Roadtrip soundtrack

Woe. Major buzz-kill there, rationation. I don't know how others listen to music, but in my circle it is an intensely social activity, most often involving singing along or sparking conversations about a shared memory or piece of music. Usually it's a form of comraderie, even if one is silent.

Watching a dvd or staring out the window, in contrast, is often more akin to entering a semi-sleep state of hypontism. Nothing wrong with doing so (unless you are the driver), but I don't see why it's morally superior to listening to beloved or just fun music. For the record, I also cherish silence. Long drives usually present lots of opportunities for all of these. But I do love music, and frankly, it's not that often that I get a chance to really listen to music other than on a long drive.

In the car is almost the only time I get to listen to music.

Despite cb's scoffing, I'd put the Dead's Truckin and Dark Star on the list. Also New Order, especially Temptation and Dreams Never End. Also Parliament, esp., from the P-Funk Live Earth Tour of the mid '70s. For driving down the Appalachians from Baltimore to Alabama, Kathy Mattea and Jerry Douglas. For twilight and evening esoterica, Michael Whalen's Nightscenes. If you want to go classical, Carmina Burana or Meistersingers.

I must agree with Rod, as Windfall is a must for roadtrips. Its been a while since last listening to the album Trace, and hearing that song brought back so many memories of nights on the road...a great song by one of americana's best.