Alisa is leaving on Monday to drive to North Carolina, and she requested mix CDs. Mike and I made a set of three to send her, with him contributing two and me contributing one. I was pretty pleased with mine, so I’m posting it here, with my notes for Alisa on each song. The title of the CD is the title of this post, and a lot of the songs had to do with traveling and/or love, because I figured that was the theme of the trip.
I would have to say that mix CDs are something I am not too good at, because I am not a music aficionado by any means. The meaning of the song is often more important to me than the music part, and I appreciate something I can sing along to much more than I appreciate something “important” or “groundbreaking.” So that’s my disclaimer on these choices.
“Here in America” by Rich Mullins – What better way to appreciate driving across America than by listening to this song? Plus, when you see “the mountains waking with the innocence of children,” you’ll almost be at your new home.
“Hey Jack Kerouac” by 10,000 Maniacs – Mike’s the Natalie Merchant fan in our house, but On the Road is the ultimate road trip book (that I admit that I didn’t finish. I’m not so much a road trip kind of girl), so Jack Kerouac earns a place on a road trip mix for that alone.
“100 Miles to Charleston” by Martha’s Trouble – You may remember this song as one of the ones that makes me think of Susan. I’m trying to redeem it by giving it to you instead. Plus, it’s a great song about being on the road.
“Movin’ Right Along” by Kermit and Fozzie – Hopefully you won’t see the sun come up in the west, and you’re driving the opposite way as they are, but . . . it’s Kermit! And Fozzie! I admit this song is a bit of a novelty, but Mike and I hardly ever take trips without it. Plus, I think every road trip mix is allowed one novelty song. I always make the little noises with Kermit: “We’re moving right along (dun dun dun, dun dun dun), hey LA, where’ve you gone?”
“For You I Will (Confidence)” by Teddy Geiger – Well, you like Love Monkey. And this is my favorite Teddy Geiger song.
“One Thing” by Finger Eleven – I just like how this song sounds. Nothing big. I just think it’s the kind of song I like to listen to while the miles go by.
“Don’t You Cry Out” by Miranda Stone – This is my favorite off of her live album. I drove to Charlotte once with it on repeat. Two hours of this song.
“We Used to be Friends” by The Dandy Warhols – This is the theme song for Veronica Mars, and when we watched the first episode, I said, “I don’t like this song, but here’s what’s gonna happen. We’re going to love the song from watching so many episodes, and then we’re going to get tired of it.” So far, I am still in the “love” phase. Mike loves to sing, “Come on now, sugar!”
“Keep the Customer Satisfied” by Simon & Garfunkel – If any song off of Bridge Over Troubled Water can be considered a “lesser-known” Simon & Garfunkel song, perhaps it’s this one. I included it in the hopes that you’ll stay one step ahead of the shoeshine and two steps away from the county line. One of the things I like about this song is that my mom likes to sing it, too. When I bought Bridge Over Troubled Water, I knew most of the songs already, but she was the one who sang along with this one.
“Something Pretty” by Patrick Park – The “tobacco skin” is supposed to make you think of Tobacco Road, your new home.
“Taking Pictures” by Sam Phillips – A song about leaving things behind. And Sam Phillips is awesome – her songs manage to sound both sad and hopeful at the same time.
“Handle With Care” by Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins – Originally by the Traveling Wilburys, this version features M. Ward and Ben Gibbard. Mike’s gotten into the Traveling Wilburys, but I like this version, too. It got kind of mixed reviews on Amazon, but I think it’s a feel-good song.
“World Spins Madly On” by The Weepies – I think this song sounds like what it’s like to be driving at sunset.
“Travelin’ Thru” by Dolly Parton – Well, I can’t do a road trip mix without this song, can I? I don’t know if anyone has told you this, but moving to the south means that, if you don’t already, you’re going to have to acknowledge the greatness of Dolly Parton.
“Love Shines (A Song for My Daughters About God)” by Live – I have never been a fan of Live, but Mike got their latest album, and I like it. It’s pretty straightforward Top 40 stuff, but . . . I like that kind of stuff. And I like this song. It sounds like spring, when the world is starting to come to life and you want to roll your windows down.
“I-35” by The Damn Millionaires – I wasn’t sure which DM song to include, but I went with this one because of the “driving to be with the one you love” theme. And I love the guitar on this one.
“Forever” by Ben Harper – As far as I’m concerned, this song can’t be played enough. Another that I’ve put on repeat. I especially like the bridge.
“Give it Up” by The Format – In honor of the fact that you’re not “too scared to go.”
“Follow Me” by The Innocence Mission – At the last minute, I took another song off and had to find a replacement. I thought maybe you wouldn’t have too much of The Innocence Mission. My first introduction to this song was when Mike picked it to be on one of the CDs that played at our wedding reception. It’s a pretty little cover.
“Got to Get You Into My Life” by The Beatles – I asked Mike if this song was an overplayed Beatles song, and he said no. It was just me that overplayed it, then. Of course, “overplay” is such a subjective term. I’m certainly not tired of it. A slightly lesser-known Beatles gem.
“At Least I Got a Car” by Waterdeep – I’m sure you have this song, but . . . it’s one of my favorite songs to drive to. It had to be included. “Man, I wish I had a home tonight!”
“Closer to You” by Brandi Carlile – I don’t hear people talking about her much [note: I wrote that before Brandi posted of her new Brandi Carlile love], but I really like this song. And I decided very early on that I was closing the CD with this, because it combines the two themes: love and driving. So there you have it.
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14 Comments
That’s a pretty cool CD, Kari.
Honk as you pass, Alisa.
We’ll be in Alabama for a whole day, Geof if you wanna have a meal or something. Or wait for Atlanta in July.
Oh and also, I told Kari this, but when I got my very fun looking three pack of cds Ive been tempted a couple of times to listen to it before the trip. But I have restrained.
I thought Josh and I were the only people that had heard of The Format (that song is awesome, by the way).
And Conor Oberts (aka Bright Eyes) also appears on “Handle With Care” by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. He sings the part that M. Ward sings in the first verse…in the…second verse, I think.
i don’t know ONE of those songs.
Not even the one from The Muppet Movie?
I want this CD.
So I will just burn it while Alisa is here.
(Nice linkage to THE POST THAT MAKES ME SAD… but also cracks me up every time… hehe)
Heh. I only know the first song.
Hey! Carla is driving to North Carolina, too!!!!!!
what a great list! thanks!
Carla is wrong. She is not going to NC. Unless shes keeping things from me ALREADY.
May I suggest that Brian and Roger see The Muppet Movie? You guys can even borrow our copy!
(Seriously, Kermit and Fozzie? Driving? And singing? You don’t have any idea what I’m talking about?)
i haven’t seen the muppet movie since I was a kid…I don’t remember it off the top of my head.
For the record, I still listen to and love the cd you made for me when I went to Kenya. Though I never got a track list, so I really don’t know who sings some of the songs. But I love it.