chantays, Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham, Marlon Cherry, Sue Childs, Larry Clinton (from radio broadcast), Arnett Cobb, The Collins Kids, Ken Colyer, Sam Cooke, Floyd Cramer, Bing Crosby, Jim Cullum Jazz Band (recorded in jazz club for radio broadcast), Dick Curless, Alan Dale, Dick Dale, Bobby Darin (medley; recorded live in concert), Sammy Davis, Jr. (on Decca ED2216/DL8118 and in 1966 medley in concert), Sammy Davis, Jr. and Roy Clark (duet on telvevision), Jimmy Dean, Jean Dinning (sister of Mark Dinning, The Dixie Stompers (John Chapman at the piano), Tommy Dorsey (originally issued on two sides of a 78 rpm disc), Catherine Dupois, Robin Pecknold, Dutch Swing College Band (live in concert at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw), Bob Dylan (unlicensed and uncredited, as "Sugar Baby"), Snooks Eaglin (two different takes used on one CD), Lars Edegran (uncredited), Duane Eddy, Vincent Edwards (founding member Murder by Death), Dean Elliot, The Fashions, Frances Faye, The Fendermen, Maynard Ferguson (with Chris Connor), Flat Duo Jets, Lee Floyd, III and Big Tiny Little, The Fontane Sisters, Pete Fountain, Bud Freeman and Shorty Baker, Judy Garland and Bobby Darin (duet on television), Georgia Gibbs, Don Gibson, Joe (Gilbert) and Eddie (Brown) (Joe and Eddie), Lou Gold (vocal Irving Kaufman), Benny Goodman, Earl Grant, Morris Grants (pseudonym with humorous intent in LP entitled JUNK), Dodo Green (with Ike Quebec Quintet), Roy Hamilton, Coleman Hawkins (with Red Allen), Ted Heath, Herman's Norwegian Jazz Group (Recorded on December 3, 1954 and re-released on the extended play Odeon GEON 2), Earl "Fatha" Hines, Al Hirt, David Houston (as "Before You Travel On;" correctly licensed but incorrectly credited to Sherrill-Sutton), Tab Hunter, Arnold Hyles (member Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame), Burl Ives (from a radio broadcast), Ivory and Gold (privately produced), Jan Johansson (Swedish), Bunk Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Hank Jones and Tyree Glenn, Udo Jurgens (live in concert in Berlin), Fumiko Kawabata, Mary Kaye Trio (Decca DL 8238, distinct from the motion picture recording), Stan Kenton (vocal June Christy; includes trumpet Maynard Ferguson), Morgan King, Tom King (and the Royal Chicagoans), Gene Krupa, Jack La Forge, Frankie Laine, Syd Lawrence (from a BBC broadcast), Barbara Lea and the Ed Polcer All-stars, Peggy Lee (accompanied orchestra directed Ralph Carmichael), Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour, The LeFevres (two recordings), Ted Lewis, Julie London, Trini Lopez, The Loving Sisters, Jimmy Lunceford, Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Norwegian), Mark Mahar (privately produced), Jim Manley, Johnny Marvin (in medley; accompanied orchestra directed Nathaniel Shilkret), Jimmy McGriff, Toroff Molgaard, Van Morrison, Ray Noble (as New Mayfair Dance Band), [[New Orleans All Stars (including trumpet Keith Smith; uncredited), Anita O'Day (accompaniied by Nat King Cole Trio), Esther and Abi Ofarim, The Organizers, Harry Parry (Welsh), Ottilie Patterson (accompanied by Chris Barber's Jazz Band), Les Paul and Mary Ford, Dave Pell (as American Patrol Band), Delmar Pettys (privately produced by Jim West), Madeleine Peyroux (best selling 21st-century recording of Lonesome Road), Sid Phillips (and His Great Jazz Band), Pilgrim Travelers, Pix All-Star Australian Jazz Band, The Preservation Jazz Band (including Percy Humphrey and Allan Jaffe), Paul Robeson, Carson Robison (from a radio broadcast), The Rhythm Masters, Jimmy Ricks, Eileen Rodgers, Nick Rondi, Rick Schilling Quartet (privately produced), Nick Schneider, Doc Severinsen (issued on reel-to-reel tape), Dave Shepherd, Nathaniel Shilkret (vocal Willard Robison, 1929), Don Shirley, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra (issued recording also used in PBS Sinatra special), Felix Slatkin, Jimmy Smith (two recordings: 1957 with Stanley Turrentine and 1960), Valaida Snow, Sons of Song, Muggsy Spanier, Frank Stallone (with Sammy Nestico Orchestra), Kay Starr, Sonny Stitt, Storyville Stompers, Gordie Sullivan, J. D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet (uncredited), Billy Ternent, Keith Textor, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, (1938, accompanied own guitar, and from 1941 soundie), Towne and Country Revue, Helen Traubel (from a radio broadcast), Tony Travis, The Tune Weavers, Leslie Uggams (from television broadcast), Jerry Vale, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons (as The Wonder Who), Carol Ventura, Al Viola, Fats Waller, Billy Ward and His Dominoes (with Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson), Josh White, Wichary Jaz Group (Poland), Wild Bill Stompers (vocal Bertha Hill and trumpet Wild Bill Davison), Stan Wilde (and The Wilde Cats) (UK), Lee Wiley, Jackie Willis, Stevie Wonder, Si Zentner, Monica Zetterlund (Swedish), and an unidentified orchestra ("in the style of Ray Conniff;" on Deacon LP DEA1012).
Based on information from Library of Congress (SONIC), Harry Fox Agency (Poli), ASCAP (ACE) and discographic sources, the following artists may also have recorded Lonesome Road: Lorez Alexandria, Gene Austin (1931 recording for the Perfect label), Benko Dixieland Band, Boots and His Buddies, Jean-Claude Borelly, Martin Brown, Jessi Colter (as Mirriam [sic] Johnson), Alfonso D'Artega, Maxwell Davis, Sammy Duncan, Maurice Elwin, Rose Hardaway (accompanied by Sammy Lowe Orchestra), Muriel Haverstein, Chris Jasper and the Isley Brothers, Kay Kyser, Jerry Le Fors (on audio cassette), Carmen Leggio Group, Johnny Martin, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Hugo Montenegro, Stephen Oberoff, Ginny O'Brien, Patti Page, Revival Barber Shop Quartet, The Rockin' Valentinos, Larry Turner, Truckin' Around, Union Station Singers, Art Van Damm Ensemble, Joe Volker, Nan Warnock, Washboard Serenaders, and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble.
"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 recordings 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.