Dropped off all the ladies at their respective airports, and I am exhausted and the house is quiet. Overall it was quite nice, Joelle is on cloud nine from the ceremony, and no one was arrested or hospitalized. Will probably take a couple weeks before I find the last wine glass placed in a weird spot, but that is the post-homecoming life.
Someone asked me this weekend why I waited so long to get married, and I thought it was a weird question and just said “I dunno,” but I thought about it a bit, and there are several reasons.
The first is I had a long series of relationships that did not end badly, but ended nonetheless. They weren’t bad or unsuccessful relationships, because I think it is kind of weird way of looking at life if every romantic interaction is judged by the ultimate goal of getting married. That’s just stupid. Most of the times, relationships, romantic or not, just run their course. In fact, it is so normal that the reason we all get caught up in messy drama from others is because bad and wild breakups are so unusual and seeing people go mental is just not normal. They are so unusual that everyone my age or older has had multiple conversations with friends that go something like:
“Have you heard from so an so?”
“No, I haven’t spoken to them in a decade or more.”
“Hrmm. Wonder what they are up to?”
And that’s it.
But at any rate, by my mid to late thirties I was happy and just over it all and just sort of wrote it off as a possibility. I wasn’t opposed to it, just not out there hunting.
Which leads to the second reason, after you get used to living alone for a long time, especially if you are crowd avoidant like me, you become selfish with your time. You get used to waking up, not saying anything to anyone, grabbing your keys and wallet, and driving 90 minutes just to get brunch at a place you like.” You are accountable to no one, and it is easy to get selfish in that regard. So that adds to the first point- “I’m sorta not looking, AND I really like to do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
And that is the kind of mental framework with which you do not want to go into any relationship, let alone marriage. Marriage, from what I have observed of the healthy ones around me, is a lot of fucking work. A lot of give and take, a lot of communication, a lot of flexibility. If you’re going to do it, you have to really change who you are or it’s just not going to work out, and not only that, it can be horribly cruel to your partner. They are committing everything to a clod who is one foot in and one foot out and can’t even do the basics. That’s fucking bullshit.
The other reason is because you really do have to meet the right person. Turns out I knew that person all along I just didn’t realize it. But I thought about it and thought about it and realized- nah, we’ll work out well. Which is why, despite the fact we had never so much as kissed and never had any sort of intimate relations she didn’t hang up on me when I called her at work at 9 am and said “SO I HAVE BEEN THINKING WE SHOULD GET MARRIED AND THIS IS WHY…”
At any rate, that’s that.
Soooo. I am making a spotify playlist for our road trip from WV to AZ and thought you all could help. Trying to limit the songs from years between 1968-1990ish, and I am sticking to cheesy pop/rock songs that are 3-5 minutes and just fun little songs (I have the AoR selections already picked). Here’s what I have so far:
It’s very, very white and yacht rock at the moment- I don’t even have any MJ or Prince in there yet. Regardless put what you think should be on the list in the comments.
And before there is a fucking mutiny in the comment section, here is a picture of Callie reclining on Boghan because like any puppy she has already claimed the entire damned house:
Cliosfanboy
I hope you guys have a long, happy, healthy marriage with lots of pups and kitties.
moonbat
Must be love if you’re making the digital age’s version of a mix tape.
May I suggest “Middle of the Road” by The Pretenders? It’s a good wake up and get excited about where you’re headed song.
Lyrebird
How about, “Dam_, wish I was your lover” or “Walking on sunshine”? And “Kiss” from Prince of course.
Seems like Joelle brings a lot of sunshine to life. Hooray for you both!
Suzanne
I like to listen to Tom Petty on road trips.
PST
When I was 61 I married a girl I first met when I was 14. I will be 70 in a few days, so it’s working out. Best wishes to you both. And I agree about “Middle of the Road.” Akron is not that far from you.
Alison Rose
Anyone asking a question like that should stop talking.
Auntie Anne
May I suggest Little Red Corvette and Let’s Go Crazy by Prince? Both are fun songs to bop along with.
For Michael Jackson, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough .
I never do a road trip without some handy Diana Ross and the Supremes. Stop In the Name of Love, Nothing but Heartaches, and Baby Love are all great.
catbirdman
I love this story! Congrats and best wishes. “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers has always brightened up any road trip I’ve taken. Enjoy!
Yutsano
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves.
EarthWindFire
No cheesy 70s era playlist is complete without “Magnet and Steel” or “Amy”. To make this a little less white, add in “Ain’t Nobody” and “September”.
And congratulations!
RandyG
Best wishes to you and Joelle!
“Can’t Find The Time”, Orpheus (1968)
My wife and I married at 62… the first time for both of us. It happens.
Hazmat
Any B-52s
Walkin’ in Rhythm by the Blackbyrds
Venus and California Here I Come by Shocking Blue!
Congratulations John.
mrmoshpotato
WV to AZ?
