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The programmes were created by Elliott Bristow, being a compilation of footage shot by him during an extended stay in the USA. To quote from the caption shown at the start of each programme: ''"In 1968 Elliott Bristow went to New York for a two week holiday. In 1980, after twelve years and 500,000 miles on the road in America he returned to England with three trunks containing 75 hours of silent Super 8 film - his diary of this 'holiday'!"''

The programmes depict Bristow's journeys across the USA with numerous shots taken while driving, plus meetings with friends, etc.

By the very nature of the material, in places the technical quality suffers but that is considered by many to be part of the charm of the work.

The footage is accompanied by occasional explanatory comments from Bristow himself, readings (mainly from the works of Jack Kerouac ) and music tracks. The music is mainly but not exclusively instrumental classical and New Age Music .

In early 2006 rumours circulated of a second series of Road Dreams being in production but these may have been a hoax.


ITEMS AND MUSIC


The following is a listing of the items and music tracks featured in each programme. The artist names and track titles are as listed at the end of each programme. The names in brackets are those of commercially available albums which contain the associated track. In many cases tracks many also be available on other albums. Some of the music used in Road Dreams does not appear to be available commercially.

Programme One

Items:
  • Preview

  • Arrival in New York

  • Travels in New England

  • "Snowbird" journey to Florida and Georgia

  • Epilogue

    • Music

  • Leo Kottke - Machine #2 (on the Mudlark album)

  • Rick Loveridge - Breakfast Special

  • Keith Thompson - East Side Hum

  • Rick Wakeman - Dandelion Airs

  • Penguin Cafe Orchestra - No's 1-4 (on the Penguin Cafe Orchestra album)

  • Rick Loveridge - Suitable Favours

  • Richard W Gilks - Road Dreams Theme

  • Rick Loveridge - Person To Person


Programme Two

Items:
  • Preview: The Dakotas

  • Culver, Kansas

  • Running down to Alamosa

  • Burma-Shave

  • On to Las Vegas

  • Epilogue

    • Music:

  • Leo Kottke - Machine #2

  • Rick Loveridge - Brimscombe

  • Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Perpetuum Mobile

  • Francois Godefroy - Dancers

  • Rick Loveridge - Never Here Never Home

  • Rick Loveridge - Leave A Message

  • Leo Kottke - Pamela Brown (on the Ice Water album)

  • Richard W Gilks - Road Dreams Theme

  • Rick Loveridge - Person To Person


Programme Three

Items:
  • Preview: Iowa

  • Winter Driving

  • Detroit to Washington DC

  • Eastern suburbs and Jersey Shore

  • Epilogue

    • Music:

  • Leo Kottke - Machine #2

  • Rick Loveridge - Root And Branch

  • Keith Thompson - Slipping South

  • Rick Loveridge - Brimscombe

  • St Saens - Carnival Of The Animals - The Aquarium (widely available with performances by various orchestras)

  • Rick Wakeman - Waterfalls (on the Standing Stones compilation album)

  • Penguin Cafe Orchestra - White Mischief (on the Broadcasting From Home album)

  • Keith Thompson - East Side Hum

  • Richard W Gilks - Eastway

  • Richard W Gilks - Road Dreams Theme

  • Rick Loveridge - Person To Person


Programme Four

Items:
  • Preview: Rhode Island

  • Boston: Fall in New England

  • Cross-country to Oregon

  • Stonehenge

  • Down to San Francisco

  • Epilogue

    • Music:

  • Leo Kottke - Machine #2

  • Pat Metheny - Goin' Ahead (on the 80/81 album)

  • Leo Kottke - Born To Be With You (on the Ice Water album)

  • Rick Loveridge - Never Here Never Home

  • Rick Loveridge - Leave A Message

  • Rick Loveridge - Suitable Favours

  • Richard W Gilks - Road Dreams Theme

  • Rick Loveridge - Person To Person


Programme Five

Items:
  • Preview: Los Angeles

  • New York

  • Cross-country Drive

  • Los Angeles

  • Epilogue

    • Music:

  • Leo Kottke - Machine #2

  • Francois Godefroy - Cactus Lunch

  • Tom Waits - Frank's Wild Years (on the album Frank's Wild Years)

  • Francois Godefroy - Dancers

  • Pat Metheny Group - Cross The Heartland (on the American Garage album)

  • Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music For A Found Harmonium (on the Broadcasting From Home album)

  • Richard W Gilks - Road Dreams Theme

  • Rick Loveridge - Person To Person


Programme Six

Items:
  • Preview

  • Train ride to Oregon

  • Leave L.A.

  • Final Cross-country trip

  • Long Island and leave

  • Epilogue

    • Music:

  • Leo Kottke - Machine #2

  • Unknown Artist - Blue Valley Junction

  • Rick Loveridge - Breakfast Special

  • Simon Kitson - LA Freeway

  • Philip Aaberg - Spring Creek (on the High Plains album)

  • Rick Loveridge - Home in October

  • Rick Loveridge - Suitable Favours

  • Francois Godefroy - Tracy's Big Moment

  • Richard W Gilks - Road Dreams Theme

  • Rick Loveridge - Person to Person


Additional Comments Regarding Some Music Tracks

An alternative version of the song "L.A. Freeway", sung by Roger Creager, is available commercially.

The track "Dandelion Dreams" appears on Rick Wakeman's "Country Airs" album. The name "Dandelion Airs" listed in Road Dreams may have been an error or possibly a working title.

According to some sources the artist name "Rick Loveridge" can also be spelt "Rik Loveridge". The spelling "Rick" is used in the captions in Road Dreams.