Are there any opinions out there of your favourite versions of Key to the Highway. I've been playing it for years originally listening to Sonny Terry's. Its such an easy one to cover as every blues band knows it. Thanks in advance.
Interesting timing on this!! My band just released our cover of Key to the Highway, distance recorded during the pandemic. Is it the best version? You can judge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYTkC2Jb8-I
(For my money, I'll go with Little Walter's.) ---------- Marc Graci YouTube Channel
Last Edited by Mirco on Jan 01, 2021 9:50 AM
Nice work. I do like the more traditional but having said that it is nice to hear the mix up. There was a radio show I used to listen to that had a program called the wash cycle where they played several versions of popular blues songs. Always enjoyable. Thanks!
I'm often too lazy to look past a Little Walter record and it's been mainly that way with KTTH for me but this thread sent me of to look through my record library for various versions of the song. I became distracted by a song Jr Wells did, under that title but hardly like any version of key to the highway I've heard anyone else do. He may have been improvising the lyric as I've heard him do on many live recordings. Sometimes it's a mash up, sometimes a whole new story. Anyway, on this one he seems to be taking a 1st position approach to the harp and I had not heard anyone else do that on key to the highway. I'm a sucker for 1st position.
It is not a masterful rendition, but it is a decent effort at covering Key. I have no illusions that it is the best version or comparable to the Carlos Del Junco or Billy Branch versions.
I like the groove in Billy's take more than the slow groove I heard Carlos play in a video. The harp in each of their versions was enjoyable. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jan 12, 2021 9:52 AM
--Of course Little Walter kicks a$$ on this songThough the best musically key to the high way i`ve herd is [no harp] Johnny Winter live, with just him and a bass player.There`s so much bad/a$$/licks going on it,you could pick up a dozen harp licks off it...-------- nowmon
Last Edited by nowmon on Jan 12, 2021 11:09 AM
Kham, no, it isn't what I was listening to, but it could just as well be so far as the approach goes. The recording I was listening to is from the "last time around - live at legends" album with Buddy Guy. So it's live and with Buddy Guy, whereas the YT I just played is Sammy Lawhorn and Phil Guy I believe (so keeping it in the family).
I was listening to another version of Key To The Highway and remembered this question on the forum. Check out the harmonica on John Campbelljohn's version from the album Land of the Livin. I may have a new favorite.
