What are some good songs for the road?
Can’t go wrong with Wagner.
In heavy traffic, or cruising on the highway?
I find my morning drive goes much better with heavy metal, punk, Devo, etc. turned up REAL LOUD. It generates enough adrenalin to deal with Panama City’s gonzo taxi drivers and careening buses.
Blues for the road. Always the blues.
Radar Love by Golden Earring, especially if it’s a road trip to see your lover.
The Carpenters are also good, if you want to sing embarrassing songs loudly to yourself so that you can stay awake.
“DON’T YOU REMEMBER YOU TOLD ME YOU LOVED ME, BABY!”
How can you go wrong with a full menu of Moody Blues sweet, sweet music?
I just burned a bunch of discs for a road trip last night, and they included albums by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Lizette &, Grand Ole Party, Kings of Leon, Eels, Ladyhawke, and The Decemberists.
Any driving mix has to include Thuderstruck by AC/DC, preferably the live version. It’s, like, a law, isn’t it? It should be.
I just made a mix disk for a friend that was heading out on a long drive (ostensibly to keep her awake, but also because she just wasn’t keeping up with fun music… that’s got a beat).
“Tunes for a Bouncy Road” :
You Got Your Cherry Bomb – Spoon
Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend
Dashboard – Modest Mouse
Atlantic – The Profits
People Get Ready – Ziggy Marley
Alone Again Or – Calexico
Alfie – Lily Allen
Mister Blue Sky (ELO Cover) – Lily Allen
We Get On – Kate Nash
Anyway – Exit
Shine – newsboys
If you want to be free (Harold & Maude) – Cat Stevens
I’m No Superman (Scrubs theme)-- Lazlo Bane
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head [live] – Ben Folds Five
The Underdog – Spoon
Missing (Sat Dance Mix) – Everything But The Girl
Days Are Mighty – Jeb Loy Nichols
Firecracker – Ryan Adams
Put Your Records On [live] – Corinne Bailey Rae
Cartoon music. Just don’t drive off cliffs.
I would always cue up Pretenders “Pack It Up” (from their second album) on the tape deck when I hit a particular stretch of I-66 near Marshall, VA.
While outside on the turnpike
They got this new hit tune
Where thrills become as cheap as gas
And gas as cheap as thrills
“Before The Kiss, A Redcap” - Blue Oyster Cult*
Genesis’ “Abacab” is also essential for a driving playlist, only you need to watch your speed when playing it.
*True, this was recorded before the '73 Arab oil boycott, but the imagery still holds.
Runnin’ Down a Dream – Tom Petty
“Windfall” by Son Volt would probably be near the top of my list.
“Drivin’ Sister” by Mott the Hoople
“Drivin’” by the Kinks
“Going Mobile” by the Who
“Drive My Car” by the Beatles
“Road House Blues” by the Doors
“Highway 49” by Howlin’ Wolf
“Highway 61 Revisited” by Bob Dylan
“Carefree Highway” by Gordon Lightfoot
“Nothing But the Wheel” by Peter Wolf
Gotta have “Roadrunner” by The Modern Lovers.
Autobahn by Kraftwerk
Cars by Gary Numan
The** Run, Lola, Run** soundtrack if you can drive fast.
If you’re stuck in gridlock, the best song is Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor by Liszt. Had fun blasting it on the Kennedy one hot afternoon.
If it’s a big road trip on highways out in the country and all that, I’d pick just about anything involving Tom Petty. Heartbreakers, Wilburys, Mudcrutch. Literally just about everything.
If it’s just driving around on city streets, reggae and new wave. I don’t know why, it just works.
I believe Weezer’s sweater song is required for driving. I like to sing at the top of my lungs while driving, and what’s better than a highly repetitive song with a limited range for singing along?