The best songs for cruising down a highway

Published 7:44 am Thursday, August 13, 2009

In my quest to put together the perfect song list for a day trip cruising the highway, I used some new technology. I posted the question on Facebook to see what kind of responses friends would come up with. I was surprised in the number of responses I got as the song total came in to me was above 70 songs.

This was a great help as it gave me a better perspective of what people like to listen to. My friends listed everything from “Get Out of My Dreams, Get into My Car” by Billy Ocean to “The Distance” by Cake. I want to limit my list to 30 songs so I need to really bare down as I want to vary my list and include a little bit of everything for the perfect road tunes list.

This job is very hard because I could make a great list with just the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bob Seger. After going through song after song and listening for the correct pitch, tempo and pace for traveling I am pretty sure I have the perfect list. If it is not, please feel free to add your own to this list as all tastes are different.

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Please get into your vehicle, put the windows or top down, click your seat belt and head out for a nice cruise. Enjoy.

1. “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf

2. “Low Rider” by War

3. “Black Betty” by Ram Jam

4. “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran

5. “The Wanderer” by Dion

6. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC

7. “Rock ’n Me” by Steve Miller Band

8. “Ramblin Man” by The Allman Brothers

9. “Livin’ on the Edge” by Aerosmith

10. “Thunder on the Mountain” by Bob Dylan

11. “Take it Easy” by the Eagles

12. “Born in The U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen

13. “Betty Lou’s Getting Out Tonight” by Bob Seger

14. “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar

15. “Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels Band

16. “Summer of 69” by Bryan Adams

17. “The Race is On” by George Jones

18. “Runaway” by Del Shanon

19. “Born to Boogie” by Hank Williams Jr.

20. “Cruisin” by G.B. Leighton

21. “Mustang Sally” by Buddy Guy

22. “Here I go Again” by Whitesnake

23. “Barbara Ann” by Beach Boys

24. “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol

25. “Rocket 88” by James Cotton

26. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

27. “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock

28. “Slow Ride” by Foghat

29. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey

30. “Whole Lot a Shakin Going On” by Jerry lee Lewis

Relay for Life

Tomorrow is the best day of the year! No, it is not my birthday. It is Relay For Life day at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. It is the one night that volunteers, cancer survivors, cancer victim families, young, old, tall, short, everyone gets to get together and gives a big huge kick in the butt to cancer!

If you did not have plans to go, please make it a point to stop down. If you have plans and can change them-please do. If you have never ever been a part of this growing family, stop down and meet the best people you will ever meet.

See you out at the fairgrounds!

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.