Best travel songs
The Grammy Awards are scheduled this month in Los Angeles. As in recent years, the Recording Academy is holding this big shindig to honor recording artists and technical professionals for their achievements.
With over 100 categories in which an honoree can be recognized, you’d think that a nod would be given to every possible cranny of the music business. But that’s not the case.
In what can only be described as an amazing oversight, there is no category for “Travel Songs.” Can you believe it? Well, to correct this longstanding omission by the Academy, I offer here my nominees for the Best Travel Tunes in the following sub-categories:
Best Travel Song by a Folk Group — “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Peter Paul and Mary
Who among us hasn’t had this melody rumble through our heads at least one time as we picked up a boarding pass at an airline ticket counter or walked through an airport concourse or ambled down a jetway onto an airplane?
Best Surfing Travel Song — “Surfin’ U.S.A.” by The Beach Boys
Dude, this golden oldie is still on the charts here in Santa Cruz. It seems to be especially popular among my contemporariesâ€â€you know, the geezers wearing the “Old Guys Rule” T-shirts and asking for AARP discounts at the surf shops.
Best Country and Western Travel Song — “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Hank Snow
This is one of those songs you have to pay attention to. You may not want to, but you have to. The first time you hear it, you listen in wonder; the second time, you listen for your city. From then on you just try to shadow it, never quite able to keep up the pace.
Best Re-Make of a Country and Western Travel Song — “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash recorded this now-classic C&W tune. Recently it has been used in a television advertising campaign for Choice Hotels International. If you haven’t heard the originalâ€â€and you shouldâ€â€you’ve certainly heard this version.
Best Be-Bop Travel Song — “Travelin’ Man” by Rick Nelson
Rick Nelson (I still remember him as Ricky) sang of a less hurried time when we looked forward to traveling because we were going to find romance at our destinationâ€â€unlike travel today where we are more likely to find some irritated customer.
Best Travel Song for the Trip Home — “Come Monday” by Jimmy Buffett
Sometimes — OK, lots of times — the best part of traveling is going home. Jimmy Buffett longs to get off the road. [Listening note: I've found this ballad is best appreciated when heard over the roar of a blender full of margaritas.]
Best Hummable Travel Song — “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson has created the quintessential travel song. Is there anyone here who hasn’t sung the title refrain from this ditty while packing for yet another trip or while driving to the local airport? Hands? I thought so.
Best Local Travel Song (Special Category) — “Highway 17 Blues” by Jim Fowler
Just about the only way for me to get to a major airport close to my home is by driving over the mountains on California State Highway 17. So although Fowler sings about commuting, to me his tune reminds me of out-of-town travel.