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Open Road Collection (Road Trip Collection)

Hop into your convertible, because there are hours of pavement and highway-travel-themed old radio shows ahead.These old time radio shows won't help fill your gas tank on vacation but they will fill your mind with laughs and thrills.

Open Road

82 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 32 hours, 23 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
34 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from October 04, 1945:

"Death on Highway 99"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Grab your Samsonite suitcase and polka-dotted scarf and hop into your convertible, because there are hours of pavement and radio shows ahead.  These shows won’t help fill your gas tank on  Summer Replacement radio shows allowed big name radio stars to have a break while up and coming stars got a break into show business.

On the RoadAs radio's influence grew in the 1930s and 1940s, big name and big money radio ruled the airwaves. Many radio programs centered around a special radio star such as Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Dinah Shore, Red Skeleton, Bob Hope, and George Burns and Gracie Allen. As these stars fame and influence grew, they requested special privileges and most insisted on summer hiatus from their radio gigs.

The culture of the open road and exploration of our great country is the epitome of the American Dream. Since the opening of continental Route 66, road trips have been a stable of American relocation and Summer Replacement radio shows allowed big name radio stars to have a break while up and coming stars got a break into show business.

Many radio stars like Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were also film stars and were able to leverage time away from their radio programs to make films. Hope and Crosby created the films from the "Road to...(Singapore, Rio, Hong Kong, etc) series while on break from their respective radio shows. However, Some radio stars like married couple Jim and Marian Jordan, who portrayed Fibber McGee and Molly on radio from 1935 until 1959, took a real break and used the summer break to spend time with their children.

Networks struggled trying to fill airtimes and retain loyal audiences because in the Golden Age of Radio there were no reruns. Radio shows were heard once and fresh material was used in every show week to week and day to day. Transcription technology was limited and Recording radio shows was expensive. Summer Replacement series were created to hold audiences while the radio stars were on vacation.

Howard Duff

In most cases Summer Replacement radio shows were low budget and sometimes so bad the sponsors even pulled funding mid season, making producers scramble for more cash.  Some Summer replacement shows were also dropped from the schedule when the original series returned never to be heard again.

However, some shows won over audiences and became radio hits of their own. Radio shows like Aldrich Family, Boston Blackie, The Doris Day Show, Escape, Our Miss Brooks, Philip Marlowe, and Sam Spade were all summer replacement shows that won over audiences, producers, and advertisers to become a part regularly scheduled program.

Despite the small budget, newly rising stars were eager to win a regular spot on the radio. For this reason, many of the summer replacement shows were high quality. The now infamous Orson Welles production War of the Worlds was created after Mercury Theater was picked up by the network and added to the schedule.

The summer replacement season is one of the most magical parts from the history of old time radio.  Because the end of the summer replacement season, radio careers were made and lost but there was still a chance for a new show and a new rising star the next summer
vacation travel.  The open road opens new possibilities of new places and the unknown—the perfect setting for dramatic radio shows but even some family-friendly tales.  This is a fascinating collection of the stories of life and death on American Highways. 

  • A husband throws his wife off a cliff after she threatens to report a hit and run accident in Suspense "Death of Highway 99".
  • Dinah Shore sings her hit song "Hit the Road to Dreamland" adds a musical break to the collection.
  • Lux Radio Theater presents "No Highway in the Sky" starring Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich reprising their roles from the popular film.
  • Suspense "Hitchhiker" with Orson Welles is the perfect traveling thriller show—a classic of the radio medium.
  • Big Town's "Death Rides the Highway" warns against becoming an overconfident driver, talkative driver, impatient maniac causing the tragedies on the road.  A truck driver avoids a grey convertible with a fuming mother only to crash head on into a school bus of orphans returning from a happy day in the country.

See also: Vacations in Old Time Radio, Traffic in Old Time Radio, and Highway of Horrors.

Route 66

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    COMMENTS

    Road trips are a great time to listen to OTR shows... But since I am so used to listening to sleep, I don't do it very often.

