Top 10 Driving Songs

The sun is shining, there's a light breeze and you have the day off. You hop in your car and turn on the radio. If you're lucky,  a great driving song will boom from your speakers and send your mind to another place.

These are the Top 10 driving songs of all time. Vroom.

10. Footstompin' Music - Grand Funk Railroad
"Give me all the love that's in ya, I'm gonna give ya mine," wails Mark Farner. And off you go.

9. I Can't Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar
Careful with the weight on that pedal, fella. Cabo Wabo and keep an eye in the rear-view mirror.

8. Take the Highway - Marshall Tucker Band
Southern rock staple still relevant 34 years later. Doug Gray's vocals crisp and powerful.

7. Red Barchetta - Rush
"My uncle has a country place that no one knows about." Gentlemen, start your engines.

6. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide - ZZ Top
"Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac, I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back."  OK, then.

5. Takin' it Easy - The Eagles
This is for a Sunday drive, dropping a gear or two. Classic driving song that never grows old. The original Jackson Browne version is almost as good.

4. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
"Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims and strap your hands across my engines." The song that introduced me to the Boss, one of the best-ever live performers.

3. Highway Star - Deep Purple
Just listen to the drums and bass and try to keep your hands off the dashboard. When the guitar kicks in, it's madness.

2. Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper gave this John Kay vocal a lifetime of radio airplay, but Steppenwolf could have done this on their own.

1. Radar Love - Golden Earring
"I've been drivin' all night, my hand's wet on the wheel." This has it all — great lyrics, great hook, great music. Enjoying that countryside?

Comments

[Scott]

Great list! Here are my additional considerations…

Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Rockin’ Down The Highway – The Doobie Brothers
Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers
Tobacco Road – Johnny Winter
Coyote – Joni Mitchell
Jeepster - T-Rex

[Dan]

Good additions, Scott. "Ramblin' Man" should probably be in there but it gets tough. Marshall Tucker has a bit more relevance for me than the Allman Brothers but that one's a classic. I'll have to check out "Coyote," since I'm a huge JM fan.

[Marty Sawyer]

Excellant list! Nothing I could argue with here. Radar Love is #1 in this catagory. And ZZ I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide kicks azz when drivin'.

Others I would consider:

Rockin’ Down The Highway – The Doobie Brothers

Got those highway blues, can't you hear my motor runnin'
Flyin' down the road with my foot on the floor
All the way in town they can hear me comin'
Ford's about to drop, she won't do no more
And I smell my motor burnin'
Underneath the hood is smoke
Can't stop, and I can't stop
Got to keep on movin' or I'll lose my mind.

Roadhouse Blues - Doors

Keep your eyes on the road
Yer hands upon the the wheeeel

Old 55 - Eagles

Long time - Boston (personally experiance)

Keep up the good work!

[Anyonmous]

My additions

1. Black Betty, Spiderbait
2. Give it all, Rise against
3. My own worst enemy, Lit

[jenne]

i am SO impressed that you have Red Barchetta on this list. :)

[Dan]

Jenne - Rush rocks. Second concert I ever saw, in 1976 ("2112" tour).

[generic viagra]

If you're lucky, a great driving song will boom from your speakers and send your mind to another place.

[2012 Moncler]

So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)