What's the perfect road trip playlist?
Aug 12, 2025•49 min
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Summary
Hosts of All Songs Considered delve into crafting the ultimate road trip playlist, sharing personal selections and ground rules for car music. They explore various categories including engaging kid-friendly tracks, Broadway sing-alongs, high-energy rock for drivers, and meditative tunes for nighttime drives. The discussion covers unexpected musical revelations, family compromises, and the role of nostalgia, concluding with their top song picks from 2024 for the 25th-anniversary celebration.Episode description
Before summer disappears, we share our favorite songs for your long and winding drives, plus a list of ground rules (does the driver always have final say?), and a breakdown of what works best when.
Featured artists and songs:
1. Eric Burdon and War: “Spill the Wine,” from Eric Burdon Declares “War”
2. Stromae: “Santé,” from Multitude
3. Broadway Cast: “Alexander Hamilton,” from Hamilton
4. Joe Iconis / Broadway Cast: “Michael in the Bathroom,” from Be More Chill
5. Abiotic: “Vermosapien,” from Symbiosis
6. Wipers: “Mystery,” from Is This Real?
7. Steely Dan: “My Old School,” from Countdown to Ecstasy
8. Tunde Olaniran: “Namesake,” from Transgressor
9. Shania Twain: “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!” from Come On Over
10. Pat Travers: “Amgwanna Kick Booty,” from Black Pearl
11. Anthrax & Public Enemy: “Bring The Noise,” from Attack of the Killer B’s
12. Unwed Sailor: “Monster Collecting,” from Cruel Entertainment
13. The Allman Brothers Band: “Midnight Rider,” from Idlewild South and “Southbound,” from Brothers And Sisters
14. Lakestreet Dive: “You Go Down Smooth,” from Bad Self Portraits
15. Black Sabbath: “Turn Up The Night,” from Mob Rules
16. Simple Minds: “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” from The Breakfast Club
All Songs Considered 25th anniversary segment: Our No. 1 songs from 2024
Weekly reset: Summer roadtrip while listening to the radio
Hear the songs in our Roadtrip Mix on Spotify and Apple.
Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Featured artists and songs:
1. Eric Burdon and War: “Spill the Wine,” from Eric Burdon Declares “War”
2. Stromae: “Santé,” from Multitude
3. Broadway Cast: “Alexander Hamilton,” from Hamilton
4. Joe Iconis / Broadway Cast: “Michael in the Bathroom,” from Be More Chill
5. Abiotic: “Vermosapien,” from Symbiosis
6. Wipers: “Mystery,” from Is This Real?
7. Steely Dan: “My Old School,” from Countdown to Ecstasy
8. Tunde Olaniran: “Namesake,” from Transgressor
9. Shania Twain: “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!” from Come On Over
10. Pat Travers: “Amgwanna Kick Booty,” from Black Pearl
11. Anthrax & Public Enemy: “Bring The Noise,” from Attack of the Killer B’s
12. Unwed Sailor: “Monster Collecting,” from Cruel Entertainment
13. The Allman Brothers Band: “Midnight Rider,” from Idlewild South and “Southbound,” from Brothers And Sisters
14. Lakestreet Dive: “You Go Down Smooth,” from Bad Self Portraits
15. Black Sabbath: “Turn Up The Night,” from Mob Rules
16. Simple Minds: “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” from The Breakfast Club
All Songs Considered 25th anniversary segment: Our No. 1 songs from 2024
Weekly reset: Summer roadtrip while listening to the radio
Hear the songs in our Roadtrip Mix on Spotify and Apple.
Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android