The Doobie Brothers – Rockin’ Down The Highway
mrmoshpotato
@Hazmat: Rock Lobster?
Saw a cyclist with their kids in tow yesterday blasting it.
Kristine
I like the way Callie looks directly into the camera. She’s in charge.
Congrats to you and Joelle, John. Best wishes for lots of road trips with playlists and other life stuff.
Chris
So many marriages end in divorce, and so many more don’t end in divorce but honestly would be better off if they had, I feel like nobody ever needs to justify not getting married. Not that there’s anything wrong with it either, but if you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling it.
The Oracle of Solace
Like you, I had a very long and rocky road to marriage, and I married the woman who had been my best friend basically forever. Our relationship has had enough twists and turns to fill several seasons of a telenovela, with comic misunderstandings, profound soul-searching, and self-discovery along the way. There remains the political threat of our marriage being annulled if Obergefell is overturned, so the journey is not yet over—marriage is just the start of another exciting chapter!
Odie Hugh Manatee
Good attitude regarding marriage, John. My attitudes and ways prior to marriage needed serious adjustment if I was going to be married for any length of time. One huge change that I had to learn was communication. My wife is my best friend but when we got married I had a best friend who I grew up with and into young adulthood. If my best friend from childhood said something dumb I would ride his ass like a rented mule.
That doesn’t work very well when your wife is your best friend! Ahhh, changes… ;)
Yarrow
“Saturday Night” – Bay City Rollers
“Come on Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners
2liberal
the who – squeeze box
Pete Downunder
Perhaps a bit early for your taste but some Eagles might go well: Take it Easy (because AZ) and Peaceful Easy Feeling. Also Kenny Rogers and Dolly Islands in the Stream a nice duet.
Tasha
Just get xm radio and set it to channel 17
Alison Rose
I know literally no one on Earth, when they hear “cheesy pop/rock fun little songs” thinks of Depeche Mode, but if you go back to their first few albums, you can indeed find some! Especially the first album Speak & Spell, since most of those songs were written by Vince Clarke, who went on to form Erasure. So of course off that album there’s Just Can’t Get Enough, but also What’s Your Name, which…Vince is supposedly straight but that is an exceedingly gay song. The chorus is literally “Hey, you’re such a pretty boy”.
Off the second album, A Broken Frame, when Martin Gore took over songwriting, it gets a bit less poppy, but there’s still See You and The Meaning Of Love. And from the third album Construction Time Again, you’ve got my fave track And Then… as well as Get The Balance Right from the deluxe version.
The Pale Scot
NYC house music
Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart
Yarrow
Your road trip playlist seems a little bit too mellow. You might want to break it up a bit with some upbeat singalong songs, like the two I mentioned upthread. Also something like “Copacabana” – Barry Manilow. Singing along with cheesy songs keeps you awake on a long trip.
Marina
Gerry Rafferty “Baker Street”
Enya “Orinoco Flow”
Rolling Stones “You Got the Silver”
T-Bone Burnett “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”
Peter Green Need Your Love so Bad [live studio version] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuVcp_XbaTI
Wishing you every happiness.
Alison Rose
@The Pale Scot: It’s on his list :)
Lavocat
I could give you a thousand more tunes, but the 2 that really stand out are the 2 I heard today after not hearing for about a decade: “Blinded By The Light” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and “Driver’s Seat” by Sniff ‘N’ the Tears. Shit, might as well throw in Sugarloaf’s “Green-Eyed Lady” while you’re at it.
“Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun. But, Mama, that’s where the fun is!”
Have fun, man.
AliceBlue
“Too Late to Turn Back Now” – Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Anything by the Spinners or Earth Wind and Fire
Ruckus
John, I’m an older fart than you are and have been in the same situation, have lived with wonderful women and enjoyed the hell out of the relationships but it was the relationships that had lifetime, not that the people had a lifetime in a relationship. It is also seeing marriages fail far more often than they work. That didn’t use to be the case but then a divorce was far harder to legally do – a marriage is a one time thing and you are going to be successful if it kills one or both of you, damn it. That changed and became a lot less of a hassle and cost. And life has changed a lot in my lifetime. By far mostly for the better. It may not be done improving but then this is being done by humans so I’m not holding my breath. Another example – look at the theater side of congress, the ones there for the show, not the ones there to attempting to lead a nation.
No One You Know
So Happy to be Stuck with You – Huey Lewis and the News
Dancing In The Street – Martha and the Vandellas
Can’t Explain; Magic Bus – The Who
Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
dexwood
@Suzanne: Agree, gotta include Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream”.
Steeplejack
So help me get unconfused. Did Cole get married or just (formally) engaged? I thought the latter.
frosty
… cheesy pop/rock songs…
Stacy’s Mom
I try to start every road trip with Born To Run.
John Hiatt – Memphis in the Meantime (put the cow horns back on the Cadillac …)
Motels – Into the Heartland (I’m gonna gun this sucker straight into the heartland). But um, maybe the other lyrics aren’t quite as cheery.
