Once again back is the incredible / the rhyme animal / etc etc etc

February 19, 2009 1:14 AM

Your favourite 'Back' and 'Return' songs. Music fans - hit me!

Hi all,

A sibling is returning from a far-off place and I'm driving to the airport to collect. I need to make a badass mixtape full of returning songs.

Provisos:
*It's a sibling - so no romantic 'got you back so let's make love'-type songs.
*Cheese-wise we're talking power cheese or no cheese at all. The compelling stupidity of Backstreet's Back is a good choice. The over-every-college-movie-montage horror of The Boys are Back in Town is less okay. Back in the USSR and Get Back are great. Tangential stuff like Back from Fan Francisco by Magnetic Fields is good too.
* The sibling is not into the metal.
*The sibling will likely by hysterical with jet lag. Subtle cuts from a dubstep mixtape with 'back' in the title will likely go right over heads.

Thanks!

posted by Cantdosleepy to sports, hobbies, & recreation (49 answers total)

"Back in Black", AC/DC. No doubt.
posted by sellout at 1:25 AM on February 19, 2009

"Back in the New York Groove" -- the Ace Frehley version. That is some sweet power cheese.

"The Return of the Red Baron" by the Royal Guardsmen. Heh.
posted by litlnemo at 1:34 AM on February 19, 2009

Almost every year until I was a teenager, my family would drive from Newfoundland to Ottawa, where my mother grew up.

And every year, my mom would put in the Bruce Springsteen tape containing "My Hometown" such that it would end right as we passed the "welcome to Ottawa" sign. I haven't come into Ottawa from the east since 2003, and I could be within 5 seconds of that sign if I tried.

Bruce Springsteen - My Hometown.
This might not actually be your sibling's hometown. I don't care. It's still a returning song.

And, of course, Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound.
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:36 AM on February 19, 2009

The Mountain Goats do a surprisingly heartfelt and uncheesy cover of The Boys Are Back in Town, FWIW.
posted by Zozo at 1:36 AM on February 19, 2009

Also: "Return to Sender", Elvis Presley.

And just in case you're looking for any "home" type songs:

"Take Me Home, Country Roads", John Denver
"Homeward Bound", Simon & Garfunkel
"Sweet Home Chicago", Robert Johnson/The Blues Brothers/etc.
posted by sellout at 1:45 AM on February 19, 2009

"Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison. Not sure if it's cheesy enough for you, but worth a try. It's one of those "you thought I was down but I'm back" type of songs.
posted by Piscean at 1:45 AM on February 19, 2009

Golden Earring - Back Home Think Grand Funk Railroad with flute breaks. Crank this baby up and let it all hang out. We used to play song in the car when we were travelling back home to The Hague (where this band hails from).
posted by ouke at 1:47 AM on February 19, 2009

"Back in the Saddle," Aerosmith.
posted by contrariwise at 2:08 AM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

'I Am Home' Massive Attack
'Back on the Chain Gang' & 'My City Was Gone' Pretenders
'Do You Know The Way To San Jose?' D Warwick
'Crawling Back To You' Tom Petty & The HBs
'I Want You Back' Jackson 5
'Flying Home' Lionel hampton
'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' The Clash
posted by artdrectr at 2:12 AM on February 19, 2009

Probably because it has my name in it, but I love Mack The Knife Yeah, I'm back in town! eh... Well, even if your brother does not share my name...it's a cool song. (The Bobby Darin version of course, definitely not the Westlife version.)
posted by thread_makimaki at 2:15 AM on February 19, 2009

Wildchild - Renegade Master
posted by pompomtom at 2:16 AM on February 19, 2009

Goin' Home. Done well by at least a few people: Ten Years After, live at Woodstock and more recently, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jeff Beck.
posted by ambient2 at 2:21 AM on February 19, 2009

only if they have a sense of humor...
posted by aquafortis at 2:51 AM on February 19, 2009

Back in the Good Old World - Tom Waits.
posted by Dumsnill at 3:27 AM on February 19, 2009

Remind Me - Royksopp. The version on their album Melody A.M. has a kind of dreamy feel that would relieve jet lag in me, maybe not in your sister.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 4:01 AM on February 19, 2009

Back in Time, the Huey Lewis classic from Back to the Future?
posted by jozxyqk at 4:36 AM on February 19, 2009

Giving the archive a quick once-over:

Andreas Tillander - Back to the USA
Benny Goodman feat. Liza Morrow - My Guy's Come Back [Well, maybe not]
Bill Gillum - Go back to the country
Dean Martin - Come Running Back [Somewhat love-songish]
Frank Zappa - Return of the hunch-back duke [you take it and turn it!]
Gene Autry - Back in the saddle again [Many different iterations - this is oldsy]
Mississippi mud mashers - Bring it on home to grandma
Morrissey - Come back to Camden [If it's raining maybe. Also lovey]

Metafilter - Got you back so let's make love
posted by monocultured at 4:42 AM on February 19, 2009

MC5's version of the chuck berry song Back in the USA
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:33 AM on February 19, 2009

I'm Going Home, by Ten Years After?
posted by thejoshu at 6:02 AM on February 19, 2009

A Sort of Homecoming - U2?
posted by baltimoretim at 6:07 AM on February 19, 2009

"The Bitch is Back," Elton John
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 6:08 AM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Home for a Rest" by Great Big Sea?
posted by meesha at 6:29 AM on February 19, 2009

"Going back to Denver" by Secret Stealth. Instrumental, great chillout song. If you have trouble finding it, mefi mail me and I'll be glad to help.
posted by pennstatephil at 6:44 AM on February 19, 2009

"Back Home" by Cold
"Boondocks" by Little Big Town (high cheese factor)
"Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett
"Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters (orig), Buddy Guy, or Eric Clapton
posted by te1contar at 7:00 AM on February 19, 2009

"Comin' Back" by the Crystal Method
"Bring The Boys Back Home" by Pink Floyd

(Please tell us the playlist you end up with!)
posted by Monster_Zero at 7:06 AM on February 19, 2009

Marc Broussard, "Home."

