The Soundtracks of Summer

I've had vacation-brain for the last couple of weeks now.  With an upcoming trip in about a week, and another one at the end of next month, it's been all I can think about.  But with most of the planning done (except for a couple of unexpected last-minute adjustments), I don't have too much more to think about at this point, except fine-tuning my vacation playlists.

It's funny how much music can define a trip as much as anything else.  To this day, whenever I hear Steely Dan's "Aja" or Supertramp's "Breakfast In America" albums, I think about the bus rides during my summer semester in Spain when I was 15 years old, where we played those cassette tapes over and over again.  Boston's "More Than A Feeling" was huge, too, and all of the local Discos (it was the 70s) were playing "Rivers of Babylon" and "Rasputin" by a band we'd never heard of before ... Boney M.  We were hooked, even if we did change the words to "By the Rivers of Avila," instead.

When I was in France, they were playing "I Need a Dollar" everywhere we went.  When we went to NYC for my 50th, "Native New Yorker" and "New York State of Mind" (among others) were on my playlist.  And our beach vacations have to have Jimmy Buffett and the Beach Boys playing, or something just isn't right.

I've got my vacation playlists broken out into Traveling music, Driving music, and a Summer list, as well as ones for specific destinations.  I love every song on them ... they're either songs about traveling or leaving, a mode of transportation (cars, airplanes, buses, boats, trains, or your own two feet), a destination (exotic locations, a specific city, or the beach), just evoke that vacation vibe, or even contemplate the joy of finally coming back home.

They're all guaranteed to get me into that carefree vacation state-of-mind.  But I will admit I don't have very many "new" songs on them, relying mostly upon my dependable old standbys to set the mood for my vacations.  My niece has been offering me some suggestions, since I tend to get stuck listening to the songs that are already on my iPod.  So, hopefully I will be able to do a refresh on my all of my lists soon.

In the meantime, here are the songs currently on my "Traveling Songs" playlist which will provide the theme music for my travels in the weeks to come (I warn you, it's a long one!).  They're in no particular order, but there are some real gems in here:  "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers is probably the best driving song ever, and who doesn't have "Vacation" by The Go-Go's on their vacation list?

Enjoy, and I hope you find some new ones to add to your musical repertoire!


Traveling Songs:

