35 Comments
User's avatar
The Twelve Inch (Disco/80s)'s avatar

Great list, Matt, perfect for driving! If it’s a long trip, I’ve got a few extras to throw in:

Summer Rain (Belinda Carlisle),

Goody Two Shoes (Adam Ant),

Whip It (Devo),

I’m Still Standing (Elton John)

Valley Girl (Frank Zappa).

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Great picks!

Expand full comment
Joe M's avatar

This is a fun list, mixing a couple of obscurities in with all the classics. “Rearviewmirror” by Pearl Jam is my favorite driving song. I personally would ditch “Edge of Seventeen,” which you’ll hear as soon as you turn on the radio anyway.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

I honestly can’t remember the last time I listened to the radio in my car. I hear you on the song pick, real nice one, thanks Joe. 😊

Expand full comment
Brain of J-Hawk (he/him)'s avatar

Yessss to Rearviewmirror, even though I am highly biased.

Expand full comment
Sunset Thunder's avatar

No Panama or I Can’t Drive Fifty-Five? The list needs some Van Halen/Hagar!

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Panama I can co-sign for sure.

Expand full comment
Sunset Thunder's avatar

Everyone needs some Diamond Dave on a road trip!

Expand full comment
Brain of J-Hawk (he/him)'s avatar

Ohh I love Interstate Love Song on this list. I was not expecting that.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks for reading!

Expand full comment
TheGoodDoctor's avatar

Id add Running on Empty-Jackson Browne...tough choosing which song id delete though

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

That’s the tough part for me every week—where do I stop the list?

Expand full comment
Dan Pal's avatar

This is a great list. I might add:

Driving My Life Away - Eddie Rabbit

The Way - Fastball

Rolling Back - Young Gun Silver Fox

Cars - Gary Numan

Holiday Road - Lindsey Buckingham

Freeway of Love - Aretha Franklin

Expand full comment
Steve Gabe's avatar

You left out the big one. When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin) - "When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. Two years after the "Big Bang of Country Music" The Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers recording session in Bristol TN. Before that it was called Hillbilly Music. Hear one of the pioneers echoed in my rendition of "The Prisoner's Song" I learned all about it in a new book "Doc Watson" from over in my neck of the woods. Shameless Steve! Also don't forget Slow Ride by Foghat! You must have been dazed and confused. https://on.soundcloud.com/mjhUADPv5ZLaKTF96

Expand full comment
Anders's avatar

Maybe a bit fast but Ace of Spades, Motörhead is missing

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

That’s one intense car ride hehe

Expand full comment
John Dolan's avatar

Nice list. Well done.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks so much!

Expand full comment
Shane M. Liebler's avatar

Great list. I dig it 😎

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks Shane!

Expand full comment
Christopher Manson's avatar

Thanks. Some fine picks there, and I look forward to making #4 and #7 part of my DNA.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Expand full comment
David Kugelmas's avatar

Depends on my mood…

You Really Got Me - Van Halen

Reeling’ In The Years - Steely Dan

American Jesus - Bad Religion

The Decline - NOFX

Rambling’ Man - Allman Bothers

Surrender - Cheap Trick

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Surrender is an incredible song period. Thanks David!

Expand full comment
Nani Lani's avatar

Love Rambling Man

Expand full comment
Joe Spigner's avatar

Sultans of Swing, Black Magic Woman, Times Like These

Expand full comment
A Declining Democracy's avatar

My criteria for road trip songs are the ones you can belt out at the top of your lungs and have a catchy tune, in no particular order:

“Our Lips Are Sealed”, by the Go-Gos

“What I Like About You”, by The Romantics

“I Wanna Be Sedated”, by The Ramones

“Closer to Fine”, by The Indigo Girls

“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”, by Elton John

“Africa”, by Toto

“Glory Days”, by Bruce Springsteen

“Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, by Meatloaf

“Back in the USSR”, by the Beatles

“We Won’t Get Fooled Again”, by the Who

“We Belong”, by Pat Benatar

“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, by Elton John

“Iris”, by the Goo Goo Dolls

I could go on, but this is a good start.

Expand full comment
Cj Brennan's avatar

Boys of Summer

Expand full comment
gmf's avatar

A couple I think should be included, Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers, Punkrocker - Stockholm Teddybears ft. Iggy Pop, My Way - Sid Vicious, Route 66 - Depeche Mode.

Expand full comment