Funky and fun! Truly, give it a listen. It's a great song to play LOUD while driving FAST. Bonus: Includes a family relationship.

"This greyhound is delta bound mama
Baby boy done finally found his way home
Said take me home"..
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:11 AM on February 19, 2009

Doesn't get much cheesier (or awesomer) than 'Back Where You Belong' by .38 Special. It's lovey, but I'll stand by it for this application.
Someone mentioned John Denver, but I'd personally go with 'Back Home Again' if you're only doing one song per artist.
Steely Dan's 'Do It Again' might be close.
How about LL Cool J? 'Don't Call it a Comeback' might be just the thing.
Good luck!
posted by willpie at 7:14 AM on February 19, 2009

How about Back in the High Life Again by Steve Winwood?
posted by BobbyVan at 7:24 AM on February 19, 2009

Oh, and Mama I'm Comin Home by Ozzy Osborne would fit the bill too.
posted by BobbyVan at 7:32 AM on February 19, 2009

And Talking Heads, Naive Melody (which starts with "Home, is where i want to be...").
posted by BobbyVan at 7:37 AM on February 19, 2009

Eddie Money, Take Me Home Tonight. Yes, it's a romantic song, but the cheese factor is off the charts.
posted by BobbyVan at 7:42 AM on February 19, 2009

Nobody's mentioned "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian?
Also try "Coming Home" by Ian Thomas.
Both are pure 70's cheesy goodness.
posted by rocket88 at 7:59 AM on February 19, 2009

"Without Me" by Eminem.
posted by 3FLryan at 8:03 AM on February 19, 2009

Ruth Brown's version of Sentimental Journey is great.
Comin' Home Baby by Mel Torme (A teeny bit romantic, but still a must for loungy, jazzy, cheezy goodness)
posted by brookeb at 8:25 AM on February 19, 2009

Maybe not the right message, but excellent all the same ...

"Can't Find My Way Home" - Blind Faith
... or as covered by Swans or Sneaker Pimps.
posted by grabbingsand at 8:35 AM on February 19, 2009

"Home Sweet Home" - Motley Crue

(I figured someone would've listed this already ...)
posted by grabbingsand at 8:37 AM on February 19, 2009

Mark Knopler's "Going Home" - theme from "Local Hero". Instrumental but you might like.

Dory Previn's "Mythical Kings and Iguanas" is nice.
posted by rongorongo at 9:18 AM on February 19, 2009

if you want power cheese - how about Green, Green Grass of Home by Tom Jones?

Just skip over the last verse where he talks about it all being the dream of a prisoner on death row!
posted by TheOtherGuy at 9:48 AM on February 19, 2009

Neil Young - "Drive Back" (off of Zuma)
posted by porn in the woods at 10:19 AM on February 19, 2009

Don't call it a comeback
I been here for years
Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear
posted by googly at 10:25 AM on February 19, 2009

Find Your Way Back - Jefferson Starship
Small Town - John Cougar Mellencamp
Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Hello From Venus - The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
posted by Sailormom at 10:36 AM on February 19, 2009

Bob Andy - I've Got To Go Back Home
Bob Wills - Take Me Back to Tulsa
Yo La Tengo - I Feel Like Going Home
Cornershop - Good to be on the Road Back Home
posted by hydrophonic at 11:07 AM on February 19, 2009

how about Closer To My Home by Grand Funk? Obligatory!
posted by Redhush at 11:47 AM on February 19, 2009

Kanye West w/Chris Martin - Homecoming
posted by theDrizzle at 11:52 AM on February 19, 2009

Just make a mixtape with nothing but Return of the Mack.
posted by chunking express at 4:48 PM on February 19, 2009

Nirvana "Sliver" :)
posted by citron at 5:43 PM on February 19, 2009

What?? No "Going Back to Cali"?? C'mon, AskMe!
posted by crinklebat at 8:50 PM on February 19, 2009

Never Gonna Come Back Down - BT & M. Doughty
Never Going Back Again - Fleetwood Mac (and the Matchbox Twenty cover is quite good as well)
Come Back - Pearl Jam
Please Return It - The Posies
posted by 2oh1 at 11:36 PM on February 19, 2009

For those who are interested the final tracklisting includes:

Welcome Back - John Sebastian
Back in the USSR - Beatles
Never going back again - Fleetwood Mac
Back on a roll - Super Furry Animals
Back in the saddle again - Gene Autrey
Come Back from San Francisco - Magnetic Fields
Head Home - Midlake
Mama said knock you out - LL Cool J
Go back to the country - Bill Gillum
Come on home - Franz ferdinand
Back in black - acdc
Homesick - The Vines
Homesick - Kings of Convenience
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
This must be the place - Talking Heads
Welcome to the working week - Elvis Costello

Thanks for all your help~!
posted by Cantdosleepy at 9:51 AM on February 20, 2009