Video Drum Cover – Eddy Mitchell – Sur la route de Memphis

“Sur la route de Memphis” is one of the most beloved songs in Eddy Mitchell’s repertoire, and for fans of the drums, it’s a rich mix of country-rock feel and tasteful rhythm work that anchors the song’s rolling narrative.

The song dates from 1976, appearing as both a single and the title track of Eddy Mitchell’s seventeenth studio album Sur la route de Memphis. It is a French adaptation of the American country classic “That’s How I Got to Memphis”, written by Tom T. Hall in 1969. Eddy’s longtime collaborator Claude Moine (Mitchell’s real name) penned the French lyrics, transplanting the road-song imagery into a context that spoke to both nostalgia and the mythic pull of Memphis, Tennessee — a city synonymous with rock ’n’ roll and rhythm & blues.

Unlike some rock songs that use drums to drive tempo changes or flashy fills, the drumming on “Sur la route de Memphis” is all about groove and momentum. Recorded at Cinderella Sound Studios in Nashville, the track features a rhythm section that supports the laid-back yet forward-moving feel of a long highway drive. For a drum fan, this song is a wonderful example of how steady backbeat work — with crisp snare, subtle cymbal shading, and a comfortable kick pattern — can evoke both motion and mood. The drums don’t leap forward; they pull the song along like the tires of a car on an open road.

Nashville itself plays into the spirit of the track. Recording in one of country music’s heartlands meant the session players were steeped in Americana groove sensibilities, mixing hints of country swing with rock ’n’ roll drive. The balance in the arrangement lets the drums breathe: they never try to dominate the storytelling; instead, they function as the heartbeat of the journey, a constant pulse beneath Eddy’s evocative vocals and the twang of guitars and harmonica.

Once released, “Sur la route de Memphis” became a staple in Eddy Mitchell’s live shows. It was performed on television in 1980 alongside Michel Sardou, and appeared in major concerts, including the 1989 Tournée des Enfoirés and later collaborations with artists like Renaud and Gregory Porter on tour and in studio albums revisiting classic tracks.

Ultimately, “Sur la route de Memphis” is a celebration of movement, place and rhythm — and for drummers, it shows how a well-laid groove can turn a cover into something timeless in its own right.