Tehanu
Had trouble reading the list, so this might be a duplicate, but … anything by the Spinners. And congratulations!
Another Scott
Cowsills – Indian Lake
Rundgren – Hello it’s me
Rundgren – A dream goes on forever
Nilsson – Without you
Gordon Lightfoot – If you could read my mind
Enjoy your trip, and your coming adventures!
Cheers,
Scott.
Ivan X
@Alison Rose: “Get The Balance Right” is one of my all time faves by them. Just a super great track. Wish they’d play it live! They added it to the US-only compilation album People Are People which collected some non-LP singles with some previously released tracks as stopgap between Construction and Some Great Reward, not that I’m sure you don’t know all that shit.
p.a.
REM- Nightswimming
Gillian Welch- Wrecking Ball
Saint Etienne- Over the Border
The Iguanas- My Girlfriend is a Waitress
Hüsker Dü- Books About UFOs
Sly & the Family Stone- (You caught Me) Smilin’
HumboldtBlue
You’re goddamned right. I knew by the time I was 27-28, I wasn’t gonna be a dad nor was I likely to become a husband and as of now I avoided (not out of animus, just an alarming aversion to responsibility) both of those things. One thing about being alone, is noise tolerance. I live a very quiet — in ambient noise — life. When I visited Dago and the family in May, sweet mother of screeching, seven kids are fucking LOUD!
moonbat
Oooh! One more suggestion.
When you get to the dusky blues of the day, put on Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love.” ;)
Tim Curtin
Blue Magic, Main Ingredient, and Philly Soul all make sweet funky love with Yacht Rock.
Many many blessings on you both.
Another Scott
Jimmy Buffett – Come Monday
Fleetwood Mac – Hypnotized
Cheers,
Scott.
Alison Rose
@Suzanne: Yessss. If he wants tracks that would fit in with his list (or at least…the songs I’m familiar with on his list) I’d say A Thing About You, You Tell Me, Anything That’s Rock N Roll, Make That Connection, Century City, Listen To Her Heart, Depot Street, Keeping Me Alive, You Come Through.
God, they were terrific.
devore
best of luck.
Alison Rose
@Ivan X: It is such a fun song! And they never played it live after the CTA tour. Honestly, if they still do JCGE they could totally still play that one too. And yes, that compilation album was actually where I first heard it :)
kalakal
Almost anything off Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Going mobile – The Who
HumboldtBlue
@Tim Curtin:
Holy hell, Blue Magic and the Philly sound are in my bones.
The memories.
Juju
Cheap Trick- I want you to want me
Cass Eliot- Make your own Kind of Music
Aha – Take on me
The Aretha Franklin version of – I say a little prayer
Rick James- Super Freak
KC and the Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes
Mousebumples
Queen is my favorite, so off the top of my head, Somebody To Love, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and Good Old Fashioned Loverboy are great. Under Pressure is less happy, maybe, but… Queen + Bowie!
Bohemian Rhapsody is way too long, but still fun.
Others (apologies for any duplicates)
Fleetwood Mac, Heart, and Madonna songs
I Love Rock & Roll – Joan Jett
I Will Always Love You – Whitney’s version is amazing, but Dolly’s original is also amazing
Again, congrats to you both! I got married in my mid 30s since I often would go out with people and wish I wasn’t in their company. The right fit is what matters. Cheers!
TaMara
Throw some Indigo Girls, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Shania Twain in there. Oh and some Shakira.
Sorry, I know you said pre-2000s, but damn man…
kalakal
deleted
Maxim
I agree with Yarrow that mixing in some upbeat songs would be a good idea.
It’s a year out of your range, but The Turtles — Happy Together
The Beatles — Something
McCartney — My Love and C Moon
Sister Sledge — We are Family
The Cars — Just What I Needed
Springsteen — Born to Run
Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke
Queen — Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Chicago — Saturday in the Park
Carly Simon — Coming Around Again
Paula Abdul — Straight Up
Diana Ross — Upside Down
Gloria Estefan — Turn the Beat Around
I could go on (and on …)
Odie Hugh Manatee
Regarding your song list… what a great idea! This way we’ll know there may be problems if you ever start listing songs from Pat Travers (Boom Boom, out go the lights) and/or George Thorogood (You talk too much).
😃
mrmoshpotato
@TaMara:
🎶
Whenever, Wherever🎶
like a metaphor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Kdeb2Qf1k
i think it’s so groovy now that people are finally getting
together
Barbara
When I was 22 my BF’s deadhead friend wanted to go to a dead concert on a weekend. So we drove from Pgh to WISCONSIN in a single night and the entire way we heard over and over, “this is a story about Jack and Diane . . . ” Anyway, that’s my suggestion, along with Brown Eyed Girl, because I haven’t seen any Van Morrison. Love the Tom Petty and Todd Rundgren suggestions. Saw some REM, and I would go with Fall On Me. No U2, not really a good fit, but Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses would be good.
