I just returned home after having visited 4 cities in 2 weeks. It was fun, though a bit tiring, like traveling with the family can sometimes be. Had it not been for the music, I probably wouldn't have made it beyond a couple of days (smile). Really, I mean, What's a road trip without music? Please, I don't even want to think about it.
When the hubby and I first started traveling together, umpteen some years ago, our musical preferences/differences were something we had to sort out. I like my music loud. He doesn't. While I enjoy a variety of music, I prefer R & B, hip-hop and jazz. The hubby can only take a limited amount of hip-hop, prefers "smooth" jazz, and is even more OLD SCHOOL than am I when it comes to his preferences in R & B.
Moreover, I'm pretty sure, had ole boy been traveling alone, he would have listened to nothing but CLASSICAL music. I don't have anything against classical music. It's all right. I mean, I can listen to it for a good, solid 10 minutes or so . . . before I'm overcome by an overwhelming desire to slit my own wrists or somebody else's throat (LOL).
In recent years, I've managed to assemble a collection of mutually agreed upon cds. These are tunes we both enjoy and have little problem listening to over and over again. On our latest road trip, I managed to sneak in a best of Stephanie Mills collection and that went over well enough to become part of the permanent rotation. But when I dropped a best of Aretha collection on ole boy and tried to get him to join me in a "Freeway of Love" sing-along, he wasn't having it. Though, I think I heard my son humming in the backseat to "Chain, Chain, Chain" so there may still be hope (smile).
The following is currently the mutually agreed list of tunes we listen to when we set out on long road trips:
1) Next Exit (Grover Washington, Jr.)
2) Cache (Kirk Whalum)
3) Hang Suite . . . & . . . Now (Maxwell)
4) Ride (Boney James)
5) What's Going On (Marvin Gaye)
6) Best of Smooth Jazz (Vols.1-4; Various Artists; Warner Bros)
7) When Skies Are Grey (Ron Carter)
8) Bill Withers (Greatest Hits)
9) Kemistry . . . & . . . Kem II (Kem)
10) Bang!Zoom (Bobby McFerrin)
11) Always & Forever: The Classics (Luther Vandross)
Of course, had it been left to me, there would have been some Common, Coltrane, Miles, Badu, Jaguar Wright, Ndegeocello, India Arie, Jill Scott, Raheem DeVaughn, some old Isley Brothers and Al Green, some Heather Headley, Cassandra Wilson, some Lauryn Hill, a bit of T.I and the list goes on . . .
So, what do you listen to when you are on the road?
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8 comments:
Since I commute to work, I spend alot of time in my car. I usually listen to either CDs or sports radio (WDFN to be exact). Because the format of my radio show is 70s and 80s music, I normally listen to compilations that I created myself with music from those decades.
Right now, I am listening to a CD I made that consists of hits and rarities from the 50s and 60s. Some of the songs on the CD include:
Nobody But Me- Isley Bros.
You're the One- The Vogues
The Hucklebuck- Chubby Checker
Coming On Strong- Brenda Lee
A Love That's Real- The Intruders
Sweet Talkin' Guy- The Chiffons
Fields of Clover- The Box Tops
Malcolm,
Wow! When it comes to OLD School, you've definitely got me BEAT (smile). My father-in-law used to talk about the dance, "The Hucklebuck." I didn't know there was a song that went with it (LOL). Thanks for the comment and the education.
What?! No Prince? Our roadtrip must-haves include his Greatest Hits, and Donna Summer, Live (which we all sing to, even my otherwise ultra-cool 14-year old!)
Michelle,
You know, as much as I loved Prince, back in the day . . . I only listen to him in spells now and never in a confinded space, like a car (LOL). But some of the cuts on 3121(like "Te Amo Corazon", "Black Sweat" & "Beautiful, Loved and Blesed" might make for some good "riding" music. Hmmm . . . I just might try that next time out. Thanks for the tip (smile).
Family trips - Bill Withers, The Spinners, Natalie Cole, John Legend. I can't listen to instrumentals - I get way too relaxed to drive well. If I'm by myself - Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Prince get thrown into the mix as well.
Hey Nerd Girl,
Welcome to "The Mix." I love Lenny Kravitz, but like you, I have to listen to him by myself.
I could probably listen to a bit of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on a road trip, but too much, like Prince, would probably get me all worked up (smile). As I suggested to a previous poster, that's just way too much energy to confind in a small space (LOL).
I noticed you lean toward softer, smoother sounds on your family trips . . . That's sort of what I strive to do.
I'm all about 80s music. In fact I'm trying to get my wife to renew our vows next year with an 80s prom theme I want our first dance to be to Mr. Mister's Broken Wings. It's a tough sell.
Casandra Wilson's "Traveling Miles" CD is something I can listen to everyday, on the road or not.
Keith,
Cassandra Wilson's "Traveling Miles" CD is one of my FAVORITES. I like listening to it when I write. But playing it on a road trip is out of the question. I tried playing something by Ms. Wilson once only to have ole boy say something along the lines of, "Good Lord, when is she gonna stop all of that moaning? It's driving me crazy!"
I think an '80s prom theme would be cute and fun. But if you wanna stay "happily" married, I say go with whatever makes the Mrs. happy (smile).
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