Best driving song?

October 1, 2007 8:41 PM

Best driving song?

I just replaced my crappy car's crappy broken stereo with a new wizz bang cd/ mp3 player which i can plug my mp3 player into (did the wiring myself and saved $80, hooray).

I want to put together a killer playlist, so I'd like to know what's your favourite driving song? Any style or genre is welcome, I have very broad tastes.

posted by robotot to media & arts (82 comments total)

60 Miles an Hour -- New Order
Roadrunner -- Bo Diddley
Roadrunner -- Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
Radar Love -- Golden Earring
Wanted Man -- Johnny Cash
Son of Mustand Ford -- Swervedriver
Drive It All Over Me -- My Bloody Valentine
Sixteen Tons -- Tennessee Ernie Ford
Endless Black Ribbon -- David Coe
By the Time I get to Phoenix -- Glen Cambell
Over the Ice -- The Field

man, could go on, but you get the picture
posted by unSane at 8:47 PM on October 1, 2007

Eve 6, Open Road Song
posted by ALongDecember at 8:48 PM on October 1, 2007

Ministry: Jesus Built My Hotrod.
posted by pompomtom at 8:49 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite]

depends on where you're driving...

for out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night... anything by the Editors or The Cure.
posted by Mr_Crazyhorse at 8:51 PM on October 1, 2007

Immigrant Song.
posted by googly at 8:53 PM on October 1, 2007

For hot sunny days:

Lonesome Day Blues - Bob Dylan
I'm Always In Love - Wilco

For rainy days:

OK Computer

For winter days:

Vespertine - Bjork

For night driving:

Geogaddi - Boards of Canada

For sunny but cool autumn days:

Belle and Sebastian

For highway drives in the desert or dry country:

Deep Red Bells - Neko Case
Star Witness - Neko Case
posted by KokuRyu at 8:53 PM on October 1, 2007

I find myself driving WAY too fast whenever #11 on this list pops up, silly but its true.

The Passenger, Iggy Pop (there are any number of Iggy Pop songs that will work).

downtempo: Driving on 9 The Breeders
posted by edgeways at 8:59 PM on October 1, 2007

Highway Star - Deep Purple
Autobahn - Kraftwerk
Drivin' South - Jimi Hendrix
Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin

You want stuff that sounds good with extra distortion, so you get an excuse to turn your new speakers up to Fry.
posted by flabdablet at 8:59 PM on October 1, 2007

Weirdly, what leapt to mind was "I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbit.

LA Woman by the Doors.

Ramblin Man by the Almans.
posted by ibmcginty at 8:59 PM on October 1, 2007

Why, it's The Cool Road to Hell, of course!
posted by interrobang at 9:05 PM on October 1, 2007

Love Plus One and Favourite Shirt by Haircut 100.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:06 PM on October 1, 2007

Anything by M. I. A. is driving music to me.
posted by crinklebat at 9:07 PM on October 1, 2007

Pretty much anything by Tom Petty.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:08 PM on October 1, 2007

Rt. 66 - Depeche Mode
posted by MCTDavid at 9:08 PM on October 1, 2007

Pearl Jam, Rearviewmirror or MFC.
posted by robcorr at 9:10 PM on October 1, 2007

hehe, Haircut 100 as driving music... that killed me.

I speaks as someone who owns the Love+1 12"

Check out the pants on the Glockenspiel player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f8Sser_DJU
posted by unSane at 9:14 PM on October 1, 2007

Twin Cadillac Valentine - Screaming Blue Messiahs -- especially good for freaking out your passengers
posted by hydrophonic at 9:17 PM on October 1, 2007

Radar Love.
posted by travosaurus at 9:26 PM on October 1, 2007

...as unSane said. Oops. But it's a damn good choice.
posted by travosaurus at 9:28 PM on October 1, 2007

...and may I recommend a little Sammy Hagar for making an impression on a first date?
posted by hydrophonic at 9:30 PM on October 1, 2007

