I'm one of those horrible heathens who doesn't own (and can't afford) vinyl.

Most of my vinyl is from my youth or was purchased for $1-2 at thrift stores/yard sales. I don't have much still, mind. I got rid of most things once I got the digital versions, but some things aren't available on CD or digital and some 45s I have are different versions than the digital. And then there is the Bowie.

My unavailable-elsewhere vinyl consists of full-lengths or 45s from small-time bands back in the day and a handful of EPs that bigger-name bands haven't gotten around to releasing digitally. Some of it, like the Mike Watt-produced Texas Instruments album Sun Tunnels, I think I'd love to hear again, although I don't have a strongly burning desire. Other stuff, like the Mobile, AL-based hardcore band The Vomit Spots, not so much.

I've had copies of Boris's new album Smile for a little over a month, both the US & Japanese versions in pre-release mp3s, given to me by a friend who was interviewing them for Metal Edge magazine. But both are so amazing that I went ahead & spent $$ on new, slightly clearer copies, because Boris deserves my money if they're going to continue to make music that's this high on shock and awe. I mean, the US version would be the hottest slab of mind-melting raw power known to man if not for the absolutely phenomenal Japanese version. DAMN. I mean, it's heavy, like early Black Sabbath-heavy (or, more appropriately, Melvins-when-good-heavy), but they've gotten more ornate and psychedelic with each release. Y'know, on the Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus, Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath sits in with Jethro Tull. Now, I hate Jethro Tull, but I like quite a bit of Brit-folk, so say Tony Iommi (and the rest of the original Black Sabbath) and The Incredible String Band joined forces to cover My Bloody Valentine and, I dunno, Brian Eno. While very, very high.

In honor of my upcoming road trip to L.A. (yeah!!), I’ve decided on a car theme for this coming month’s work playlist. So here’s what I have so far for “Stickshifts and Safetybelts”:

“Packin & Drivin'” by Secret Crush Society (in honor of lisah)
“I-95” by Fountains Of Wayne
“Blue Caravan” by Vienna Teng
“Drive” by R.E.M.
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“Silver Thunderbird” by Marc Cohn
“One Headlight” by The Wallflowers
“California” by Phantom Planet
“Road Trippin'” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen
“Truck” by Nickel
“The Truck Got Stuck” by Corb Lund (in honor of juliana)
“Tire Swing” by Kimya Dawson
“Stolen Car” by Beth Orton
“Route Nationale 7” by Charles Trenet
“Sur la route” by De Palmas
“Freedom Road” by The Blind Boys of Alabama
“Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2
“King of the Road” by The Proclaimers
“Pink Cadillac” by Bruce Springsteen
“(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66!” by Tierney Sutton
“Big Sur” by The Thrills
“Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car” by Iron & Wine
“Truckin'” by Grateful Dead
“Maps and Legends” by R.E.M.
“Act 2: Plastic Flowers on the Highway” by The Drive-By Truckers
“Stickshifts And Safetybelts” by Cake
“Harley Davidson” by Brigitte Bardot
“Dirty Back Road” by The B-52's
“Middle of the Road” by The Pretenders
“Little Deuce Coupe” by The Beach Boys
“Survival Car” by Fountains of Wayne
“Car Wash” by Rose Royce
“Skidmarks on My Heart” by The Go-Go's
“Los Angeles” by Sugarcult
“Devil in My Car” by The B-52's
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince
“Cars” by Gary Numan
“Dashboard” by Modest Mouse
“No Cars Go” by Arcade Fire
“Driving (Todd Terry Remix)” by Everything but the Girl
“Rental Car” by Beck
“Utopia Parkway” by Fountains Of Wayne
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meat Loaf
“Long Line of Cars” by Cake
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
“Take Care the Road You Choose” by Richard Thompson
“Taillights Fade” by Buffalo Tom
“California Stars” by Billy Bragg & Wilco
“Drive” by The Cars
“Asleep at the Wheel” by The Wallflowers
“You Can Sleep While I Drive” by Melissa Etheridge
“Highway Prayer” by Rainravens

If you see any egregious omissions for this theme, please feel free to suggest additions. I do not have a copy of the songs in bold—much gratitude if you post a copy at buffistarawk. As always, I’m happy to send any of the songs I have.

Thanks in advance!

I have these I can send you when I get home:
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince (I will also send a cover that makes me laugh).
“Little Deuce Coupe” by The Beach Boys
“Pink Cadillac” by Bruce Springsteen
“The Truck Got Stuck” by Corb Lund
and maybe some of the others.

"Get Out the Map", Indigo Girls.

I bet if you go to the "Car Talk" website you can find some good car songs.

"Cars" by Gary Numan

“The Truck Got Stuck” by Corb Lund (in honor of juliana)

\\o/!

I can send that right now, actually. Lemme see what else I have.

"Road Runner" by the Modern Lovers.