    Mike Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    82 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 32 hours, 23 min
    82 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 32 hours, 23 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 82 shows - total playtime 32 hours 23 minutes
    2. Aldrich Family 521214 13 The Roadside Stand.mp3
    3. AllStarW 461222 0020 THE PHANTOM RIDER.mp3
    4. Ambrosebierce Black Mass Moonlit Road.mp3
    5. Avalon Hour 390902 35 Killer Hitchhikers.mp3
    6. Big Town 400000 Death Rides the Highway.mp3
    7. Black Mass Moonlit Road.mp3
    8. Call For Music 480504 'Highway to Love'.mp3
    9. Calling All Cars 350528 e079 Youth Rides Rough.mp3
    10. Calling All Cars 351218 e108 Corpse by the Road.mp3
    11. Calling All Cars 370317 e173 Hit and Run Driver.mp3
    12. Calling All Cars 370907 e198 Tobaccoville Road.mp3
    13. Casey 540113 Road Angel.mp3
    14. CBSRW 570317 57 The Endless Road.mp3
    15. Charles Boyer 501026 17 Parismarseilles Highway.mp3
    16. Clock 470209 The Hitchhiker.mp3
    17. Columbia Workshop 360808 104 Experiment Highway Incid.mp3
    18. Creaking Door 33 Death On the Road.mp3
    19. Dangerously Yours 440702 01 The Highwayman.mp3
    20. DF 490807 056 TheLongRoad.mp3
    21. Diamond Dramas 450627 Highwayman's Diamond.mp3
    22. Dimx e022 TheRoadsMustRoll.mp3
    23. Dinah Shore 430108 41 In Person 'I'm On The Road To Morocco'.mp3
    24. Dinah Shore 430319 51 In Person 'Hit The Road To Dreamland'.mp3
    25. Durante 480107 The Road To Pismo Beach.mp3
    26. FBI 520328 e365 The Phantom Hitchhiker.mp3
    27. fm510501 Hitchhiking Bureau.mp3
    28. fm540414 Freeway Ride.mp3
    29. GG520917 Leroy Gets His Driver's License.mp3
    30. GreenHornet 451122 SuperhighwayRobbery.mp3
    31. ILA 480711 12 Hearse on Highway.mp3
    32. IS460521 Detour to Terror Mason Adams.mp3
    33. IS490606 Death On Highway Ted Osborne Alice Reinhart.mp3
    34. John Steele, Adventurer 501128 The Circle Road.mp3
    35. LR 380805 0087 FourDay Ride.mp3
    36. Lux 520428 789 No Highway In the Sky.mp3
    37. LWTL 521121 Hole In The Road.mp3
    38. Matinee Theater 450225 19 The Highwayman.mp3
    39. MT 460621 303 [MST] The HitchHiker.mp3
    40. MT 501006 Highway of Terror.mp3
    41. Our Miss Brooks 551113 315 Outpost Road [incmplt].mp3
    42. Ph500521 Alice Phil Take Drivers' License Exams.mp3
    43. PM 2774 In On A State Road.mp3
    44. SkyKing 450731 Mountain Detour.mp3
    45. Superman 411114 e0276 PanAmHighway,ThePart1.mp3
    46. Superman 411117 e0277 PanAmHighway,ThePart2.mp3
    47. Superman 411119 e0278 PanAmHighway,ThePart3.mp3
    48. Superman 411121 e0279 PanAmHighway,ThePart4.mp3
    49. Superman 411124 e0280 PanAmHighway,ThePart5.mp3
    50. Superman 411126 e0281 PanAmHighway,ThePart6.mp3
    51. Superman 411128 e0282 PanAmHighway,ThePart7.mp3
    52. Superman 411201 e0283 PanAmHighway,ThePart8.mp3
    53. Superman 411203 e0284 PanAmHighway,ThePart9.mp3
    54. Superman 411205 e0285 PanAmHighway,ThePart10.mp3
    55. Superman 411208 e0286 PanAmHighway,ThePart11.mp3
    56. Superman 411210 e0287 PanAmHighway,ThePart12.mp3
    57. Superman 411212 e0288 PanAmHighway,ThePart13.mp3
    58. Superman 411215 e0289 PanAmHighway,ThePart14.mp3
    59. Superman 411217 e0290 PanAmHighway,ThePart15.mp3
    60. SUSP 420902 011 The Hitchhiker.mp3
    61. SUSP 430126 026 Death Went Along for the Ride.mp3
    62. SUSP 440106 073 One Way Ride To Nowhere Alan Ladd.mp3
    63. SUSP 440427 089 Death Went Along for the Ride.mp3
    64. SUSP 451004 161 Death on Highway 99.mp3
    65. SUSP 460321 185 The Lonely Road.mp3
    66. SUSP 470206 231 The End of the Road.mp3
    67. SUSP 490203 326 Backseat Driver.mp3
    68. SUSP 501116 403 On A Country Road.mp3
    69. SUSP 510827 436 The Report on the Jolly Death Riders.mp3
    70. SUSP 581108 776 Two for the Road.mp3
    71. SUSP 590118 786 Ride Down Cajon.mp3
    72. SUSP 620708 933 The Sin Eater.mp3
    73. SUSP 620715 934 Snow on 66.mp3
    74. Texas Rangers 510527 Joy Ride.mp3
    75. Thrills Highway Patrol 002 Tom Mix.mp3
    76. Thrills Highway Patrol 026.mp3
    77. Thrills Highway Patrol 031.mp3
    78. Thrills Highway Patrol 032.mp3
    79. True Det Mystery 571014 Body in the Road.mp3
    80. Whistler 420822 e015 Death has a Thirst.mp3
    81. Whistler 450709 e164 Highway Of Escape.mp3
    82. Whistler 531227 e603 Lonley Highway.mp3
    83. Witch's Tale 370212 Haunted Crossroads.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    82 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 32 hours, 23 min