Spanky
You certainly want to put some actual road songs in there.
Running on Empty
Radar Love
Rocking Down the Highway
Trivia Man
Elton – Crocodile Rock (if the car doesn’t start reverberating with La-La La La La La then I miss my guess)
Dead – Hard to Handle
Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing
CCR – midnight Special
Pure Prairie League – Aimee
geg6
I insist you take Silly Love Songs off the list. If you must have a sappy McCartney tune, substitute it with My Love.
You must also put a Rick Roll in there somewhere.
BettyPageisaBlonde
Oh shit! I totally missed this whole getting married saga but OMG my smile is about to split my face in two. I’m extremely happy for you, sir.
Song – “Interstate Love Song” – Stone Temple Pilots
❤️
Argiope
Talking Heads: This must be the place. A sweet and quirky love song that reminds me of the Cole-Joelle story as we’ve heard it so far.
Steeplejack
Hello? Can somebody help me out at #33?
rekoob
Bananarama – Venus
Susanna Hoffs — Cover of “Different Drum”
Linda Ronstadt’s is the standard, but Susanna is hard to beat.
and, from the Bangles
Bangles — Manic Monday
Sure Lurkalot
Congrats!
Needs glam
David Bowie: Drive in Saturday
Mott the Hoople: Ready for Love
T Rex: Jeepster
Gin & Tonic
@Steeplejack: The latter.
Alison Rose
I love that this turned into a music thread, and it also reminds me of the time my Mom and I took a little weekend trip to Capitola together when I was, hmm…20 I think? Maybe a little younger but old enough to drive, and long ago enough that the car had a cassette deck. So I made two mix tapes for us to listen to called Motoring With Mom, and one tape had her music and one had mine. On each tape, one side was stuff more likely to appeal to the other person and the other had stuff that was a little less so. On one tape, I called the two sides “Closing the Gap” and “Widening the Chasm”, and on the other, they were something like “Bread and Butter” and “Night and Day” I think. It was a fun time, especially making her listen to VNV Nation and The Sisters of Mercy and stuff.
CaseyL
Living with someone after living alone for most of your adult life will be a challenge. But you and Joelle have known each other a long time, and are insightful about yourselves and each other; that’s a great head start!
I am so happy for you both, and look forward to hearing about your adventures together: Getting Engaged (done!), Getting Married, Figuring Out What State to Settle Down In, Accumulating More Animals… it’s going to be such fun!
Congrats, and may all your journeys be joyous!
Alison Rose
@Sure Lurkalot: Jeepster!! Love that song.
Martin
Looks like Lophonza Butler will be our acting senator. Pretty good choice. Kamala ally. I suspect she intends to run to keep the seat. Need to think about the implications of that.
Ohio Mom
@Steeplejack: They are still engaged. Apparently there is some sort of fraternity ceremony honoring members who have become engaged, and since this was homecoming weekend, Joelle flew in, some frat brothers led the ceremony, and everyone enjoyed themselves.
rekoob
@Steeplejack: Perhaps — from the description in John’s earlier post, this was a formal acknowledgement of the engagement, not a wedding. I think they’re planning a road trip to take Joelle back to Arizona.
randal sexton
Pretty romantic stuff there. Good on y’all for having the idiotic courage to take the plunge
Ohio Mom
@Steeplejack: Here’s the post: https://balloon-juice.com/2023/09/30/burying-the-lede-2/
wjca
As noted above (#16, I think), there are so many people who get divorced. Some of them multiple times.
The advice I gave my cousin, who got married for the first time this spring at age 67: Just say “I skipped the false starts.”
rekoob
A couple of additional road trip songs:
Lipps Inc. — Funkytown
We were listening to this on a Key Club expedition and our faculty advisor asked, “When are we getting to Funkytown?! (insert Interrobang)”.
Human League — Fascination
Ohio Mom
How long is the drive time between Arizona and West Virginia? How many three minute long pop songs does that come out to?
The Pale Scot
The Who,
Going Mobile
Bargain (the best I’ve ever had)
“To win you, I stand naked stoned and stabbed”
Best line ever
Steeplejack
Thank you, everybody! (Finally. Usually everybody is so quick to jump on a question or, horrors, an error.)
@Ohio Mom:
I saw that post, but I was confused by Cole at the top of this one: “Someone asked me this weekend why I waited so long to get married.” Thought I had perhaps missed some subtle subtext.
The Pale Scot
@Alison Rose: Opps, I couldn’t read it.
HumboldtBlue
For road music I have always found Flogging Molly serves very well indeed, as does ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers are a mainstay for driving tunes, Stevie Ray too.
gwangung
Sly and the Family Stone:
Want to Take You Higher
Dance to the Music
Hot Fun in the Summertime
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Tower of Power
You Ought to Be Having Fun
You’re Still a Young Man
Down to the Night Club
Soul Vaccination
There Aint No Stopping Us Now
The Pale Scot
Bill Withers – Lean On Me
rekoob
Now that I’m on a roll…
For Broadcast News lovers:
Edition speciale
“Let’s meet at the place near the thing where we went that time.”