Leader of the Pack - The Shangri-Las
Little GTO - Ronnie & the Daytonas
Little Deuce Coupe - Beach Boys
Freeway of Love - Aretha
posted by rob511 at 9:32 PM on October 1, 2007

Hot Rod Lincoln, or any of many variants.
posted by anaelith at 9:49 PM on October 1, 2007

One more: Sex Drive - The Embarrassment (mp3)
posted by hydrophonic at 9:50 PM on October 1, 2007

It really is Radar Love. At least for speeding. Especially once they stop singing, which is about halfway through the song, and the beat just gets faster and faster.
posted by smackfu at 9:51 PM on October 1, 2007

Nthing Radar Love.
Especially with a 5-speed on a fun curvy highway at night.
(Takes me back to when I was single, childless, and making semi-frequent roadtrips... Even with random radio choices, it always came on at the most fun part of the drive.)

I also agree with some Pearl Jam, most Tom Petty, and some Peter Gabriel tunes.

Criminy, I need to go on a road trip by myself. It's been too long.
posted by lilywing13 at 9:52 PM on October 1, 2007

For steeringwheel banging:
Rosalita – Bruce Springsteen
Born to Run – Bruuuucceee
Anything of Andrew W.K.'s I Get Wet

For mellow:
Anything by The Books, and
anything that uses the left+right channels to good effect.

And for that late-night Fall drive when you're trying to sort it all out:
Left and Leaving – The Weakerthans
The Light 3000 - Schneider TM

And, really, anything you enjoy singing at the top of yr respiratory organ of choice.
posted by wemayfreeze at 9:55 PM on October 1, 2007

I'm loving all the varied answers...giving me some great ideas.

I'm so used to creating the ultimate headphones playlist to listen to on long bus trips. The driving playlist is a whole different kettle of fish.
posted by robotot at 10:03 PM on October 1, 2007

Songs related to driving:

"Monday" by Wilco ("charlie's fixin' his van with a left-arm tan"). Relatedly, Son Volt's "Windfall."
posted by dismas at 10:10 PM on October 1, 2007

And, really, anything you enjoy singing at the top of yr respiratory organ of choice.

Absofrigginlutely. Your favourite belter songs. I also love heavy guitar-driven rock like Spiderbait or Rage Against the Machine.

But for long drives (I'm Australian, so I know long drives) music needs a touch of melancholy:

- Simon and Garfunkel - The Essential S and G compilation is great
- Eagle Eye Cherry - 'Are You Still Having Fun?'
- Lauryn Hill - I have an awesome a capella version of 'That Thing You Do' with Queen Latifah rapping that is just beautiful, plus the rest of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
- Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
- Skid Row - '18 and Life', at the top of your lungs
- Melanie - especially 'Lay Down', but most of her songs are great for driving

And I was moved to tears once by listening to Lionel Richie's 'Hello' driving in the rain, through the rainforest, at night.
posted by goo at 10:13 PM on October 1, 2007

And Janis! - 'Another Piece of My Heart' at full volume.
posted by goo at 10:16 PM on October 1, 2007

Welcome to the Jungle.

But again, I only think of driving songs as songs that make we want to speed, even if I'm driving through a parking lot.
posted by smackfu at 10:18 PM on October 1, 2007

seconding petty, springsteen, and iggy pop.
also:
the weight - the band
sinner man - nina simone
life is a highway - tom cochrane
punkrocker - teddybears, feat. iggy pop
one of these mornings - moby, feat. patti labelle
lookin' out my back door - creedence clearwater revival (thumping the roof of your gran torino while you smoke joint for effect)
posted by brooklynexperiment at 10:19 PM on October 1, 2007

