Late Night Driving Music

So, what do you do when it's 2AM and you've still got a 100 miles to drive before you reach your destination?  What I do is make a CD called "It's 2AM and I've still got 100 miles to drive" and pack it with songs to keep me alert and awake so I don't hit a bridge abutment.
Because it's a CD it won't cover the whole 100 miles but the adrenaline should keep you going for the last few minutes.

Only one rule, no more than two songs by the same artist (hey, I know it's about staying alert and alive but you need to have some standards, and if I didn't the CD would only contain live cuts by The Who).  It also helps if you can sing along with it - gets oxygen to the brain (at least that's my theory).



There's No Action - Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1978)

Sometimes I phone you when I know you're not lonely
But I always disconnect it in time

Ain't Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randolph & The Family Band (2006)
Hard to decide between this and The Thrill Of It or I Need More Love.


867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone (1982)
 My favorite One Hit Wonder.

7 And 7 Is - Love (1966)

Relentless.  Punk before there was punk.  In late 1967, Love released one of the classic rock albums of the decade, Forever Changes, with a much different sound.  How different?  Well, the song titles were still strange but take a listen to Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale

Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms (1993)
My nominee in a prior post for best upbeat rocker with the most downbeat pathetic lyrics.

And you can trust me not to think
And not to sleep around
If you don't expect too much from me
I might not let you down

The Real Me - The Who (1973)
My choice for best bass line in a rock song.  John Entwhistle plays lead bass guitar.  If you have a good subwoofer crank that thing up.  The drumming's not too shabby either.


Portrait Of A Cigarette - Discount (1997)
A 90s pop-punk band from Vero Beach, Fla.  Sorry, but you can't find this on YouTube or iTunes.  Got it off of a mix my son made while he was in high school.  Only a minute and four seconds long but it's dynamite.  Trust me.

The View From The Afternoon - Arctic Monkeys (2006)
From their UK #1 debut album.

Ain't Talking 'Bout Love - Van Halen (1978)

You know you're semi-good lookin'
And on the streets again

The kings of the stupid lyric/giant guitar sound thing.  Eddie plays some monster chords.  Hey, hey, hey!!


White Riot - The Clash (1977)
From their first album.

 
Sweet Hands - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals (2005)
Read more about Grace in the post He Came Dancing Across The Water.


Lipstick Vogue - Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1978)
You can find it in Fear Is Here To Stay, Love Is Here For A Visit.

Flathead - The Fratellis (2006)

A peppy bunch of Scottish kids.

In The City - The Jam (1978)
Saw them perform this live in London the year it was released.  You can hear the influence of The Who.
 

Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing - Chris Isaak (1995)
Oh yeah. See Boogie Fever post.

My Way - Los Lonely Boys (2006)
By Henry, Jojo and Ringo.  Not Sinatra's tune (which was written by Paul Anka).  See prior post.

Bad Motor Scooter - Montrose (1973)
An early heavy rock band.  Ronnie Montrose on guitar and the pre-Van Halen Sammy Hagar on vocals.

I'm Just A Girl - No Doubt (1995)
I'm not but Gwen Stefani ("a typical prototype") certainly is.  A great power pop tune.

 
Hundred Mile High City - Ocean Colour Scene (1997)

From the sound track of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

The Kids Aren't Alright - The Offspring (1998)

 When we were young the future was so bright
The old neighborhood was so alive
And every kid on the whole damn street
Was gonna make it big in every beat

Now the neighborhood's cracked and torn
The kids are grown up but their lives are worn
How can one little street
Swallow so many lives

I dunno - rock on!

My Generation - The Who (1965)
Broke a lot of new ground:


1.  The bass solo.  Unprecedented in 1965 and still amazing to listen to today.
2.  Three key changes.
3.  Lyrical content and de-de-de-delivery.
4.  That drum/guitar insanity at the end.


A massive hit in the UK and flop in the US just like their next three singles, Substitute, The Kids Are Alright and I'm A Boy (with its chorus of "I'm a boy, I'm a boy, but my ma won't admit it, I'm a boy, I'm a boy, but when I say I am I get it")

Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins (1995)
Watch them perform the song live on French TV in The World Is A Vampire.

La Grange - ZZ Top (1973)

What was going down in that shack outside La Grange?  See the Boogie Fever post.


All Along The Watchtower - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)

Electrifying cover of the haunting Dylan tune. 

I'm Shipping Up To Boston - Dropkick Murphys (2005)
Lyrics by Woodie Guthrie.  The music is not.

SAFE DRIVING!