written by Charles Segar or Big Bill Broonzy;
first recorded by Charles Segar in 1940
30+1 suggested versions:
Key to the Highway (2:50)
Recorded in Chicago, IL, February 23, 1940;
Recorded in Chicago, IL, February 23, 1940;
Originally released by Vocalion in 1940
on the single "Charles Segar: Key to the Highway"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar
Charles Segar - piano, vocals
Fred Williams - drums
Key to the Highway (3:03)
Recorded in Chicago, IL, May 2, 1941;
Originally released by OKeh in 1941
on the single "Big Bill: Key to the Highway"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Big Bill Broonzy - guitars, vocals
Jazz Gillum - harmonica
Washboard Sam - washboard
unknown - bass
Originally released by Checker in 1958
on the single "Little Walter and His Jukes: Key to the Highway"
Little Walter - harmonica, vocals
Muddy Waters - guitars
Luther Tucker - guitars
Otis Spann - piano
Willie Dixon - bass
George Hunter or Francis Clay - drums
Key to the Highway (3:17)
Recorded at the United Sound Systems, Detroit, MI, April 20, 1959;
Originally released by Riverside in 1964
on the album "John Lee Hooker: Burning Hell"
writing credits are labeled to Big Bill Broonzy
John Lee Hooker - guitars, vocals
No official release;
Released on bootleg album "2120 South Michigan Avenue (The Unreleased 1964 Blues Album)"
Mick Jagger - harmonica, vocals
Keith Richards - guitars
Brian Jones - guitars
Bill Wyman - bass
Charlie Watts - drums
Originally released by Decca in 1967
on the album "Eddie Boyd and his Blues Band featuring Peter Green"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Eddie Boyd - piano, vocals
John Mayall - harmonica
Key to the Highway (6:17)
Recorded at Olympic Studios, London, UK, January-March 1968;
Originally released by Capitol in April 1968
on the album "Steve Miller Band: Children of the Future"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Steve Miller - harmonica, vocals
Boz Scaggs - guitars
Jim Peterman - organ
Lonnie Turner - bass
Tim Davis - drums
Key to the Highway (2:09)
Recorded in London, UK, Autumn 1968;
Originally released by Spark in December 1968
on the album "Dr. K's Blues Band"
Mick Hasse - harmonica, vocals
Geoff Krivit - lead guitar
Roger Rolt - rhythm guitar
Doctor K. (aka Richard Kay) - piano
Harold Vickers - bass
Eric Peachy - drums
Key to the Highway (2:32)
Recorded at Liberty Recorders, Los Angeles, CA, October 2, 1968;
Originally released by World Pacific (US) & Liberty (UK) in 1969
on the album "George Smith & the Chicago Blues Band: Blues with a Feeling - A Tribute to Little Walter"
writing credits are labeled to Walter Jacobs/Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
George Harmonica Smith - harmonica, vocals
Muddy Waters - guitars
Marshall Hooks - guitars
Otis Spann - piano
Sonny Wimberly - bass
S.P. Leary - drums
Key to the Highway (9:40)
Recorded at the Criteria Studios, Miami, FL, September 9, 1970;
Originally released by ATCO (US) & Polydor (UK) in 1970
on the album "Derek and the Dominos: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Eric Clapton - guitars, vocals
Duane Allman - guitars
Bobby Whitlock - piano
Carl Radle - bass
Jim Gordon - drums
Originally released by Shelter in 1971
on the album "Freddie King: Getting Ready..."
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Freddie King - guitars, vocals
Don Preston - guitars
Jon Gallie - organ
Leon Russell - piano
Donald Duck Dunn - bass
Charles Myers or Chuck Blackwell - drums
Key to the Highway (2:27)
Recorded at I.B.C. Studios, London, England, December 4, 1971;
Originally released by Chess in 1972
on the album "The London Muddy Waters Sessions"
writing credits are labeled to Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters - vocals
Carey Bell - harmonica
Rory Gallagher - guitars
Steve Winwood - piano
Rick Grech - bass
Mitch Mitchell - drums
Originally released by Delmark in 1974
on the album "Junior Wells: On Tap"
Junior Wells - harmonica, vocals
Sammy Lawhorn - guitars
Phil Guy - guitars
Johnny Big Moose Walker - organ
Herman Applewhite - bass
Roosevelt Shaw - drums
Key to the Highway (6:56)
Recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, April 27, 1977;
No official release;
Released on bootleg album "Live in Great Smoke"
Eric Clapton - guitars, vocals
George Terry - guitars
Marcy Levy - harmonica
Dick Sims - keyboards
Carl Radle - bass
Jamie Oldaker - drums
Sergio Pastora Rodrigez - percussion
Key to the Highway (5:14)
Recorded at Studios Barclay, Paris, France, December 13, 1977;
Originally released by Black and Blue in 1977
on the album "Luther Allison: Love Me Papa"
writing credits are labeled to Jazz Gillum
Luther Allison - guitars, vocals
Dan Hoeflinger - guitars
Sid Wingfield - piano
Jim Campbell - bass
Donald Robertson - drums
Key to the Highway (3:57)
Recorded at Wave studios, London, UK, August-November 1981;
Originally released by Appaloosa in 1982
on the album "Shakey Vick Blues Band: On the Ball"
writing credits are labeled to Jazz Gillum
Graham Vickery - harmonica, vocals
John McDade - sax
Allen Vincent - guitars
Robert Davis - bass
John Hunt - drums
Key to the Highway (4:03)
Recorded at Studio Davout, Paris, France, April-May 1982;
Originally released by Blue Silver in 1982
on the album "Sugar Blue: From Chicago to Paris"