• Should I Stay Or Should I Go? by The Clash
• Vacation by The Go-Go's
• American Boy by Estelle, featuring Kanye West
• Low Rider by War
• The Way by Fastball
• Vienna by Billy Joel
• Me And Bobby McGhee by Janis Joplin
• Hit the Road, Jack by Ray Charles
• Roam by The B-52's
• Jessica by The Allman Brothers
• Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers
• Melissa by The Allman Brothers
• Blue Sky by The Allman Brothers
• Meant to Be by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
• The Middle by Zedd Maren Morris and Grey
• Going Going Gone by Maddie Poppe
• Shake Your Bon-Bon by Ricky Martin
• Where Are We Now? by David Bowie
• Kokomo by The Beach Boys
• Meet Me Halfway by Black Eyed Peas
• Summertime is in Our Hands by Michael Franti
• Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti & Spearhead, featuring Cherine Tanya Anderson
• Best Day of My Life by American Authors
• I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) by Donald Fagen
• Go Go Go by The 88
• Never Been to Spain by Three Dog Night
• Any Other Day by Wyclef Jean, featuring Norah Jones
• Leaving On a Jet Plane by John Denver
• I Gotta Go by Robert Earl Keen
• King of the Road by Roger Miller
• On the Road Again by Willie Nelson
• I Got A Name by Jim Croce
• Mexico by James Taylor
• Rock The Casbah by The Clash
• Rasputin by Bobby Farrell
• Rivers Of Babylon by Boney M.
• The Letter by The Box Tops
• He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies
• Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner
• Double Trouble by Jack and White
• Little Red Corvette by Prince
• Los Angeles by Sugarcult
• Ridin' Solo by Jason Derulo
• Changes In Latitudes by Jimmy Buffett
• Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett
• Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett
• Funkytown by Lipps Inc.
• Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed
• Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show by Neil Diamond
• Band On The Run by Paul McCartney & Wings
• Graceland by Paul Simon
• 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon
• Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira
• The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) by The Tokens
• Fly Me To The Moon by Tom Jones
• When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean
• Get Outta My Dreams; Get Into My Car by Billy Ocean
• Do You Know the Way to San Jose? by Dionne Warwick
• Burn Rubber On Me by The Gap Band
• Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight & The Pips
• Going To A Go-Go by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
• Journey To The Center Of The Mind by The Amboy Dukes
• Freeway Of Love by Aretha Franklin
• City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie
• Boston by Augustana
• Let It Ride by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
• Roll On Down the Highway by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
• Back In The U.S.S.R. by The Beatles
• Why Don't We Do It In The Road? by The Beatles
• Ticket To Ride by The Beatles
• The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles
• Drive My Car by The Beatles
• The Metro by Berlin
• New York State Of Mind by Billy Joel
• Get Out of Denver by Bob Seger
• Roll Me Away by Bob Seger
• Turn The Page by Bob Seger
• Against The Wind by Bob Seger
• Katmandu by Bob Seger
• On The Road Again by Canned Heat
• So Far Away by Carole King
• Where You Lead by Carole King
• Count on Me by Bruno Mars
• Let's Go by The Cars
• Drive by The Cars
• Magical Mystery Tour by Cheap Trick
• Marrakesh Express by Crosby, Stills & Nash
• Southern Cross by Crosby, Stills & Nash
• Woodstock by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Where Are You Going by Dave Matthews Band
• Highway Star by Deep Purple
• Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
• Long Train Runnin' by The Doobie Brothers
• Rockin' down the Highway by The Doobie Brothers
• It Keeps You Runnin' by The Doobie Brothers
• Riders On The Storm by The Doors
• Take It Easy by The Eagles
• Two Tickets to Paradise by Eddie Money
• Blues for My Baby and Me by Elton John
• Take Me to the Pilot by Elton John
• Slow Ride by Foghat
• Cars by Gary Numan
• Fast Car by Wyclef Jean, featuring Paul Simon
• Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
• Don't Know Why by Norah Jones
• Truckin' by the Grateful Dead
• Midnight Rider by The Gregg Allman Band
• Running On Empty by Jackson Browne
• Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor
• Too Late for Goodbyes by Julian Lennon
• Meet Me Half Way by Kenny Loggins
• Going To California by Led Zeppelin
• Ramble On by Led Zeppelin
• Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz
• Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Walking In Memphis by Marc Cohn
• Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder
• Destination Unknown by Missing Persons
• Last Train To Clarksville by The Monkees
• I Know You're Out There Somewhere by The Moody Blues
• These Boots Are Made For Walkin' by Nancy Sinatra
• Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
• Take It Away by Paul McCartney
• Helen Wheels by Paul McCartney & Wings
• Let Me Roll It by Paul McCartney & Wings
• Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel
• Middle Of The Road by The Pretenders
• Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon
• Time for Me to Fly by REO Speedwagon
• Ready to Go by Republica
• Joyride by Roxette
• Hold On! I'm Comin' by Sam & Dave
• Scarborough Fair/Canticle by Simon & Garfunkel
• America by Simon & Garfunkel
• Tempted by Squeeze
• Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
• Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf
• Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band
• Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller Band
• (Nothing But) Flowers by Talking Heads
• Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
• Runnin Down A Dream by Tom Petty
• Time to Move On by Tom Petty
• Africa by Toto
• End of the Line by The Traveling Wilburys
• Beautiful Day by U2
• Where the Streets Have No Name by U2
• I Will Follow by U2
• Hitchin' a Ride by Vanity Fair
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!
• Club Tropicana by Wham!
• Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
• Roundabout by Yes
• The Letter by Joe Cocker
• Everyday Is a Winding Road by Sheryl Crow
• Wherever You Will Go by The Calling
• Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• America by Simon & Garfunkel
• Leaving (Seal the Link) by Chino
• Free Fallin' by Tom Petty
• Free Ride by Edgar Winter
• Blue Bayou by Linda Ronstadt
• Due South Theme by Jay Semko
• Run to You by Summer Was Fun, feating Meron Ryan
• Chan Chan by Gipsy Kings
• Chan Chan by José Alberto "El Canario"
• Can't Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
• All the Right Moves by OneRepublic
• Bust a Move by Young MC
• I Like the Way You Move by Backstage
• I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Real
• Moves Like Jagger  by Maroon 5
• The Way You Move by OutKast & Sleepy Brown
• Can I Put You On by Elton John
• Highway to Hell by Quiet Riot
• Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
• Route 66 by The Cheetah Girls
• Walk This Way by Aerosmith
• Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers
• This Road by Squeeze
• Don't Come Around Here No More by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Into The Great Wide Open by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Learning To Fly by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
• Never Say Goodbye by Bon Jovi
• Baby Bye by Anneliese Collette
• Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC
• Goodbye by Kristinia DeBarge
• Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam
• Neither One Of Us by Gladys Knight & The Pips
• Say Goodbye To Hollywood by Billy Joel
• 50 Ways to Say Goodbye by Train
• Drive By by Train
• Drops of Jupiter by Train
• The Remedy (I Won't Worry) by Jason Mraz
• Long Train Runnin' by The Doobie Brothers
• Love Train by The O'Jays
• Train In Vain by The Clash
• Young Turks by Rod Stewart
• She's Leaving Home by The Beatles
• 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon
• Staying's Worse Than Leaving by Sunny Sweeney
• Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston
• Hold On I'm Comin' by Michael Grimm featuring Bill Medley
• If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark
• If You Leave Me Now by Chicago
• Leave It by Yes
• I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) by The Moody Blues
• Run-Around by Blues Traveler
• Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan
• Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now by McFadden & Whitehead
• Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac
• Don't Stop Believin' by Journey
• Don't Stop Me Now by Queen
• They Just Can't Stop It (The Games Play) by The Spinners
• Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson
• Blow Me Away by Breaking Benjamin
• Break Away by Art Garfunkel
• Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
• Everytime You Go Away by Paul Young
• Far Away by Nickelback
• Fly Away by John Denver
• The Getaway by Athlete
• Go Away by Gloria Estefan
• Half a Mile Away by Billy Joel
• Here Without You by 3 Doors Down
• Hard to Say I'm Sorry / Get Away by Chicago
• I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock Of Seagulls
• Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles
• Oceans Away by Elton John
• Run Runaway by Slade
• Runaway by Jefferson Starship
• Runaways by The Killers
• Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
• Skating Away by Jethro Tull
• So Far Away by Dire Straits
• Up-Up And Away by The 5th Dimension
• If You're Gone by Matchbox Twenty
• She's Gone by Hall & Oates
• Since You're Gone by The Cars
• Going Mobile by The Who
• Never Going Back Again by Fleetwood Mac
• Rocket Man by Elton John
• I Just Wanna Run by The Downtown Fiction
• Let the River Run by Carly Simon
• Long Distance Runaround by Yes
• The Other Side by Bruno Mars, featuring Cee Lo Green & B.o.B.
• Runnin' With The Devil by Van Halen
• You Better Run by Pat Benatar
• Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton
• Leaving (Seal the Link) by Chino
• I Feel Free by Cream
• I'm Free by The Who
• I'm Free by The Rolling Stones & Fatboy Slim
• The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani, featuring Akon
• Faithfully by Journey
• Lights by Journey
• Wheel In the Sky by Journey
• Separate Ways by Journey
• Human by The Killers
• Anywhere With You by Rubber Rodeo
• Whenever, Wherever by Shakira
• Where Have You Been by Rihanna
• Where I Belong by Building 429
• Where To Now St. Peter? by Elton John
• Africa by Toto
• Tamacun by Rodrigo y Gabriela
• Love On A Two-Way Street by The Moments
• Takin' It To The Streets by The Doobie Brothers
• Hollywood Nights by Bob Seger
• Sunspot Baby by Bob Seger
• Still The Same by Bob Seger
• You'll Accomp'ny Me by Bob Seger
• Aja by Steely Dan
• Back In the U.S.S.R by Paul McCartney
• The Cisco Kid by War
• Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) by Big & Rich
• Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor
• Jamaica Jerk-Off by Elton John
• Holiday Inn by Elton John
• Dixie Lily by Elton John
• Drive by Incubus
• I Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar
• Takin' Care Of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
• One Headlight by The Wallflowers
• Way Over Yonder by Carole King
• Love Shack by The B-52's
• Radar Love by Golden Earring
• Going Up The Country by Canned Heat
• Peace Train by Cat Stevens
• Hotel California by The Eagles
• Missing You by Dan Fogelberg
• Dreams by Van Halen
• West Coast Poplock by Ronnie Hudson and the Street People
• Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms
• Safe and Sound by Capital Cities
• Feel This Moment by Pitbull, featuring Christina Aguilera
• Cracklin' Rosie by Neil Diamond
• America by Neil Diamond
• Come On Get Happy by The Partridge Family
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
• Home Sweet Home by Mötley Crüe
• Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel
• Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
• Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver

