Hit the Road Jack

Infobox Single
Name = Hit the Road Jack


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Ray Charles
Album =
A-side =
B-side ="The Danger Zone"
Released =1961
Format =7", 45rpm
Recorded =
Genre = R&B
Length = 2:00
Label = ABC
Writer = Percy Mayfield
Producer = ???
Certification = ???
Last single =
This single ="Hit the Road Jack"
(1961)
Next single =
Misc ="Hit the Road Jack" is a song written by R&B artist Percy Mayfield and recorded by singer, pianist Ray Charles. It hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning on Monday, October 9, 1961. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3070125&cdi=8794013&cid=10%2F30%2F1961 "Hit the Road Jack" at Billboard.com] ] This song is a tribute to Jack Kerouac's novel "On the Road".Fact|date=October 2008 The song is ranked #337 on the "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

ong information

Covers

* The Animals on their last album, before first disbanding, "Animalism" (1966). It's considered by some to be the best version of this song, with Burdon improvising some lyrics and singing without background vocals.
* The Castaways (1960s)
* SMAK on their 30th Anniversary concert in Belgrade.
* Big Youth in a reggae version, on his 1976 album "Hit the Road Jack". Also released on the album Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979.
* The Stampeders (1970s)
* Suzi Quatro (1970s)
* The Residents (1987)
* Buster Poindexter (1989)
* Bob Walsh (2002)
* A'Cappella ExpreSSS (2005)
* John Scofield (2005)
* Miyavi (2005 - live)
* Basement Jaxx (2006)
* Tic Tac Toe (2006)
* Kava (2007)
* Cat Power (2007)

The original was also used for the WB sitcom "Unhappily Ever After", and the movie "Grumpier Old Men".

In popular culture

The song is often played during sporting events when a player from the visiting team is forced to leave the game, such as an ice hockey player sent to the penalty box, a basketball player fouling out, or a player being ejected from the game. It may also be played near the end of the game, when the home team appears likely to win.Fact|date=November 2007

When Joe Mikulik has his meltdown, the song could be heard in the background; along with Who's on First?, Tom Hanks shouting "There's no crying in baseball!" from "A League of Their Own".

In the series "Just Shoot Me!" there's an episode called "Hit the Road, Jack".

References