Iconic:
Gipsy Kings
Those earth-toned suits…
You Can Call Me Al
eclare
The Traveling Wilburys, either “Handle With Care” or “End of the Line.” Or both!
The Talking Heads also have good driving music.
Another Scott
Meanwhile, …
I saw it on the internet, so it must be true!
‘night all, have a good week.
Cheers,
Scott.
cain
I hope you have the best road trip! I only really have one – and it’s not a popular song, but it’s something where the lyrics always hits me especially being in a marriage. I’m one year older than you – so I think you know generally men’s attitudes during the time frame. So, when a nerdy band whose audience is mostly composed of white males – the lyricist wrote these lyrics from this song:
Rush – Animate
Try it out – I know Geddy’s voice is high – but those lyrics, man.. Saved a kid from a lot of heartache growing up as a teenager and made me so much more progressive than I have.
I’ve been married for two years and my wife teaches me every day what it means to be a woman and gives me a window into her world. Every day, I’m her rock where she comes home after being the alpha and just want to be held and keep the world away for a short while before taking up the sword again. I’m always in awe and humble that such a woman would pick me as her spouse. (not that she doesn’t annoy the fuck out of me at times. :-)
Marriage is awesome – with the right person, and the right attitude – glad you’re taking this step. Both of you deserve someone in your lives that makes that life so much better. Hope you rememer that when she changes your diapers. :-)
different-church-lady
Nominated. Sooooooo nominated….
cain
@Marina:
Enya’s sister Maire is also excellent – have you heard her? Both of them came from a band called ‘Clannad’. Just some excellent Irish music. Highly recommend both Clannad 2 and Dulaman.
Then there is Loreen McKennit – which hands on has the best music to listen to at night while reading fantasy books. Holy shit.. so GOOD. I’ve been listening to all three since I was 16 – 17 years old.
Steeplejack
@Alison Rose:
The Monarch from The Venture Brothers weighs in.
cain
@dexwood: I keep thinking Van Halen’s “Runnin with the Devil” would be pretty good too for a drive :D
The Pale Scot
John David Call is the monster god of steel guitar players
eclare
@Argiope:
Absolutely perfect.
piratedan
going with the assumption that you want songs that everyone knows but have forgotten….
going to go with the eclectic mishmash
Stealers Wheel – Stuck In The Middle With You
The Sweet – Ballroom Blitz
ELO – Don’t Bring Me Down
Wings – Helen Wheels
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
Aimee Stewart – Knock On Wood
Queen – Killer Queen
Nick Lowe – Cruel To Be Kind
Elvis Costello – Pump It Up
Badfinger – Day After Day
Romantics – What I like About You
Jim Croce – Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
and ultra cheesy set
Lady – Styx
We’ve Only Just Begun – Carpenters
Something – The Beatles
Take A Chance On Me – ABBA
NotMax
Mostly meets your criteria.
“She’s Such a Beauty” – Emitt Rhodes
“Epistle to Dippy” – Donovan
“Expecting to Fly” – Buffalo Springfield
“Itchykoo Park” – Small Faces
“Wild World” – Cat Stevens
“Gone Dead Train” – Crazy Horse
“Willin'” – Seatrain
“Animal Zoo” – Spirit
“Glad” – Traffic
“Court and Spark” – Joni Mitchell
“I’ve Seen All Good People” – Yes
“Dimples” – John Lee Hooker
“Lucky Man” – Emerson Lake & Palmer
“Just One Victory” – Todd Rundgren
“Think” – Aretha Franklin
“Whatcha Gonna Do” – New Riders of the Purple Sage
“Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts” – Bob Dylan
“Neutron Dance” – Pointer Sisters
“With a Little Help from My Friends” – Beatles
“Tenderness on the Block” – Warren Zevon
“Gone at Last” – Paul Simon
“Leo Rising” – Ronnie Montrose
“Satisfied” – Mother Earth
“Let a Woman Flow” – It’s a Beautiful Day
.
laura
Marriage is a never ending compromise.
Old ’55 Tom Waits
Love’s in Need Stevie Wonder
Perfect Day Duran Duran cover of Lou Reed
Mint Car the Cure
Fade Into You Mazzy Star
Harvest Moon Neil Young
eclare
@cain:
I’d go with “Eruption/You Really Got Me.”
Or if Cole wants really silly, “Ice Cream Man.”
NotMax
Glaring omissions from above:
“Gotta Get Up” – Harry Nilsson
“Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas” – Harry Chapin
Steeplejack
@like a metaphor:
You’ve got it reversed—text in the URL field and URL in the text field. Corrected: Friend and Lover, “Reach Out of the Darkness.”
