Few haven't planned 'the big drive' - that long, six, seven or eight-hour road trip north, south, west or east and the accompanying soundtrack to it.
Music goes hand in hand with the great road trip. That most romantic of road trips - driving across the US - is, one imagines, accompanied by huge blue skies, Route 66, foot rooted to the accelerator and the strains of Springsteen, Petty, The Beach Boys and Clapton wafting from the speakers.
Driving and rock n' roll have forever gone hand in hand. When on the open road, carefree and with little sense of where you've come from or where you're going, driving elicits the same sense of rebellious excitement, mystery and hope that forms the backbone to some of rock's finest moments.
Lines such as "I've Been Driving All Night, My Hand's Wet on the Wheel" from Golden Earring's 'Radar Love' or The Boss' ‘Thunder Road’ with its close of "Mary Climb In/ It’s a Town Full of Losers/ And I'm Pulling Out of Here to Win" evoke that sense of anything being possible once you're behind the wheel.
On your journeys, you've doubtlessly long burnt out the aforementioned classics on the car stereo akin to the well-worn tyres which carry it underneath. Songs such as 'Layla', 'Daytripper', 'Drive My Car', 'Go Your Own Way' or 'Born to Run' are for years driving staples.
So perhaps it's time for a change. Here is a list of 10 songs to seek out, burn on a CD and drive to, if only for the sake of driving.
Sigur Rós - 'Untitled #1' (AKA ‘Vaka')
Often the best driving music is tied to a particular landscape. It's almost impossible to listen to Springsteen, Petty or Bon Jovi without thinking of the highways and byways of the States. Icelandic atmospheric masters Sigur Rós similarly capture the landscape of Iceland in their stark, dreamy works, which are perfect for that early morning dawn drive or that excursion along the Donegal, Cork or Clare coastline.
Taken from '()' (2002)
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - 'Road Trippin''
Breezy and autumnal, 'Road Trippin'', from the Chilli's great 'Californication' LP, is all about driving with your best friends in tow and heading to "get lost anywhere". A perfect 8pm summer song as the sun bows out for another day.
Taken from 'Californication' (1999)
Modest Mouse - 'Dashboard'
Though their most well-known song 'Float On' is also worthy of any driving compilation CD, this standout from last year's 'We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank' contains a clean killer Johnny Marr riff that has shifting to fifth written all over it.
Taken from 'We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank' (2007)
Elton John - 'My Father's Gun'
A song about change, revenge and unhinged ragged emotion from Elton John's fantastic 'Tumbleweed Connection' LP - this glorious soulful tune builds and builds as the road opens up ahead and you "Slip on Round the Bend" wondering where the riverboat sails on tonight.
Taken from 'Tumbleweed Connection' (1970)
The Cardigans - 'My Favourite Game'
A song which matches the revs of your engine. Peter Svensson's pulsating guitar riff has speeding down a motorway written all over it, but hopefully not in the manner of the controversial music video which accompanies the song.
Taken from 'Gran Turismo' (1998)
Fleetwood Mac - 'Monday Morning'
Taken from the 1975 self-titled album that made Fleetwood Mac an almost constant radio presence, 'Monday Morning', with its references to travelling, moving, change and an infectious beat, is a car stereo favourite and the first of a series of Lindsey Buckingham car classics ('Go Your Own Way' being the other) to document the demise of his relationship with Stevie Nicks.
Taken from 'Fleetwood Mac' (1975)
The Smiths - 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out'
As Mike Joyce's shuffle introduces Morrissey's plea to "Take Me Out Tonight", so begins one of The Smiths' masterpieces of yearning, love and anxiety where hope lies "Driving in Your Car". The song also references such road-weary legends as Jack Kerouac and James Dean.
Taken from 'The Queen Is Dead' (1986)
The Allman Brothers Band - 'Midnight Rider'
One of the group's signature tunes, Gregg Allman's 'Midnight Rider' has an idle, bluesy, American folk temper to it that charts such well-known road themes of desperation, determination and being on-the-run from God knows what.
Taken from ‘Idlewild South’ (1970)
Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band - The Promised Land
With so much of his material referencing the road, driving, and "burnt out Chevrolets", it would be remiss not to feature The Boss on any driving compilation. A song about redemption, hope and packing your bags to find something better out there, 'The Promised Land' is another incredible road song all hammered home by the astonishing power-house that is The E-Street Band.
Taken from 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' (1978)
James Brown - 'That's Life'
Pulling out on to the road, problems left behind and a new day on the horizon, James Brown's brash and soulful interpretation of 'That's Life' is a perfect driving companion to reminisce and then forget your problems to. Though most associated with Sinatra, Brown's take is far superior.
Taken from 'Gettin' Down to It' (1969)
Steve Cummins.