    82 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 32 hours, 23 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 82 shows - total playtime 32 hours 23 minutes
    2. Aldrich Family 521214 13 The Roadside Stand.mp3
    3. AllStarW 461222 0020 THE PHANTOM RIDER.mp3
    4. Ambrosebierce Black Mass Moonlit Road.mp3
    5. Avalon Hour 390902 35 Killer Hitchhikers.mp3
    6. Big Town 400000 Death Rides the Highway.mp3
    7. Black Mass Moonlit Road.mp3
    8. Call For Music 480504 'Highway to Love'.mp3
    9. Calling All Cars 350528 e079 Youth Rides Rough.mp3
    10. Calling All Cars 351218 e108 Corpse by the Road.mp3
    11. Calling All Cars 370317 e173 Hit and Run Driver.mp3
    12. Calling All Cars 370907 e198 Tobaccoville Road.mp3
    13. Casey 540113 Road Angel.mp3
    14. CBSRW 570317 57 The Endless Road.mp3
    15. Charles Boyer 501026 17 Parismarseilles Highway.mp3
    16. Clock 470209 The Hitchhiker.mp3
    17. Columbia Workshop 360808 104 Experiment Highway Incid.mp3
    18. Creaking Door 33 Death On the Road.mp3
    19. Dangerously Yours 440702 01 The Highwayman.mp3
    20. DF 490807 056 TheLongRoad.mp3
    21. Diamond Dramas 450627 Highwayman's Diamond.mp3
    22. Dimx e022 TheRoadsMustRoll.mp3
    23. Dinah Shore 430108 41 In Person 'I'm On The Road To Morocco'.mp3
    24. Dinah Shore 430319 51 In Person 'Hit The Road To Dreamland'.mp3
    25. Durante 480107 The Road To Pismo Beach.mp3
    26. FBI 520328 e365 The Phantom Hitchhiker.mp3
    27. fm510501 Hitchhiking Bureau.mp3
    28. fm540414 Freeway Ride.mp3
    29. GG520917 Leroy Gets His Driver's License.mp3
    30. GreenHornet 451122 SuperhighwayRobbery.mp3
    31. ILA 480711 12 Hearse on Highway.mp3
    32. IS460521 Detour to Terror Mason Adams.mp3
    33. IS490606 Death On Highway Ted Osborne Alice Reinhart.mp3
    34. John Steele, Adventurer 501128 The Circle Road.mp3
    35. LR 380805 0087 FourDay Ride.mp3
    36. Lux 520428 789 No Highway In the Sky.mp3
    37. LWTL 521121 Hole In The Road.mp3
    38. Matinee Theater 450225 19 The Highwayman.mp3
    39. MT 460621 303 [MST] The HitchHiker.mp3
    40. MT 501006 Highway of Terror.mp3
    41. Our Miss Brooks 551113 315 Outpost Road [incmplt].mp3
    42. Ph500521 Alice Phil Take Drivers' License Exams.mp3
    43. PM 2774 In On A State Road.mp3
    44. SkyKing 450731 Mountain Detour.mp3
    45. Superman 411114 e0276 PanAmHighway,ThePart1.mp3
    46. Superman 411117 e0277 PanAmHighway,ThePart2.mp3
    47. Superman 411119 e0278 PanAmHighway,ThePart3.mp3
    48. Superman 411121 e0279 PanAmHighway,ThePart4.mp3
    49. Superman 411124 e0280 PanAmHighway,ThePart5.mp3
    50. Superman 411126 e0281 PanAmHighway,ThePart6.mp3
    51. Superman 411128 e0282 PanAmHighway,ThePart7.mp3
    52. Superman 411201 e0283 PanAmHighway,ThePart8.mp3
    53. Superman 411203 e0284 PanAmHighway,ThePart9.mp3
    54. Superman 411205 e0285 PanAmHighway,ThePart10.mp3
    55. Superman 411208 e0286 PanAmHighway,ThePart11.mp3
    56. Superman 411210 e0287 PanAmHighway,ThePart12.mp3
    57. Superman 411212 e0288 PanAmHighway,ThePart13.mp3
    58. Superman 411215 e0289 PanAmHighway,ThePart14.mp3
    59. Superman 411217 e0290 PanAmHighway,ThePart15.mp3
    60. SUSP 420902 011 The Hitchhiker.mp3
    61. SUSP 430126 026 Death Went Along for the Ride.mp3
    62. SUSP 440106 073 One Way Ride To Nowhere Alan Ladd.mp3
    63. SUSP 440427 089 Death Went Along for the Ride.mp3
    64. SUSP 451004 161 Death on Highway 99.mp3
    65. SUSP 460321 185 The Lonely Road.mp3
    66. SUSP 470206 231 The End of the Road.mp3
    67. SUSP 490203 326 Backseat Driver.mp3
    68. SUSP 501116 403 On A Country Road.mp3
    69. SUSP 510827 436 The Report on the Jolly Death Riders.mp3
    70. SUSP 581108 776 Two for the Road.mp3
    71. SUSP 590118 786 Ride Down Cajon.mp3
    72. SUSP 620708 933 The Sin Eater.mp3
    73. SUSP 620715 934 Snow on 66.mp3
    74. Texas Rangers 510527 Joy Ride.mp3
    75. Thrills Highway Patrol 002 Tom Mix.mp3
    76. Thrills Highway Patrol 026.mp3
    77. Thrills Highway Patrol 031.mp3
    78. Thrills Highway Patrol 032.mp3
    79. True Det Mystery 571014 Body in the Road.mp3
    80. Whistler 420822 e015 Death has a Thirst.mp3
    81. Whistler 450709 e164 Highway Of Escape.mp3
    82. Whistler 531227 e603 Lonley Highway.mp3
    83. Witch's Tale 370212 Haunted Crossroads.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    82 recordings on 34 Audio CDs. Total playtime 32 hours, 23 min
    82 recordings on 34 Audio CDs
    total playtime 32 hours, 23 min

