Here’s something fun for a holiday.
Travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip has analyzed global road trip-themed playlists on music streaming service Spotify, to find out which tunes are the ultimate in-car classics.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s rock hit “Sweet Home Alabama” is the clear favorite. Appearing in 15 percent of all road trip playlists, the 1973 song is a proven timeless hit.
Rock tunes dominate the top 5 most popular road trip songs, with “Hotel California,” “Highway to Hell,” “All Star,” and “Africa” also featuring alongside the Journey classic “Don’t Stop Believin.”
QUESTION: What’s your favorite song on the list?
gotta go with 8.
But Joy to the World is my fav… cause Jeremiah was a good friend of mine… Too bad I couldn’t understand him….
Good gracious! My very favorite song is NOT on the list. I am speechless! And it is: The fourth movement from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony – the “choral” which the European Union uses as their theme song and which was played for world leaders at the recent meeting in Germany. Beethoven turned the music world upside down with his 9th symphony. The fourth movement is actually longer than most symphonies. Beethoven set a poem to music, Schiller’s Ode to Joy. He uses four voices and a chorus and the result is incredible – the most beautiful music ever written – in fact the 9th is considered to be the greatest piece of music ever created. If you haven’t heard it you don’t know what you’re missing.
I agree with AJ, he would also enjoy the choral segment in “Finlandia”
No “Holiday Road”?
First thing we play when we leave the house
On The Road Again by my man Willie
Moving right along
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6NQcO9KTBY
We know Old Town Road is on here only because this list was recently compiled. Next year I doubt it would be here. I am surprised Stacys Mom is on here while Freebird and On The Road Again are not.
Given this list I would go with Highway to Hell
Thats a good one, in Death Valley.
It’s not on the list, “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf and “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin.
Exxxxellent!
And, Joplin, Mercedes Benz
https://youtu.be/Qev-i9-VKlY
Dang Gittyup, another nice pull.
Radar Love by Golden Earring
I like your thinking
From the 60’s my go to is any ”Buffalo Springfield” song…………………….
Well, hello Mr. Soul.
By driving song I assume you mean maintained speeds over 100 mph. Ministry- Jesus Built My Hotrod or The Doors LA Woman. Nothing on that list, not sure the people who wrote that actually drive cars.
“On The Way Home” by Buffalo Springfield,now ya’ all know how old I am.
That list stinks.
According to my own analysis this is the correct list:
My Wife – The Who
Long may you run – N. Young
I can’t drive 55 – S. Hagar
Promised Land – C, Berry
Down the Line – B. Holly
The Letter – Box Tops
Going Up The Country – Canned Heat
Slow Ride – Foghat
Helen Wheels – Wings
Six Days On The Road – D. Dudley
Lots of good ones there.
So many great songs, but you have to include CCR’s Up Around the Bend and Travelin’ Band. And, yes, Helen Wheels is a good, fun song …
Helen Wheels — ok, but I like Def Leppard’s version better.
https://youtu.be/CyOzcsR6SBk
Have you listened to that song? It’s actually pretty good.
It’s just on the list because it’s been extremely popular lately. I don’t think it has anything to do with road trips or driving.
Ummm, how about Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever ? I mean, pretty much the ENTIRE album is perfect for a road trip 🙂
Or, Runnin’ Down A Dream, Tom Petty
On the list it would be number 8, but mine is Truckin’ by the Grateful Dead. You can also add Freedom by the Sons of Champlin (one of the top 10 rock bands of all time IMHO) and I’m a Man by Chicago or Spencer Davis Group.
Another vote for Bohemian Rhapsody (just saw the movie) and for Truckin’. I also love Africa. One of my sons is assigned to US Army Africa and I play the Toto song in my head every time he is on the continent.
I would have to agree w most people here, most of these songs wouldn’t appear on my road trip list, but of the ones there, I’d have to pick “Highway to Hell”. “Radar love” would DEFINITELY be there, especially driving down 5 South.
It would have to be “Don’t Stop Believing,” by Journey on that list, but it seems a lot of great ones are missing from it while others are questionably present. I like Toto’s “Africa,” a-ha’s “Take In Me,” and Eagles “Hotel California,” too. That’s not my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song, either. “That Smell” is. Agree Willie Nelson’s “On The Road, Again” needs to be there and “LA Woman,” The Doors. Maybe ditch “Stacy’s Mom” and “Old Town Road.”
OK…. but if you’ve ever seen the video… you know, Stacy’s Mom really has got it going on.
