The ultimate road trip playlist

It’s an exhilarating moment: the long-awaited day is here. You’re packed, everything’s loaded, everyone’s buzzing and it’s time to hit the open road.

Just one final detail remains in order to crank up the pleasure to 11 – and that is having the best music blasting out as you wend your way through the highways and by-ways to your destination.

Now of course, music is a notoriously subjective issue. One man’s Meatloaf is another man’s poison. And a tune that might have you singing your heart out could easily have your passengers crying their eyes out.

Nevertheless, we’ve put together a variety of great tunes and organised them into three categories, so you can match the music to your mood…

Put your foot down and drive…

Hands to the wheel, foot to the floor, heads nodding in unison

• Lido Shuffle by Boz Scaggs. A song that builds and builds – then builds some more. Killer bassline and singalong chorus.
• Connection by Elastica. A ticking timebomb of a tune. Everyone’s waiting for that explosion.
• Get Back by The Beatles. The McCartney masterpiece that chugs along like no-one’s business – with more than a little help from Ringo’s incessant beats.
• Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry. Original rock and roll classic by one of the founding fathers of modern music. “Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans, Way back up in the woods among the evergreens…”
• Sheena Is a Punk Rocker by The Ramones. Heads-down, no-frills, pure energy from the trailblazing New Yorkers.

Just chillin’

When it’s time to peace out with some serene sounds

• Summer Breeze by The Isley Brothers. Cool, dreamy and soulful. “Blowing through the jasmine in my mind”
• Groovin’ by The Young Rascals. A perfect sound of summer – like floating down a slow river, sippin’ on gin and juice.
• One Love by Bob Marley. People Get Ready for this skankin’ classic from the man himself.
• Good Times by Chic. The riff that launched a thousand samples. The Nile Rogers/Chic sound defined an era of dance and your feet just won’t stop when this plays.
• The Girl from Ipanema by Astrud Gilberto. Sassy, slinky and suggestive, this Brazilian bossa nova classic makes even the hottest day sound cool.

Soul power

Beats so infectious they should carry a health warning

• Superstition by Stevie Wonder. Stone cold classic from Stevie at the height of his awesome soul power.
• I Feel Good by James Brown. You know it as soon as you hear that awesome screech. Soul brother number one is in complete control here!
• Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye. There’s no point trying to resist when Marvin comes at you with this mellow masterpiece.
• Reach Out by The Four Tops. Motown legends incoming! Pounding tambourine, soul-shredding vocals and absolute bliss from Detroit.
• Harlem Shuffle by Bob and Earl. If you’re not ‘shoulder dancing’ to this along the highway then there’s something wrong. Beware: you won’t want to leave the vehicle when this is playing.