Alison Rose
@cain: Loreena McKennitt is amazing. I would sell my soul to be able to sing like her.
Leto
@Steeplejack: One of the most perfect series if there ever was. The movie is either 1) the perfect send off or 2) the perfect launch point if they should continue the series on Max, or some other streaming platform. Just the absolute fucking best.
Also so many congratulations to you, John, and Joelle. We never know what the future has in store for us, but I wish nothing but happiness, long-johns, and many pets for you two.
mvr
Congratulations John!
I have always thought people need to wait at least 3 years of knowing the person they marry before doing so. (Theory is that you’ll have had to deal with some issue by then and it helps to know how you deal with issues together.) Sounds like you did that. As someone who this blog has helped keep (semi) sane, it is just nice to know things are going well for you in this part of your life.
Also, get some Bob Marley in there. Choose something from Burnin, Natty Dread or Exodus. Also “Long Black Cadillac” by the Clash is a good car song. In my usual fashion I am late to this thread so have not looked to see if my suggestions are redundant. (That would only make me later.)
mrmoshpotato
Watching The Mask.
Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You
Alison Rose
@Steeplejack: LOL well…there are many beliefs about all of them among the Devotees. Supposedly there’s an interview from a couple decades ago where Dave says he’s bi, and Martin, well…anyone who is more than a casual fan knows that man is not full hetero. Fletch seemed bi-curious in a low key way. Alan was definitely on the down-low (and the Dalan girlies will tell you it was with Dave), and like I said…Vince sure wrote some gay songs, but then, it was the early 80s. Everyone was kinda gay then.
Mai Naem mobile
Congrats John and Joelle! Hope you have a long and happy marriage. Lots of good songs on this thread. Here’s my contributions:
Depeche Mode – Route 66(good chance you’ll be on some part of Route 66 close to Arizona)
Bananarama – Robert De Niro’s Waiting
The Gogos – Our Lips Are Sealed
Joe Walsh – Life Been Good To Me
Split Enz – I Got You
Mark Knopfler+Emmylou Harris – This is Us
Stevie Wonder – Jammin’
John Denver – Country Roads(okay it’s the wrong direction but still a good driving song)
Alison Rose
@mvr:
This is probably a good idea in general, though as a point a exception, my parents met (as coworkers) in April, moved in together in August, and were married 49 years, 6 months, and 1 day when Dad passed. So, you know…sometimes you just know!
I asked Mom once what she thought the secret to a long and happy marriage was. She said, “You have to like each other as much as you love each other.”
Trivia Man
It’s Raining Men
The Pale Scot
Lucius “Two of us”
Steeplejack
@Ohio Mom:
Roughly 30 hours (2,000 miles), according to Google Maps. That might be a little optimistic. Works out to about 600 songs.
mvr
@Steeplejack: That was Jim Post (with a partner) in his earliest incarnation. Big part of the Northern Illinois folk scene back in the 1970s when we used to be allowed into Charlotte’s Web in Rockford (a bar) with a kind of tacit agreement we would not drink despite being in high school. (Saw him open for Steve Goodman the second time I went, iirc.) I hope he is still doing well and performing.
mvr
@Alison Rose: Sounds like a good marriage! Glad it worked out well for them. It must have been hard for your mom (and you) to lose your dad.
way2blue
I could do this all night…
Ridgetop (1973) Jesse Colin Young
Fearless (1990) The Neville Brothers
Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy (1973) Bonnie Raitt
I’ll Be Your Lover Too (1970) Van Morrison
Someday Soon (1968) Judy Collins
The Lee Shore Live (1971) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Guitar Town (1986) Steve Earle
You Never Even Called Me By My Name (1975) David Allan Coe
Bonus:
Stay Around a Little Longer (2010) Buddy Guy feat. B.B. King
Enjoy the journey…
mrmoshpotato
Xscape – Who’s That Man?
Also from The Mask
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
Surrender, Cheap Trick
Born To Be Alive, Patrick Hernandez
Jive Talkin’, Bee Gees
Southern Cross, CSN
Werewolves of London, Warren Zevon
Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot
Black Water, the Doobie Brothers
The Weight, The Band
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Jim Croce
Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard, Paul Simon
Dancing Queen, ABBA
Faith, George Michael
Mayor of Simpleton, XTC
CaseyL
How is it possible we’ve talked about road trip songs all evening, and no one has mentioned Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild“?
mvr
Also, Modern Lovers’ “Roadrunner” is a great driving song. And “Mercury Blues” – I like the David Lindley version.