Maybe she does it for you, but she doesn’t do a thing for me! 😄
I’m curious, why Wings? I thought Linda McCartney inserted herself into Paul McCartney’s life much as Yoko Ono did into John Lennon’s without the positive effect on his music that Ono had on Lennon. I know he loved her dearly, but she added nothing musically to the group. Well, Ono didn’t add anything musically, either, but Lennon wrote some remarkable tunes when they got together.
I forgot “Bad Motor Scooter” Montrose.
I just think Helen Wheels is a fun song.
btw….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLfasMPOU4
I saw your “Stacey’s Mom” and I’ll raise you a “Don’t Stand.”
https://youtu.be/KNIZofPB8ZM
“A small eternity with Yoko Ono”. A great tune.
@The Fearless Spectator Yep, listening to anything Ono does becomes a “small eternity,” alright! Sorry, Yoko Ono’s “expression of her deep personal anguish” truly grates on my nerves. Makes me want to hurt myself … like gouge out an eye, or cut of an ear … or something. :-/
@Dr. Jellyfinger I agree that Stacy’s Mom is a cute song and the video is well done, and the woman playing Stacy’s mom is attractive (looks a little like one of Rod Stewart’s former wives), but I think it’s a novelty, unlike some of the others on this list, and will be replaced with some other current “hit” in short order.
Bad Motor Scooter! Nice pull.
Traveling Woodbury’s !
The best! My kids love it!
100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. 🤣
Wow!! That’s a depressing list of MOR dreck.
When kids were little got stuck listenig to Raffi tapes on endless loop one time.
Can still hear Baby Beluga in my head today.
I have some Baby Bach that is delightful. Burl Ives was fun too.
@MC – The artist name is Raffi. Born in Egypt, living in Canada. That verse I posted was from one of his all time greats “Down by the Bay”. Popular in the early 1980s.with kids. Consult the internet for more examples. @Barbosa – that’s no so bad, we went halfway across the country listening to “The Streets” in 2004. “Original Pirate Material”. Never will be able to shake that one!
“Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
“L.A. Woman” by The Doors
“Life in the Fast Lane” by The Eagles
“Hollywood Nights” by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
“Holiday Road” by Lindsey Buckingham
“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon
“Jammin’ Me” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins
👍
When it says road song l take it to mean songs that has to do with traveling, l have many favorites, both rock, jazz and classical. Here is some l associate with road song: Highway to danger zone from Top gun, Mustang Sally, Roadhouse Blues, the Doors Rock’n me and Jet Airliner Steve Miller and Born to be wild from Easy Rider.
That’s what it says… ” road trip-themed playlists “
Didn’t any of you drive your Chevy to the Levee ?
I had a Ford at the time, but I did go to the levee’s in it. Used to go to Sandy Beach up in the Delta.
A little diddy ’bout Jack and Diane, two American kids growing up, in the heart land.
I did, but the levee was dry …
“Hot Rod Lincoln” by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.
Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere” needs to be on this list.
Red Hot Chili Peppers!!!
Y’all are naming some really great ones! I’ll just add “Convoy”.
‘Course as kids we’d go with “99 bottles of beer on the wallllll”. (Aren’t you just so glad I put that on you “play it again, brain” list?) 🤪
Good one. Here’s another:
Ya load sixteen tons, whatda-ya get. Another day older and deeper in debt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRh0QiXyZSk
Cross country on the bike blasting-
Heard it in a love song by Marshall Tucker Band and
Green Grass and High Tides Forever by the Outlaws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiLUTWcLCgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R82OM5tzcrk
Back in the 70’s, the song “Convoy” by C.W. McCall was a road favorite – when c.b. radios were the rage (before cell phones).
“I can’t drive 55” by the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar.
“Take it Easy” by the Eagles
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
Too many others to list…
CW McCall trivia: the drummer in his band: None other than Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller fame!
Can’t believe I left of these 2 and can’t believe no one else listed them.
Born to run Bruce Springsteen, and Turn the page by Bob Seeger, I also would add Darlington County by Bruce, it was on the Born in the USA album, but don’t know it got a lot of notice, but I always liked it, and as someone else mentioned of course American Pie by Don McLean.
Foreplay/Long Time – Boston
Time – Pink Floyd
Learning to Fly – Pink Floyd
Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
Yes! Zepplin is always good around 5000 feet, climbing up the grade where the granite begins.
What, no “Ventura Highway”?