My "Driving" playlist is a subset of this lineup, as you can probably tell.
My "Summer" playlist includes a lot of beachy, tropical, reggae and steel drum selections.

What songs do you have on your Vacation playlists?

Enjoy previous seasonal blog posts: 

Hello Spring! Hello Cookies! Our latest cookbook is out!  A book full of Afternoon Tea's cookie and bar recipes!	My Favorite Mugs A menagerie of mugs ... one of life's simple pleasures.
A Baby Shower Tea Party Celebrating a little one's imminent arrival.	A Bridal Shower Tea ... the perfect way to entertain.
What's Your Favorite Cake? If only I could pick just one!	Who Really Needs An Egg Plate? Not me.  But I'm probably going to get one anyway!
Breakfast in Bed A time-honored tradition for Mother's Day!	Happy Mother's Day! Wishing all of the Moms out there a very wonderful, healthy and happy Mother's Day!
Love Tea Sandwiches? Spring is for Tea Parties, Baby & Bridal Showers, Garden Parties... that means lots and lots of delightful tea sandwiches!	Mother's Day Tea A perfect way to celebrate and spend time with our Moms.
Cooking with Herbs Herbs are making a tasty appearance in some of your favorite desserts!	Fresh! Locally-grown farm-fresh products and produce are the best!
The Lenten Season A reminder that accepting the challenge of self-discipline is good for the soul.	Spring Cleaning Tackling and taming the clutter.
Romancing Your Life Setting the scene to fall in love with your own life.	Romantic Foods Something special ...
The Romance of Travel Falling in love with a new destination, adventure, and new vistas.	The Icing on the Cake Does a bakery really need to make frosted layer cakes?
How It All Began The very beginnings of Afternoon Tea.	Top Chef - Colorado A celebrity in the family!
A Tale of Two Bread Puddings So different, yet both so good!	Do-Gooders!  My sister's non-profit, Healing Warriors Program, gives away a state-of-the-art electric wheelchair!
Pear Tart, Part Deux  There's a time for rustic, and a time for elegant.	Salty Sweets Finishing salts on your dessert.