What’s On When You Drive

The theme for Linkage #012 is “Road Trip,” and I recently asked all of you for your favorite music for the road.

We got a ton of great responses, and I thought I would share the lists with everyone. Tony Doughty’s response reminded me of how Dire Straits (and Mark Knopfler) changed my world in 1979 with their debut album, “Dire Straits.” I walked into a Licorice Pizza — a great Southern California record store chain in the 1970s — and heard “Sultans of Swing” booming on the stereo. 

I bought the album ($5.99) right on the spot. I came back a few days later to buy the cassette tape for my car. I’ve been a huge Dire Straits (and Mark Knopfler) fan ever since. “Sultans of Swing” is a great song, but I think “Wild West End,” which features Knopfler’s now-signature resonator guitar sound, is the best tune on the album.

Anyway, Doughty reminded me that a road trip music lineup is always changing. But how did I forget Dire Straits on my initial list?

Here are some of the playlists Linkage readers shared with me:

Mark Knopfler Rules

Number one on our list is “The Speedway at Nazareth” by Mark Knopfler with Emmylou Harris. Here is the link for one of the best three-minute riffs ever (and crank up the volume!).

Tony Doughty, Green Valley, AZ

Wagner, Country and the Beach Boys

“Radar Love” by Golden Earring

“Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf

“Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner

“Convoy” by C.W.McCall

“Eastbound and Down” by Jerry Reed

“The Ballad of Thunder Road” by Robert Mitchum (1958 version)

“Theme from the Magnificent 7” by Elmer Bernstein

“Breaking the Sound Barrier” by Bill Conti (“The Right Stuff” soundtrack)

“Alpine Drive” by John Barry (“Goldfinger” soundtrack)

“Little Deuce Coupe” by The Beach Boys

“409” by The Beach Boys

“Little Old Lady from Pasadena” by Jan and Dean

“Dead Man’s Curve” by Jan and Dean

“Country Roads” by John Denver

“Amarillo by Morning” by George Strait

 “Hot Rod Lincoln” by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

“Rapid Roy That Stock Car Boy” by Jim Croce

“Hey Little Cobra” by The Rip Chords

“Little GTO” by Ronnie and the Daytonas

“Hawaii Five-0” by Morton Stevens

“You Belong to Me” by Jo Stafford

“L. A. Freeway” by Jerry Jeff Walker

“Route 66” by Nat King Cole

Henry Wehrmann

Russell’s Favorites

“Radar Love” by Golden Earring

“Hot Rod Lincoln” by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

Russell Bertrand, Wakefield, RI

 Rush Hour

“Red Barchetta” and “2112” by Rush are two favorites.

Scott Williams

Enjoy your Drive

“Abracadabra” by the Steve Miller Band

“A Matter Of Trust” by Billy Joel

“Let’s Go” by Wang Chung

“Vahevala” by Loggins and Messina

Jo Ann Smith