I have a playlist called “Driving” on my iPod:
Low Rider by War
***Cynical Girl ***by Marshall Crenshaw
***Rock Island Line ***by Johnny Cash
***Grits Ain’t Groceries ***by Little Milton
Faron by Prefab Sprout
***Run on For a Long Time ***by Blind Boys of Alabama
***Rainy Night in Georgia ***by Brook Benton
***Shake Your Money Maker ***by Elmore James
***Hot Rod ***by the Collins Kids
***Peter Gunn ***by Henry Mancini
***Put the Message in the Box ***by World Party
I put on the soundtrack for The Bourne Supremacy.
Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road - Loudon Wainwright III
"Crossin’ the highway late last night
He shoulda looked left and he shoulda looked right
He didn’t see the station wagon car
The skunk got squashed and there you are!
You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin’ to high Heaven!"
Personally?, can’t travel without it!
Uhh… Lynne? Look, you won’t take it personally if I tell you that I really don’t need that ride to Saskatoon after all, will ya…?
*New Jersey Turnpike in the wee wee hours
I was rolling slowly ‘cause of drizzlin’ showers
Up come a flattop he was movin’ up with me
Then come sailin’ goodbye
In a little old souped up mini
I put my foot in my tank and I begin to roll
Moanin’ sirens, was the state patrol
So I get out my wings and then I blew my horn
Bye-bye New Jersey I become airborne
Now you can’t catch me
No, baby, you can’t catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I’m gone like a cool breeze*
Chuck Berry was a road warrior.
The following songs trigger my wanderlust:
San Diego Serenade - Tom Waits
Ol 55 - Tom Waits
Diamonds on my winshield - Tom Waits
Darlington County - Bruce Springsteen
One Too Many Mornings - Joan Baez
Early Morning Rain - Ian and Sylvia
Summer wages - Ian and Sylvia
Egad, I’m getting old!
A couple years back I made a mix-CD for my girlfriend that had as its title “Music For Driving”. Not necessarily “driving” music in terms of tempo or content, but it’s good music that works well on the road. I don’t remember the order, but here were the tracks:
“Driven to Tears” The Police
“Hable Con Ella” from the score to the film Hable Con Ella
“My Girlfriend’s Dead” The Vandals
“Detour Ahead” Bill Evans Trio
“I’m on Fire” Bruce Springsteen
“Satellite” Luscious Jackson
“Soul Flower” The Pharcyde
“Little Martha” Allman Brothers Band
“This Magic Moment” Lou Reed
“There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” The Smiths
“Shark Drive” The Lounge Lizards
“Your Love Is the Place Where I Come From” Teenage Fanclub
“Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Reprise)” Bob Dylan and The Band
“Don’t Let Me Down” The Beatles
“Watch Your Step” Elvis Costello (a live bootleg version)
It is a pretty good mix of genres and it’s all great music.
I think he’d die for Beethoven.
You are, of course, required to sing along with the bridge, and shout it out when you get to “You stupid dumbshit goddam MOTHERFUCKER!” (Hopefully not at a stoplight with cars next to you.)
Lately, I’m finding Gito Gito Hustler (Japanese all-girl pop-punk group) is great music to drive by.
Also, the last two albums from Heartless Bastards are pretty sweet to drive to.
“Goin down the road feelin bad” (live) by The Grateful Dead
“Arrested for driving while blind” “El Diablo” and “Pan Am highway blues” from the album “Tejas” by ZZ Top always make a drive more enjoyable.
Deep Purple – Made in Japan, it starts with Highway Star and ends with Space Trucking. Possibly the best live album ever recorded…it only features seven songs, but it is pure heavy metal heaven.