writing credits are labeled to Big Bill Broonzy
Sugar Blue - harmonica, vocals
Michael Robinson - guitars
Slim Pezin - guitars
Raymond Gimenez - guitars
Jean-Pierre Sabar - organ
Lafayette Evan - bass
Earl Howell - drums
Key to the Highway (2:55)
Recorded at ACME Recording Studios, Chicago, IL, 1987;
Originally released by Blind Pig in 1987
on the album "Snooky Pryor: Snooky"
writing credits are labeled to Big Bill Broonzy
Snooky Pryor - harmonica, vocals
Steve Freund - guitars
Bob Stroger - bass
Willie Big Eyes Smith - drums
Key to the Highway (4:01)
Recorded live at Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, UK, July 1988;
Originally released by Inak in 1989
on the album "Farlowe Davis York Hodgkinson Money & Anderson: Extremely Live at Birmingham Town Hall"
writing credits are labeled to Big Bill Broonzy
Miller Anderson - guitars, vocals
Spencer Davis - guitars
Zoot Money - keyboards
Colin Hodgkinson - bass
Pete York - drums
Key to the Highway (6:05)
Recorded at Chicago Music Complex, Chicago, IL, December 1991 or January 1992;
Originally released by GBW in 1992
on the album "Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues: Mississippi Flashback"
writing credits are labeled to Big Bill Broonzy
Billy Branch - harmonica, vocals
Carl Weathersby - guitars
Russell Wheeler - organ
Tyson Bell - bass
Mose Rutues - drums
Key to the Highway (5:01)
Recorded at Planet Studios, Perth, AUS, 1993;
Originally released by Alligator (US) & Provogue (EU) in 1993
on the album "Dave Hole: Working Overtime"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Dave Hole - guitars, vocals
Bob Patient - piano
John Wilson - bass
Rudy Miranda - drums
Key to the Highway (6:35)
Recorded live at the Old Absinthe House Bar, Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA, February 14, 1997;
Originally released by Justin Time in 1997
on the album "Bryan Lee: Live at the Old Absinthe House Bar...Friday Night"
Bryan Lee - guitars, vocals
Frank Marino - guitars
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - guitars
John Banks - keyboards
Mark Adams - organ
Al Arthur - bass
Victor Spankowski - drums
Key to the Highway (6:26)
Recorded live in Belgium, 1997 or 1998
Originally released by Rowyna in 1999
on the album "Burning Plague: Live at Last"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Michael Heslop - guitars, vocals
Alain Pire - guitars
Roger Carlier - bass
Marc Ysaye - drums
Key to the Highway (4:37)
Recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios, New York, NY, January 12-13, 2000;
Originally released by Burnside Records in 2000
on the album "Rod Price: Open"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Graham Vickery - harmonica, vocals
Rod Price - guitars
Kinny Landrum - piano
Bruno Ravel or Tom Dawes - bass
John O. Reilly - drums
Key to the Highway (6:50)
Recorded live at the Granary, Buckingham, UK, February 2003;
Originally released by Light House Music in 2004
on the album "Bernie Marsden and His Band: Big Boy Blue... Live"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Bernie Marsden - guitars, vocals
Nick Payn - harmonica
Nigel Neill - keyboards
John Gordon - bass
Graham Walker - drums
Key to the Highway (3:59)
Recorded live at 257 Delta Avenue, Clarksdale, MS, October 20, 2003;
Originally released by Amogla in 2004
on the album "Floyd Lee and His Mean Blues Band: Full Moon Lightnin'"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Floyd Lee - guitars, vocals
Joel Poluck - guitars
Brad Vickers - bass
Sam Carr - drums
Key to the Highway (7:47)
Recorded at Sparrow Sound Design, Chicago, IL, 2004;
Recorded at Sparrow Sound Design, Chicago, IL, 2004;
Originally released by Mister Kelly's in 2004
on the album "Carlos Johnson: In and Out"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Carlos Johnson - guitars, vocals
Roosevelt Purifoy - keyboards
Sam Greeen - bass
Linard Stroud - drums
Key to the Highway (6:55)
Recorded live at the Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, September 25, 2004;
Originally released by Instant Live in 2004
on the album "The Allman Brothers Band: Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 9/25/04"
Gregg Allman - keyboards, vocals
Warren Haynes - guitars, vocals
Derek Trucks - guitars
Oteil Burbridge - bass
Butch Trucks - drums
Jaimoe - drums
Marc Quinones - percussion
Key to the Highway (5:27)
Recorded live at Tori’s Station, Fairfield, OH, December 31, 2004;
Self-released only in 2005
on the album "The Sonny Moorman Group: The Official Bootleg"
Sonny Moorman - guitars, vocals
Mark Hoffman - bass
Jamie Combs - drums
Key to the Highway (6:22)
Recorded live at Park West, Chicago, IL, April 8-9, 2010;
Originally released by Sony in 2010
on the album "The Derek Trucks Band: Roadsongs"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Mike Mattison - vocals
Derek Trucks - guitars
Kofi Burbridge - keyboards
Todd Smallie - bass
Yonrico Scott - drums
Count M'butu - percussion
Key to the Highway (5:33)
Recorded at Electric Comoland, Lafayette, LA, 2015;
Originally released by Provogue in 2015
on the album "Sonny Landreth: Bound by the Blues"
writing credits are labeled to Charles Segar/Big Bill Broonzy
Sonny Landreth - guitars, vocals
David Ranson - bass
Brian Brignac - drums
