Open Road (Jude Cole song)

"Open Road"
Song by Jude Cole
from the album Start the Car
Released	August 25, 1992 (1992-08-25)
Genre	Country rock Heartland rock
Length	5:19
Label	Reprise
Songwriter	Jude Cole
Producers	Jude Cole James Newton Howard

"Open Road" is a song by American singer-songwriter Jude Cole. It appears as the third track on his album Start the Car , released in 1992 on Reprise Records. The song was produced by Cole and James Newton Howard.

Background

"Open Road" was inspired by a road trip Cole took with actor Kiefer Sutherland to Savannah, Georgia, in 1987. ^[1]

Personnel

• Jude Cole – vocals, backing vocals, all guitars, bass guitar, mandocello
• James Newton Howard – keyboards, acoustic piano
• Marc Greene – Hammond organ
• Jeff Porcaro – drums

Kiefer Sutherland cover

"Open Road"
Single by Kiefer Sutherland
from the album Reckless & Me
Released	December 21, 2018 (2018-12-21) [2]
Genre	Country music Americana
Length	4:42
Label	BMG
Songwriter	Jude Cole
Producer	Jude Cole
Kiefer Sutherland singles chronology
"Can't Stay Away" (2016) "Open Road" (2018) "This Is How It's Done" (2019)

In 2018, Kiefer Sutherland recorded a cover of "Open Road", releasing it as a single on December 21 ahead of his album Reckless & Me (2019). Produced by Jude Cole, the version features Sutherland's raw vocals and was issued by BMG. ^[3] Sutherland has described the song as one of his favorites, citing nostalgic reasons for covering it. Cole also plays acoustic guitar on the track. ^[4]

Track listing

Digital single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Open Road"	4:42

Personnel

• Kiefer Sutherland – vocals
• Jude Cole – acoustic guitar
• Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar
• Chris Chaney – bass guitar
• Brian MacLeod – drums
• Jim Cox – piano
• Chaz Mason – backing vocals
• Samantha Nelson – backing vocals
• Carmel Echols – backing vocals
• Greg Leisz – pedal steel

References

1. "Kiefer Sutherland Talks New Album 'Reckless & Me' and Contending With the Actor-Turned-Musician Stigma". Grammy.com. Recording Academy. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
2. "Kiefer Sutherland — "Open Road". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
3. "Album Review: Kiefer Sutherland – Reckless & Me". NARC Magazine. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
4. "Kiefer Sutherland Unleashes "Open Road", Back on the Road in 2019". Adkins Entertainment. Retrieved January 6, 2026.