In a few weeks, I have to take a 3-day drive, alone, across a number of the flatest states in the nation. I’m putting together the CD’s I want to play in order to stay awake & alert while crossing Oklahoma, Texas, etc. and I’d like to get doper suggestions. Here’s a list of what I have so far:
Original Masters - Jethro Tull
Dead man’s Party - Oingo Boingo
Conan the Barbarian soundtrack - Basil Poledouris
One of the 500 or so Ventures collections
Best of Beausoleil w/ Micheal Doucet (French/Cajun zydeco)
I’m Breathless - Madonna
Fogarty’s Cove - Stan Rogers
I’m looking to get another 3 or 4 CD’s this weekend. I’m looking for upbeat music, interesting but not necessarily loud, some instrumental and some vocal. I may want to sing along at the top of my lungs from time to time. I am considering the soundtrack to “Grosse Pointe Blanke”, “Synchronicity” by the Police, possibly some music anthologies. Any suggestions? I’m sure there are hundreds I don’t have time to think of because my brain is on coordinating a move several states away, training my work replacement, etc.
There’s a compilation CD from about five years ago called “Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits” with old cartoon themes covered by folks like Liz Phair and The Ramones. It’s upbeat and has high sing-along-withabilityness (if you’ve had enough exposure to 70s cartoons), but it’s not so familiar that it will lull you to sleep.
You might also try “Audio” by Blue Man Group. I can only describe it as techno-tribal. If you like that style, it’s a good source of energy, and has 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of jamming.
Bjork – Homogenic
Ani Difranco – To the Teeth
Pi – The Soundtrack
Hooverphonic – New Stereo Sound Spectacular
Beethoven – Symphonies 5 & 9 (These are my favorites, but any Beethoven will do nicely)
If you’ve already got these or they are not your style, I can suggest more.
Might I suggest … show tunes? Many will have songs familiar to you, and even if you don’t know any of them, lots are catchy. And you can keep youself entertaining by imagining the story of the show, if you haven’t seen it, by listening to the songs.
Some of my favorites:
A Chorus Line
Oklahoma!
The Sound of Music
South Pacific
If you’re an Oingo Boingo fan, “Good For Your Soul” is a great driving album. I like They Might Be Giants for driving, too - “Flood” is lots of fun. Along those same lines, the B52s “Cosmic Thing” keeps me awake on drives.
Beck is good too, especially “Odelay.” If you’re a fan of weird music, Zappa always kept things interesting (“One Size Fits All” is my favorite), and so did the Talking Heads (especially “Speaking in Tongues” and “Remain in Light”).
And how about Red Hot Chili Peppers? Or is that going too far?
I’ve got a million of em, folks, but I’ve also got a heart.
“Crash” Dave Matthews Band
the new Tracy Bonham album (name?!
If you’re into jazz, Diana Krall “Love Scenes” is my favorite as is her new one (again, can’t think of the name!).
I also find myself singing along to most of the songs on Anita Baker’s “Rapture” CD. I can’t sing but since no one else can hear me, it works out great!
Farris, Rhapsody in Blue is my favorite too - what a wonderfully sensual piece!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and link. I’m going to pass around a compiled list to some local friends and see if I can get a listen to the ones I’m unfamiliar with.
I thought I might add a Gilbert & Sullivan. I can pretend to sing along, at least within my limited vocal range.
Showtunes and soundtracks are particulary good for driving because I can run the movies in my head while singing along.
BTW, can anyone recommend a particular Dire Straits and ZZ Top album? I like them, but I don’t own any of their stuff.
Dire Straits!? How could I forget them? Brothers In Arms RULES, baby! What a great album. I’m not a great fan of the radio hits they had off it but all the rest of the songs rock.
best all time driving tune is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, as for other ones, i don’t know, but the chilli peppers and reel big fish are 2 of my favorites.