My Favourite Tracks This Week: Road Trip Playlist
At the weekend my fiance and I had to tackle a particularly long and arduous road trip; we moved house, gathering, packing driving our belongings from one end of the country to another. I think music can really make a great journey. Here’s why:
1. Baby Blue — Badfinger (1972)
We have Breaking Bad to thank for exposing this classic to the masses. It has the great guitar and earthy vocals to match any long distance road journey. Instant smiles.
2. Bring it on Home — Led Zeppelin (1969)
Any Led Zeppelin song will do but the way that Bring it on Home literally transposes into a completely different tune, going from bluesy stare-into-the-distance (not if you’re the driver), to air-drumming sing-along greatness really does the job.
3. Have You Forgotten — Red House Painters (1996)
It’s a tough one with slower songs because you face the risk of well, falling asleep. But I had to put this one in, it’s like riding a slow, softly-brushing-against-the-shore guitar wave, with the vocals sending you into a lovely, warm, happy place.
4. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) — Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (1975)
An absolute classic. Everyone knows the words, and has fun singing them. Feel-good driving tune.
5. Have You Ever Seen the Rain — Creedence Clearwater Revival (1971)
Just gorgeous. This one has to be on so many people’s road trip playlist — it’s perfect for cross-country driving.
6. Always Be — Jimmy Eat World (2007)
Jimmy Eat World are one of my favourite’s and many, many songs will help remove those motorway-blues (Work is another great one), but I love this track because of it’s upbeat sing-along feel. If you know the words it’s a really fun, uplifting song to sing, despite the lyrics not actually being about something that nice, but er, ignore that for now and sing!
7. All Right Now — Free (1971)
Whether you’re a Free fan or not it’d be rather odd if you’d never heard this song. It is quite possibly one of the most feel-good rock tunes in history, and while I don’t advocate air-guitaring while driving, there’s a pretty good air-bass guitar and lead-guitar duo to be had here.
8. Going Up The Country — Canned Heat (1968)
This song = instant happiness. Played at Woodstock, it’s such a feel-good, walk-on-air tune. And especially relevant if you’re, well, going up the country away from the city. Or even if you aren’t. Still great.
9. Time Is On Our Side — Azure Blue (2013)
Moving forwards in time now — I’m a big fan of electronic music and I think this such a lovely tune from Tobias Isaksson and his solo project Azure Blue. Really great for driving in the sun.
10. Silver Lady — David Soul (1977)
Just wait till you get to the chorus. Once you know the lyrics you’ll love singing them. A proper soulful, american-style tune. It’s close to my heart for family reasons so I really love belting this out down the motorway.