Is Chicago, is not Chicago or even better, Screenwriter's Blues by Soul Coughing--"you are going to Reseda to make love to a model from Ohio whose real name you don't know". Rolling by Soul Coughing, or pretty much anything off the Soul Coughing CDs El Oso and Ruby Vroom. Los Angeles by X, Thousand Dollar Car by the Bottle Rockets, I'm in Love with My Car by Queen, Walking in LA by Missing Persons, Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo. I guess my driving songs are dominated by thoughts of LA in the past. Also, U2's Unforgettable Fire was once an amazing soundtrack to a road trip through the deserts of the southwest.
posted by tula at 10:21 PM on October 1, 2007

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider, Grateful Dead
posted by Afroblanco at 10:29 PM on October 1, 2007

Also,

St. Stephen -> Not Fade Away -> St. Stephen, Grateful Dead
posted by Afroblanco at 10:29 PM on October 1, 2007

Oh, and how could I forget?

Running Down A Dream, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
posted by Afroblanco at 10:31 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite]

Gad, how could I forget "Windfall" (Son Volt)!?!? This is a MUST.

Switching it over to AM
Searching for a truer sound
Can't recall the call letters
Steel guitar and settle down
Catching an all-night station somewhere in Louisiana
It sounds like 1963, but for now it sounds like heaven
posted by wemayfreeze at 10:46 PM on October 1, 2007

L.A. Woman...but only when actually driving in Los Angeles. Also, American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (no need to actually be an American girl though).
posted by Asherah at 10:54 PM on October 1, 2007

On the various mix tapes I listen to when driving, these are the songs I often rewind and listen to over and over.

Devo - Gut Feeling
ELO - Sweet Talkin' Woman
Europe - The Final Countdown
Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women
Os Mutantes - Rita Lee
David Bowie - Oh! You Pretty Things
Felt - Primitive Painters
Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Lovin'
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
posted by mia_farrow at 10:58 PM on October 1, 2007

Daytime: I love driving to Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American album

Nighttime: All I want for nighttime drives is jazz.
posted by milestogo at 11:02 PM on October 1, 2007

Green Onions, by Booker T. and the MG's
posted by parkerama at 11:10 PM on October 1, 2007

2nd Iggy Pop - The Passenger. Best driving song ever.
posted by Rumple at 11:24 PM on October 1, 2007

What?!

SLOW RIDE- FOGHAT!
posted by stresstwig at 11:25 PM on October 1, 2007

nothing beats "passenger seat" by death cab for cutie when driving on a dark, lonely road with the windows down....even though the song might suggest sitting in the seat adjacent to the driver....
posted by Hogermite at 11:28 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite]

I can't drive 55 -- Sammy Hagar
(though laughably dated now...that'd be 75 nowadays)
posted by zardoz at 12:02 AM on October 2, 2007

Nothing But Flowers by Talking Heads

And being a fan of the Sopranos I like to re-enact the opening credits with 'Woke up this Morning' by the Alabama 3
posted by TheOtherGuy at 12:30 AM on October 2, 2007

Route 66 - The Rolling Stones
Six Days on the Road - Dave Dudley
Willin' - Little Feat
Riders On the Storm - The Doors
Casey Jones - The Grateful Dead
You Can't Catch Me - Chuck Berry
Waitin' For The Bus /Jesus Just Left Chicago - ZZ Top

Magic Bus - The Who
Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf
Autobahn - Kraftwerk
Interstellar Overdrive - Pink Floyd
2000 Light Years From Home - The Rolling Stones
Space Oddity - David Bowie
Major Tom (Coming Home) - Dealership or Petr Schilling
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun - Pink Floyd

Promised Land - Chuck Berry
Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
Ramblin' Man - Allman Brothers
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
Time Is Tight - Booker T. and the MGs
Ol' 55 - Tom Waits
Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
posted by timeistight at 1:15 AM on October 2, 2007

Freeway Jam - Jeff Beck, off Blow by Blow. This is a must-have.
posted by wsg at 1:28 AM on October 2, 2007

CanCon:

