There’s something about music and cars – a match made in Heaven. As a teen cruising in my ride, a ’72 VW Beetle, back before digital media and streaming, I’d be listen to tunes mostly on the radio, beholden to the DJs and what they’d play. Rotating through my preset stations, usually WCCC, “The Rock”, WHCN, “The River” famous for album oriented rock, rock blocks, and double shots, and WPLR out of New Haven, I’d search for the best song in the moment. And now and then, I’d stumble upon a song that would instantly inspire a spontaneous right hand to the volume knob, spinning it clockwise to crank up the volume. So what better inspiration for a playlist than songs that made me, over the years, as Autograph wails in the refrain of their song, “turn up the radio.”
Obviously some band and albums inspire cranking up the volume, like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Guns N Roses, hair metal, etc. But I’m talking about individual songs that back before streaming, in the car or at home, would make you turn the radio up. They were songs you couldn’t get loud enough. Many were hard driving songs, but some were just amazing acoustically with the fullness of their sound, and others were songs you loved so much you wanted to just hear every little detail.
So here’s my list. I may have left a few off, and I included a few that weren’t ones I turned up back in the day, but are definitely now songs I want to turn up. For the most part I left out music since streaming began. These are mostly 70s and 80s, and some 90s songs. They aren’t necessarily my favorite songs by these artists, and many aren’t even my favorite artists. But they for whatever reason made me reach for that volume knob and turn up the radio.
For the most part I’ve only included one song per artist, with a few exceptions. Led Zeppelin blasts through the intro with “Immigrant Song”, as it did in the movie Thor – Ragnarok, such a great place to start.
But I had to also include one of my Zep faves “Good Times, Bad Times.” Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher” drums and guitar need that full volume sounds, as does “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” And the haunting Sting “I want my MTV” intro then kicking into the Mark Knopfler guitar riff on his Les Paul in “Money For Nothing” needs to test the limits your amplifier and speakers. But the beauty of Knopfler’s acoustic guitar and vocals on “Romeo & Juliet” also need to be felt as well as heard. And Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” is perhaps my all time favorite song to crank up (check out how young the band looked back in the day).
The songs that truly reminisce about those rides in my kelly green bug, windows down (partly for comfort – no AC back then), in addition to the songs listed above are Boston’s “Long Time,” The Kinks’ “Do It Again,” Yes’ “Leave It,” Scorpions “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper,” ZZ Top’s “La Grange,” Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Lovin’,” Steve Miller Band’s “Jungle Love,” Steely Dan’s “Hey Nineteen,” Human League’s “Fascination,” Eagles “Seven Bridges Road,” Spandau Ballet’s “True.” Instant turn the volume to “11” while riding in my car.
Eric Carmen’s “Make Me Lose Control” made the list not out of any desire to turn it up, but by virtue of its lyrics “turn the radio up”!
Jimmy Page (Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm), The Edge (U2), and Jack White (The White Stripes) got together to turn up the volume in It Might Get Loud – definitely worth a watch.
While not making my playlist, songs like Elton John’s “Sixty Years On” live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra inspire turning up the volume to hear the beauty of every nuanced note:
While I think you’ll enjoy listening to my playlist, as I think it’s pretty great, remember they’re songs that made ME turn up the radio. My further intent and hope with this blog is to inspire you to make your own list of songs that make you want to immediately reach for that volume control (likely no longer a knob). Then, when listening, you can set the volume to “11” and listen to your whole list.
I had lots of fun doing this one, and love cranking it up in my car, though I do get a little embarrassed in parking lots or in my neighborhood, and feel obligated to turn it down a bit…
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment.
Enjoy the moment.
Love the moment.
TURN UP THE MUSIC!
Listen to the MUSIC!