Hit the Road Jack

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Hit the Road Jack (Percy Mayfield)

“Hit the Road Jack” is a song written by the rhythm and blues artist Percy Mayfield and first recorded in 1960 as an a cappella demo sent to Art Rupe. It became famous after it was recorded by the singer-songwriter-pianist Ray Charles with The Raelettes…

Charles’s recording hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning on Monday, October 9, 1961. “Hit the Road Jack” won a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. The song was number one on the R&B Sides chart for five weeks, thereby becoming Charles’s sixth number-one on that chart.

Percy Mayfield — 1960 demo

Ray Charles and his Orchestra

released in August 1961 on the single ABC-Paramount 45-10244, b/w “The Danger Zone” (Percy Mayfield) — The single became a big hit that autumn: #1 Hot 100 (2 weeks, 9-16 October), #1 R&B (5 weeks, 2-30 October).

live, date unknown (early to mid-1960s), with the Raelettes

Paul Rich — issued in November 1961 on the single (UK) Embassy WB 479, as the B-side of “Tower of Strength” (m. Bacharach, w. Hilliard)

Fiche le camp, Jack — French-language version, recorded by Richard Anthony – 1961

Luc Hoffman et son Orchestre — from the 1962 EP Le Twist, (France) Vargal G 319

The Cat — issued in 1966 on the single (Thailand?) Arc Records ART. 0099, b/w “Do the Watusi”

RateYourMusic.com indicates that the group was formed in Thailand and consisted of the following members: Joel Sukontaraks (piano, electric organ, lead guitar, vocals), Annie Amarawan (vocals, percussion), Suraphon Chankrat (rhythm guitar), Bo Sirisuphamontri (rhythm guitar), Nivesna Vongsheep (bass), Doc Boonyasophat (drums).

Stick iväg Jack — Swedish version of “Hit the Road Jack”, recorded by Monica Zetterlund, primarily featuring a Swedish lyric by Beppe Wolgers, but also including a couple of lines from the original English lyric

Monica Zetterlund — from the 1962 album Ahh! Monica!, (Sweden) Philips P 08211 L

Jimmy McGriff — recorded at A&R Studios, New York; released in 1966 on the album Cherry, Solid State Records SS 18006 (stereo), SM 17006 (mono)

Jimmy McGriff – organ
Eric Gale – guitar (solo)
Everett Barksdale – guitar (rhythm)
Milt Hinton – bass
Grady Tate – drums

Dick Hyman and the Group — from the 1968 LP Mirrors – Reflections of Today, Command Records RS 924 SD

Stick iväg Jack del II (part II) – performed by the Swedish band Movits!, on Inkonst TV

The title suggests that the Movits! recording might be a sequel to, or inspired by, Zetterlund’s 1961 recording, but it sounds more like a “Stray Cat Strut” influenced version of “The Cat Came Back” than it does “Hit the Road Jack.” Date unknown.

Links:

New Mickey Mouse Club, Season 1 (MMC1), 1989 – Damon Pampolina and Raquel “Roque” Herring, with Chasen Hampton, David Kater, Jennifer McGill, and Lindsey Alley