The Rodeo Song - Garry Lee & the Showdown
Blow at High Dough - The Tragically Hip
Runnin' Back to Saskatoon - The Guess Who
The Great Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Gordon Lightfoot
Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins
This Beat Goes On / Switchin' to Glide - The Kings
posted by timeistight at 1:31 AM on October 2, 2007

Another World, specifically Disc 2 - Paul Oakenfold
posted by disillusioned at 1:50 AM on October 2, 2007

Pretty much any of the first five Ramones albums will do you nicely.
posted by Infinite Jest at 2:12 AM on October 2, 2007

Passenger Side, Wilco --
hey, wake up, your eyes aren't open wide
for the last couple of miles you been swervin from side to side
you're gonna make me spill my beer
if you don't learn how to steer

It's really the voice of reason.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 2:32 AM on October 2, 2007

woman driving, man sleeping by the Eels.
atmospheric. very good.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 3:12 AM on October 2, 2007

For me, the entire Velvet Underground album 1969 Live is perfect driving music.
posted by pasici at 4:30 AM on October 2, 2007

Take It Easy, and Peaceful Easy Feeling - the Eagles
posted by bricoleur at 5:12 AM on October 2, 2007

...and if you're not actually driving but want to feel as if you are, look up "Chill Out" by KLF.

(Ok, I'm a *particular* type of driver).

Or try the following when you're actually driving (some are good for singing, too, especially when you're alone):

* Boards of Canada - Music has the right to children - "Telephasic Workshop" (great if you have a good sound system)
* Buddha Bar 1 CD 2, last track - Willy DeVille - Demasiado Corazon (Live Version)
* Bee Gees - Staying Alive
* Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face
* Booker T. & The MGs - Time Is Tight
* Duran Duran - The Chauffeur
* Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare For The Common Man
* George Thorogood - Bad To The Bone
* John Paul Young - Love is in the air
* KC And The Sunshine Band - Shake Your Bootie
* Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
* Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside A Broken Phonebooth
* Robert Plant - Big Log (if you listen to nothing else, listen to this)
* TISM - Greg! The Stop Sign!
* Tom Jones - Delilah (no rude remarks, thanks)
* Travelling Wilburys - End Of The Line
* The Blues Brothers version of "She caught the Katy"
posted by flutable at 5:16 AM on October 2, 2007

SLOW RIDE- FOGHAT!

Also Drivin' Wheel and Fool For the City

It may be cliched (but so are some of the others, I guess) but Willie Nelson On the Road Again

Rush-Red Barchetta
posted by TedW at 5:38 AM on October 2, 2007

Previously
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:39 AM on October 2, 2007

Little Feat-Feets Don't Fail Me Now
posted by TedW at 5:40 AM on October 2, 2007

Traffic-Rock and Roll Stew
Jethro Tull-Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die
posted by TedW at 5:43 AM on October 2, 2007

Son Volt -- Looking at the World Through a Windshield
Lou Christie -- Beyond the Blue Horizon
Muppets -- Moving Right Along
posted by SampleSize at 6:11 AM on October 2, 2007

Roger Miller -- King of the Road
posted by SampleSize at 6:12 AM on October 2, 2007

No. 6 Driver (Eddie from Ohio)
posted by bassjump at 6:18 AM on October 2, 2007

LA Woman, Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
The Road goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends - Robert Earl Keen

PS - I am a fan of Skreemer for a great and easy mp3 search tool to test drive these songs out.
posted by doorsfan at 6:52 AM on October 2, 2007

Van Halen - Running With The Devil. Essential.

Cake - The Distance. Also essential.