Time Travelin
@moonbat: great call. I play bass and harp on that one in our cover band. So fun
mrmoshpotato
@CaseyL:
No one got their motor running?
blindyone
Might be late to chime in here but I did read all the comments above before I posted this: I love Boz Scaggs, too- my favorite of his is “Moments”. And Stevie Wonder’s “As” is a great riding in the car song. Brothers Johnson (Quincy Jones produced) “I’ll Be Good To You” is great. Last of all, if you gotta get going in the morning-give Harold Melvin &The Blue Notes “Wake Up Everybody” a listen. And good luck to the both of you. I was married to my best friend for almost 45 years. Death did us part and I miss him every day.
prostratedragon
“You’re All I Need,” Ashford and Simpson; same, “Sell the House”
“Walking Down the Highway,” Buddy Miles
Bill Withers: “Lovely Day”; “I Don’t Know”
BigJimSlade
I’ve seen a couple suggestions and I will second (or fourth) recommending more Stevie Wonder songs on your playlist :-)
gwangung
@BigJimSlade: A-FRICKING-MEN!
Steeplejack
@Leto:
So many great themes in that series—“arching” and “henching” as careers, the Guild of Calamitous Intent, etc.—and good character development over the long haul.
Steeplejack
@Alison Rose:
It was just a throwaway joke, but memorably funny. Dr. Venture was having a “yard sale” of his inventions to raise money, and all sorts of superheroes and villains showed up. And Depeche Mode, apparently.
Alison Rose
@mvr: It was. Still is. They were pretty much always together, especially since he’d retired in 2005. It’s hard for me to think of just “Mom” and not “Mom and Dad” like I always did. Loss is part of life, but it’s not an easy one.
NotMax
Would have included “96 Tears” – ? & the Mysterians, excepting it falling just outside your time frame (’66).
Instead, a few more from plucked the top o’ the pops:
“I’m Into Something Good” – Herman’s Hermits
“Up Up and Away” – The Fifth Dimension
“Do You Believe in Magic” – The Lovin’ Spoonful
“A Beautiful Morning” – The Rascals
Alison Rose
@Steeplejack: DM are hybrid superhero-villains! That’s how the two remaining members can wear eyeliner at their ages and still look great.
Steeplejack
@mvr:
Jim Post died about a year ago. RIP.
That song was co-produced by Joe South, one of my heroes, a hitmaker in his own right.
Steeplejack
@CaseyL:
Or “Magic Carpet Ride.”
thruppence
Van Morrison – “Wild Night”
Sinead O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2U”
Los Lobos – “La Bamba”
CCR – “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”, from which we get the great line “Look at all the happy creatures dancin’ on the lawn”
Yes – “Roundabout”, more prog than pop, but AMAZING musicianship
NotMax
@thruppence
Yes’ integration of the main theme from The Big Country into “Time and a Word” was a stroke of genius.
Ida Slapter
Todd Rundgren – We Gotta Get You A Woman, Couldn’t I Just Tell You, Cry Baby
Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love, Chain of Fools, Respect
Stylistics – Betcha By Golly Wow
Earth Wind and Fire – anything!
The Monkees – A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You; Pleasant Valley Sunday, Words
Brothers Johnson – Stomp
Ramsey Lewis – Sun Goddess
George Benson – Masquerade, Gimme the Night
The Supremes – You Keep Me Hanging On, Aint No Mountain High Enough, Stop in the Name of Love
Martha and The Vandellas – Jimmy Mack
Stopping myself only because it’s 3am. Trying to add a little more color to your list.
I’m enjoying watching you guys do your thing and go with the flow. Thanks for sharing with us. Be happy!
Rusty
80’s? You need some New Wave!! Upbeat, fun, very dance-able, great driving tunes. Anything done by the Go-Go’s, Safety Dance by Men Without Hats, Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds, I Melt with You by Modern English, She Blinded Me With Science, Friday I’m in Love and so much more! Congratulations on the marriage, best wishes for a great future together, and enjoy the road trip.
opiejeanne
Anything on the Paul Simon album, Graceland.
Delk
The Whole of the Moon—The Waterboys
Rain in the Summertime —The Alarm
Waterloo Sunset —The Kinks
Dangerman
The Weight (The Wait) The Band
Betty Cracker
“My Wife Thinks You’re Dead” — Junior Brown (offers comic relief and slide guitar virtuosity).
@Alison Rose: Your mom is 100% correct!
Years ago, not too long after they got married, my EX-SIL confessed that she loved my brother but did not like him. I thought to myself, well, that marriage is doomed. It fell apart in dramatic fashion within a decade. They even got divorced, remarried to each other and then divorced again, which, as Phyllis Diller noted, is like having a ruptured appendix reinstalled…
Chief Oshkosh
Here’s a second for the Allman Brothers. I can listen to “Jessica” over and over and over driving down the road.
https://youtu.be/vTOozRAJ8dU?si=n0wOxwqq4Ma1MGl0
Chief Oshkosh
Ska is great driving music. The Specials comes to mind, of course.
https://youtu.be/cntvEDbagAw?si=bB3BTMz5F9u8_LcK
Ramalama
@eclare: TRAVELING WILBURYS! YES!
Ramalama
@opiejeanne: I went to a Nigerian wedding in Boston and the people had a record player. Every single person there danced to just about every song on Graceland. Not only that, they played the album 2-3 more times that evening. It’s such good music.