    Open Road Disc A001

    1. Ambrosebierce Black Mass Moonlit Road
    2. Black Mass Moonlit Road

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Open Road Disc A002

    1. Creaking Door 33 Death On the Road
    2. Dimx e022 TheRoadsMustRoll
    3. PM 2774 In On A State Road

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    Open Road Disc A003

    1. Thrills Highway Patrol 002 Tom Mix
    2. Thrills Highway Patrol 026
    3. Thrills Highway Patrol 031
    4. Thrills Highway Patrol 032

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    Open Road Disc A004

    1. Calling All Cars 350528 e079 Youth Rides Rough
    2. Calling All Cars 351218 e108 Corpse by the Road

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    Open Road Disc A005

    1. Columbia Workshop 360808 104 Experiment Highway Incid
    2. Witch's Tale 370212 Haunted Crossroads

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    Open Road Disc A006

    1. Calling All Cars 370317 e173 Hit and Run Driver
    2. Calling All Cars 370907 e198 Tobaccoville Road

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    Open Road Disc A007

    1. LR 380805 0087 FourDay Ride
    2. Avalon Hour 390902 35 Killer Hitchhikers

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    Open Road Disc A008

    1. Big Town 400000 Death Rides the Highway
    2. Superman 411114 e0276 PanAmHighway,ThePart1
    3. Superman 411117 e0277 PanAmHighway,ThePart2
    4. Superman 411119 e0278 PanAmHighway,ThePart3