And seriously, do NOT miss the Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner," as mentioned in the first post. It is *the* quintessential driving song.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 6:58 AM on October 2, 2007

Metalhead picks:
Wheels Of Fire - Manowar
Battering Ram - Black Label Society
Cadillac Rock Box - Anthrax
This Calling - All That Remains
Oblivion Awaits - Battered
Monochromatic Stains - Dark Tranquillity
and almost anything by Slayer
posted by Ikazuchi at 6:59 AM on October 2, 2007

yes, yes, yes

Makes you want to drive or as Steve Earle puts it

"Love to hear the steel belts hummin' on the asphalt"

But not mentioned yet is NRBQ -Me and the Boys

"Muffler loud - but we love that sound"
posted by readery at 7:00 AM on October 2, 2007

Driver's Seat, Sniff 'n' the Tears.
posted by Mapes at 7:02 AM on October 2, 2007

Driving Along - Harry Nilsson
Free Ride - Edgar Winter Group
posted by bricoleur at 7:07 AM on October 2, 2007

Losing my Favorite Game- The Cardigans
Great riff, great bass!
posted by Joe Rocket at 7:19 AM on October 2, 2007

Sugar, "Needle Hits E"
Michael Penn, "Brave New World"
posted by kirkaracha at 7:26 AM on October 2, 2007

There's no doubt in my mind as to the greatest road trip song ever, and I'm astonished not to see it mentioned yet in this thread: Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road."

Honorable mentions (seconding some):
"Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen
"Life Is a Highway," Tom Cochrane (I like the recent cover of this by Rascal Flatts, too)
"I Drove All Night" - there three versions that I'm aware of: Cyndi Lauper (the original), Roy Orbison, and Celine Dion. It will not surprise you to learn that Orbison's is the best.
"Me and Bobby McGee" - Janis Joplin
"America" - Simon and Garfunkel

Also see this thread over at the Road Trip America forums.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:36 AM on October 2, 2007

Modest Mouse – Dirty Fingernails
The Cure – A Forest
Department of Eagles – Gravity’s Greatest Victory/Rex Snorted Coke
Hoover – Regulator Watts
The Misfits – London Dungeon
Sleepytime Trio – Speak Again Twice
Three Mile Pilot – Circumcised
Three Mile Pilot – The Urquan Destroyer
Led Zeppelin – Achilles Last Stand
Comets on Fire – Sour Smoke
Minutemen – The Glory of Man
Minutemen - Viet Nam
Captain Beefheart – Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles
The Mosquitos – Darn Well
Fugazi – Ex-Spectator
Aphex Twin – Fenix Funk
Kinski – Semaphore
Bjork – Army of Me
The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By
Brian Eno – Third Uncle
Judas Priest – Rapid Fire
Rodan – Tooth Fairy Retribution Manifesto
Sonic Youth – Theresa’s Sound-world
Raekwon – Sneakers
Rapeman – Coition Ignition Mission
Polvo – Sense of It
Ghostface Killa - Kilo
posted by saladin at 7:47 AM on October 2, 2007

Television - Marquee Moon...

11 minutes of awesome...
posted by schyler523 at 7:54 AM on October 2, 2007

Born Too Slow by Crystal Method is by far the best driving song ever produced.
posted by zackola at 9:10 AM on October 2, 2007

Throwing Muses - Bright Yellow Gun
Breeders - Drivin' on 9
Jesus Lizard - Puss
posted by citron at 1:04 PM on October 2, 2007

The entire Blues Brothers soundtrack.
posted by Oddly at 1:31 PM on October 2, 2007

Wildhearts - Stormy in North Karma in the South. Anthem.

Tracy Chapman - Smoke and Ashes, Fast Car, Telling Stories
posted by philad at 2:11 PM on October 2, 2007

Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" - for the steering wheel drumming that is required.
posted by chiababe at 2:14 PM on October 2, 2007

Autobahn, by Kraftwerk
posted by annsunny at 5:27 PM on October 7, 2007

Got Autobahn already.

Ace of Spades - Motörhead
posted by flabdablet at 10:04 PM on October 7, 2007

Diamonds on my Windshield - Tom Waits
posted by rongorongo at 5:15 PM on October 28, 2007