Ramalama
I love everyone’s suggestions so much. I’m afraid to add to your list, but I think they’ll meld with your current playlist.
Abba – Take a Chance on Me
Gap Band – You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Ferron – Girl on a Road
Angelique Kidjo – Summertime (or anyone singing that song, like Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald)
Shawn Colvin – To Sir with Love
Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again (he’s a newish talent but maybe you could bend the year constraints?)
Anita Baker – Sweet Love
Billy Bragg & Wilco – Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key + California Stars
Luscious Jackson – Why Do I Lie?
WaterGirl
@Spanky: Thank you! First thing I did was search for “running” because Running on Empty has to be on there.
mvr
@Steeplejack: Thank you for letting me know. It makes me sad, but at least he lived into his 80s. I moved away from the Midwest in 1978, though I think I may have managed to see him once more when I went back to visit my folks.
Sandia Blanca
Adding to the many excellent suggestions above: Van Morrison, Moondance.
For the Texas portion of the trip, anything by:
Starfish
Congratulations, John!
White Wedding – Billy Idol
Don’t Know Much – Aaron Neville and Linda Rondstat
We Found Love in a Broken Place – Rihanna (Ok, probably wrong decades, but it is awesome)
I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Barney
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles, or Nina Simone’s cover)
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (Nina Simone – a year early, but still …)
The Dean and I – 10cc
Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel
Tempted – Squeeze (they did a lot of good pop tunes before that, but not released in the USA, so unfamiliar to Americans)
Brass in Pocket – The Pretenders
Life in the Fast Lane – The Eagles (since you’re driving …)
The Boys are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy
Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel
Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
Paul in KY
Marriage is alot of work & give & take & compromise & all the things you mentioned in your great writeup above, John. I got hitched at 59. Sorta like you. Wasn’t opposed to marrying the right girl, just was not actively looking & loved my carefree life. Have 6 year old son now, and am soooo glad I took the plunge. My wife is a saint for putting up with an old curmudgeon like myself.
I sure wish you and Joelle the best!
satby
@Steeplejack: That wiki page about his time in Chicago at the Earl of Old Town was a trip down memory lane. My friends and I were there every weekend to hear Post and the other artists mentioned perform. 82 when he died! We’re getting old.
mvr
@satby: Never got the Earl of Oldtown, but did get to Amazing Grace in Evanston. Living in Rockford it was mostly Charlotte’s Web for me. There was also a place in DeKalb – the name is at the tip of my tongue – Juicy John Pink’s maybe? The whole area had a network of great in person performers and places for them to perform. Tom Dundee, Steve Goodman, Steve Young, Bryan Bowers, Bonnie Kolok, Corky Siegal, Betsy Kaskey, Care of the Cow, and John Hartford come to mind. Not all of those folks lived in Illinois I think, but they came through regularly.
Juju
@Barney: I love the Squeeze song “Another Nail in My Heart”.
Another song I would add to the drive list, is a favorite from when I was in single digits, “ I think I Love You”, David Cassidy/the Partridge Family.
SWMBO
Linda Ronstadt.
Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits
John Prine
Mary Black
Ray Charles
Michael Nesmith
Cheryl Wheeler
Christine Lavin
Bitching Babes (Christine Lavin, Patty Larkin, Julie Gold, Megon McDonough, Sally Fingerett,etc)
Sarah McLachlan
Indigo Girls
Mike and the Mechanics
Pretenders
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Roberta Flack
Gladys Knight and the Pips
K.D. Lang
Eva Cassidy
Notting Hillbillies
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Juice Newton
Jennifer Warnes
I’ll stop now. There is so much good music out there…
citizen dave
realized of late how great the War songs are: Low Rider; Cisco Kid; Why Can’t We Be Friends; and with Eric Burdon, Spill the Wine.
Always room for John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf.
JustRuss
Chris Rea’s Road to Hell is a great driving song…but maybe not for this trip
@citizen dave: Yep, War is fantastic.
Bishop Bag
Little Feat – Feats Don’t fail Me Now
Cold, Cold, Cold > Tripe Face Boogie
Manyakitty
@NotMax: awesome. Love Epistle to Dippy!!
So:
Romeo’s Tune: Steve Forbert
Still the One: Orleans
What’s So Funny ’bout Peace, Love, and Understanding: Elvis Costello
Let My Love Open the Door: Pete Townsend
You’re My Best Friend: Queen
Train in Vain: The Clash
All My Friends: LCD Soundsystem
Sir Duke: Stevie Wonder
Superstition: Stevie Ray Vaughan
What is Life: George Harrison
Manyakitty
@Ramalama: second both those.
Living in the Past: Jethro Tull
You Got Lucky: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Any INXS
One Thing Leads to Another: The Fixx
Just a Girl: No Doubt
Walking in the Spiderwebs: No Doubt
All the Bowie.
If I had a Boat: Lyle Lovett