I too enjoy Ventura Highway. In fact my daughter lived in Ventura for a while. One afternoon going to visit her, leaving “the valley” on “the 101” (aka the Ventura highway) radio blasting away, top down some cosmic synchronicity occured and there I was heading into the setting sun on the “ventura highway, in the afternoon”. Nearly drove off the road. What a memory!
“Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peeeeeaaaanut last night, last night I found a peanut, found a peanut last night…”
Or, I spy with my little eye.
Totally depends on my mood! But mostly nostalgic – piano instrumentals; no screaming voices… puts me in a deep relaxing mood.
Don McLean’s, The Day the Music Died
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin Jerry Reed
And speaking of Bruce, there’s also Thunder Road and Cadillac Ranch.
LOL all these are 20 years old -sigh- pretty sad people are stuck like that and are in denial that there is a TON of really good new music out there.
So, give us your list.
People tend to like music from their youth, it brings back memories. Frankly l don’t hear anyone like the Doors, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, Simon and Garfunkel today. Besides good music is never outdated. Just to mention a few Beethoven, Mozart, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra and Glenn Millerl
Rick, I just can’t imagine anyone heading down the open highway rocking out to Justin Bieber or Snoop Dog. Just can’t…
I am sure their are plenty out there who have a broad range palate of musical tastes. The problem with listening in an automobile is the noise factor. The nuances of quality music can be lost on the road and certainly on the computer or ear buds.
For instance I was enjoying Mark Knoppler recently, yet I would never listen to him in the car for a variety of reasons. I bet there are a few here that weep over opera as well.
For some, music is intolerable unless it is presented properly. My guess is Rick Johnston is of that stripe.
I have many favorites: Breakbot, Deadmouse, Phoenix, Royal Blood, Queens of The Stone Age, The Raconteurs (anything Jack White really) The Juan MaClean John Tejada, most of these and others on Apple Music Alternative’s radio station. Yes I know I read that the specific age 14-24 is where its set but as much as I love Zep and Floyd theres only so many times you can listen to ANY song frankly those two do better than most.
Here are ten that go back a ways:
Rocket 88. Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats
Dead Man’s Curve Jan and Dean
Brand new Cadillac Brian Setzer Orchestra
Road Runner Bo Diddley
GTO Ronnie and the Daytona’s
Little Old Lady from Pasadena Jan and Dean
Mr. Highway Man Howlin Wolf
Race with the Devil Gene Vincent
Motörhead Baby Johnny Guitar Watson
409 The Beach Boys or Jr. Brown
I have some “elevator” music that will make you howl, with glee. Bizarre I know. Nostalgia is weird that way.
I also had to hide in the corner of a store while I hid my shame. Bubblegum. You know, that cheerful silly music from 1960s teeny boppers.
Joe Bonamassa “Drive” & “Distant Lonesome Train” Both have two drum kits. Awesome!
From this list it’s Sweet Home Alabama- one of my alltime favorites. Another one that’s not on the list is Two Tickets to Paradise-Eddie Money.
What!, no Allman Brothers, no Tom Petty… sigh
I change the station when I hear music I don’t care for, but if I could spend the rest of my driving life without having to hear ANY of the nasal whining of the late T. Petty (and the Fartbreakers) I’d die a happier man.
Guess you don’t like Nobel Laureate, Bob Dylan, then either.
How can you not like Tom Petty? And Bob Dylan? I want to see your birth certificate. You wasn’t born in Kenya, was ya?
I usually listen to either trad jazz or classical music in the car, but I like anything Eagles or Carpenters. Also Piano Man.
Bob Dylan wrote some great lyrics, don’t care for his singing style. Case in point Masters of war sung bt Eddie Vedder or Pete Seeger, just great. Any Dylan song by Rickie Havens . So love his lyrics, but don’t think he is a good singer.
Dylan’s nasally voice seemed to get worse after his motorcycle accident. But, you’re right, Eddie Vedder does a nice job interpreting Dylan’s lyrics. Roger McGuinn is another one who does Dylan well. Then, of course, The Band and its association with Dylan is legendary.
American Pie
Scene from an Italian Restaurant
Come Sail Away
And not one person said Steely Dan or Metallica. Thank you, there’s hope for this country yet. 😉
Oh, right, Metallica … “Wherever I May Roam!” \m/
Call Me the Breeze (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
By far my favorite road song!
To Gitty Up love the Band, and yes the music from Big Pink legendary.