Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Oh man, that opening guitar bit. And the strings. And it's inspired by Joan Didion. What more could you ask for on a long drive?

Joshua by Dolly Parton

I drove out from Ohio to New Mexico last year with only on CD in the car: The Essential Dolly Parton. I sang along to "Joshua" so many times that I had no voice by the time I crossed the Colorado/New Mexico border.

Ride Your Pony by Lee Dorsey

These lyrics belong on the road:
"Way out west where the grass is green /
California, you know what I mean /
New York City and Detroit too /
On to New Orleans, the home of the blues..."