1. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
She was the girl least likely in her era to have a worldwide hit: a quiet, dreadlocked, black, female, politicised singer-songwriter - but Tracy Chapman's ballad about a woman trying to escape small-town life peaked at number six on the US charts when it was released in 1988.
2. Little Red Corvette, Prince
No musical education is complete without mention of the pint-sized Minneapolis genius born Prince Rogers Nelson. And "Little Red Corvette", which came out in 1983, is Prince personified - cool, funky ... steering-wheel tappable.
3. Highway To Hell, AC/DC
What's a road trip without a little classic Aussie rock'n'roll? And no-one does Aussie rock better than AC/DC, who encapsulated the relentlessness of life on the road in this huge hit. A warning: just make sure the kids don't latch onto it as the road-trip's theme song.
4. (get Your Kicks On) Route 66, Chuck Berry
One of the world's most iconic roads immortalised in song by one of the all-time greats. While Berry was one among many to record this Bobby Troup-penned classic, his version resonates perhaps more than any other. If your family needs convincing, reel off some of the acts influenced by Berry's soulful blues - from The Beatles and the Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen and Jimi Hendrix.
5. Shut Up And Drive, Rihanna
We've included this (a) so the family can't accuse you of being stuck in the past and (b) because RiRi is the best.
6. Drive My Car, The Beatles
No mixtape should be without a track by The Beatles and, while possibly not their best lyrics ("Working for peanuts is all very fine/But I can show you a better time”), “Drive My Car” is a nice little introduction to arguably the world's greatest band.
7. Little Deuce Coupe, The Beach Boys
Their sound was like summer captured on vinyl and this hit from 1963 perfectly encapsulates the vibe of young blokes racing their hotted-up cars on a warm California night. Is “She's got a competition clutch with the four on the floor” the best car-part lyric ever written? Discuss.
8. Freeway Of Love, Aretha Franklin
The queen of soul hopped in a pink Cadillac to ride the freeway in this huge hit from 1985, which earned Franklin her 12th Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. At her funeral in 2018, some 100 pink Cadillacs were included in the procession.
9. Radar Love, Golden Earring
One from left field. This Dutch band created this truly great driving song in 1973, and it reached number 13 on the US Billboard charts. It's said that the song has been covered at least 500 times, and has its own website.
10. Car Wash, Rose Royce
Your kids might not know what disco is, but they should. And this 1976 mega-hit by R&B group Rose Royce is a great introduction. If your kids are doubtful, point them towards the 2004 DreamWorks' animated hit, Shark Tale, where a version was performed by Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott.
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