Music To Speed By

Last Saturday, I found myself in Malibu. Not looking for homes or visiting Barbra. I was simply motoring through. With the moon roof open. The windows down. And enjoying the ocean view. The water was as blue as the hair of the president of your local canasta club. But, all of the above provoked a perfect storm of the senses. There was no better place to be at that very moment.

And, of course, there was some perfect driving song on the car radio. The type of music that is ideal for hitting the gas. The sort of melody that suddenly has you hitting 80 MPH. And, as my pedal was hitting the proverbial metal, I thought about some of those tunes that actually do invite you to go about 20 miles over the speed limit.

"Count Me In" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys: I envision that Gary himself did the same while tooling up and down PCH with Jerry's Rolls Royce. Actually, anything by this group has you booking for a future appointment with your friendly covert CHIPs motorcycle cop.

"Golden Lady" by Stevie Wonder: He should only know how it feels to drive to this song. He should only know how it feels to drive.

"Goodbye to You" by Scandal: The ultimate FU dating song. Also very apropos if you speed around some curves while singing along.

"I Love LA" by Randy Newman: Only works if you are speeding on the West Coast. I tried it on the Sprain Brook Parkway in Yonkers and it is much less effective.

"It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones: Not only are you going fast, but you also feel your pants tightening at the same time.

"Lonely Boy" by Andrew Gold: Works great in the car, especially if you just listened to "Goodbye to You."

"Love Grows" by Edison Lighthouse: She ain't got no money, her clothes are kind of funny, her hair is kind of wild and free. That crazy Rosemary. Who can't relate to some psycho girlfriend? My hand is raised high.

"Theme from the Big Country" by Jerome Moross: The tune that reminds you of any great Western. Best when driving around hills. Even better if you're steering a covered wagon.

"Me and Missus Jones" by Billy Paul: Best only if you dare to drive with the windows down through Compton. We got a thin' going on.

"New Kid in Town" by the Eagles: When you live in California, you need to speed to at least one song from this hometown band.

"Pacific Coast Highway" by Burt Bacharach: Ideal if you are driving on the very road late at night. I actually used this as a closing theme on a radio comedy show years and years ago.

"Really Want to Know You" by Gary Wright: I really wanna show you the way I feel. The break-up is apparently over. You need somebody in the passenger seat for this one.

"Stars" by Simple Red: I am so embarrassed to even admit this. The song is so cheesy, you would think it came from Wisconsin. But, it is quite infectious on the road, although I don't think this song works unless you have a key in the ignition.

"You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals: You got the music in you. You got the gas in the tank. You got a collision coming.

"Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes: If you are driving through Compton, roll down the windows and crank it up. Whacha' talkin' about?

"Up, Up, and Away" by the Fifth Dimension: You really should be in a balloon, but who the hell can afford that?

"Wipe Out" by the Ventures: Stop watching those surfers and keep your eyes on the road!

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman Turner Overdrive: The pinnacle of driving songs. Pure motoring nirvana. If this is on and you haven't gotten a ticket yet, it ain't loud enough.

So? What are your favorites behind the wheel? Or, if you don't drive (ahem), what do you enjoy while in the passenger seat of the car?

Dinner last night: Leftover pasta and meatballs.