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    Open Road Disc A009

    1. Superman 411121 e0279 PanAmHighway,ThePart4
    2. Superman 411124 e0280 PanAmHighway,ThePart5
    3. Superman 411126 e0281 PanAmHighway,ThePart6
    4. Superman 411128 e0282 PanAmHighway,ThePart7
    5. Superman 411201 e0283 PanAmHighway,ThePart8
    6. Superman 411203 e0284 PanAmHighway,ThePart9

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    Open Road Disc A010

    1. Superman 411205 e0285 PanAmHighway,ThePart10
    2. Superman 411208 e0286 PanAmHighway,ThePart11
    3. Superman 411210 e0287 PanAmHighway,ThePart12
    4. Superman 411212 e0288 PanAmHighway,ThePart13
    5. Superman 411215 e0289 PanAmHighway,ThePart14
    6. Superman 411217 e0290 PanAmHighway,ThePart15

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    Open Road Disc A011

    1. Whistler 420822 e015 Death has a Thirst
    2. SUSP 420902 011 The Hitchhiker

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    Open Road Disc A012

    1. Dinah Shore 430108 41 In Person 'I'm On The Road To Morocco'
    2. SUSP 430126 026 Death Went Along for the Ride
    3. Dinah Shore 430319 51 In Person 'Hit The Road To Dreamland'

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    Open Road Disc A013

    1. SUSP 440106 073 One Way Ride To Nowhere Alan Ladd
    2. SUSP 440427 089 Death Went Along for the Ride

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    Open Road Disc A014

    1. Dangerously Yours 440702 01 The Highwayman
    2. Matinee Theater 450225 19 The Highwayman

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    Open Road Disc A015

    1. Diamond Dramas 450627 Highwayman's Diamond
    2. Whistler 450709 e164 Highway Of Escape
    3. SkyKing 450731 Mountain Detour

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    Open Road Disc A016

    1. SUSP 451004 161 Death on Highway 99
    2. GreenHornet 451122 SuperhighwayRobbery

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    Open Road Disc A017

    1. SUSP 460321 185 The Lonely Road
    2. IS460521 Detour to Terror Mason Adams

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    Open Road Disc A018

    1. MT 460621 303 [MST] The HitchHiker
    2. AllStarW 461222 0020 THE PHANTOM RIDER

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    Open Road Disc A019

    1. SUSP 470206 231 The End of the Road
    2. Clock 470209 The Hitchhiker

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    Open Road Disc A020

    1. Durante 480107 The Road To Pismo Beach
    2. Call For Music 480504 'Highway to Love'

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    Open Road Disc A021

    1. ILA 480711 12 Hearse on Highway
    2. SUSP 490203 326 Backseat Driver

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    Open Road Disc A022

    1. IS490606 Death On Highway Ted Osborne Alice Reinhart
    2. DF 490807 056 TheLongRoad

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    Open Road Disc A023

    1. Ph500521 Alice Phil Take Drivers' License Exams
    2. MT 501006 Highway of Terror

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    Open Road Disc A024

    1. Charles Boyer 501026 17 Parismarseilles Highway
    2. SUSP 501116 403 On A Country Road

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    Open Road Disc A025

    1. John Steele, Adventurer 501128 The Circle Road
    2. fm510501 Hitchhiking Bureau

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    Open Road Disc A026

    1. Texas Rangers 510527 Joy Ride
    2. SUSP 510827 436 The Report on the Jolly Death Riders

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    Open Road Disc A027

    1. FBI 520328 e365 The Phantom Hitchhiker

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    Open Road Disc A028

    1. Lux 520428 789 No Highway In the Sky

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    Open Road Disc A029

    1. GG520917 Leroy Gets His Driver's License
    2. LWTL 521121 Hole In The Road

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    Open Road Disc A030

    1. Aldrich Family 521214 13 The Roadside Stand
    2. Whistler 531227 e603 Lonley Highway

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Open Road Disc A031

    1. Casey 540113 Road Angel
    2. fm540414 Freeway Ride
    3. Our Miss Brooks 551113 315 Outpost Road [incmplt]

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    Open Road Disc A032

    1. CBSRW 570317 57 The Endless Road
    2. True Det Mystery 571014 Body in the Road
    3. SUSP 581108 776 Two for the Road

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    Open Road Disc A033

    1. SUSP 590118 786 Ride Down Cajon
    2. SUSP 620708 933 The Sin Eater

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    Open Road Disc A034

    1. SUSP 620715 934 Snow on 66

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