RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
And now music for your journeys - the kind you take in a car.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE PASSENGER")
IGGY POP: (Singing) I am the passenger, and I ride and I ride.
MARTIN: It's time to check in on the ALL THINGS CONSIDERED road trip playlist.
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
That's right, Rachel. These are the songs that our listeners say are essential - in some cases, thematically appropriate - for long drives, like this one, "The Passenger."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE PASSENGER")
SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES: (Singing) Singing, la, la, la, la, la-la-la la. La, la, la, la, la-la-la la...
CORNISH: "The Passenger" got your shout-outs, this cover by Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Iggy Pop original.
MARTIN: Now, why put the cover version on the road trip playlist and not the original, you ask? Who decided that?
CORNISH: It's the producer who put together the list, frankly. Turns out the tape deck in her first car died playing this song, so for sentimental reasons, it's on the list.
MARTIN: And we have had to make all kinds of other tough choices because you sent us more than 3,000 suggestions, among them, many different covers of the same song.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROUTE 66")
ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL: (Singing) Well, if you ever plan to motor west...
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROUTE 66")
CHUCK BERRY: (Singing) Jack, take my way, it's the highway that's the best.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROUTE 66")
DEPECHE MODE: (Singing) Get your kicks on Route 66.
CORNISH: That's right, multiple covers of "Route 66," by Asleep at the Wheel, Chuck Berry and Depeche Mode.
MARTIN: John Mayer, the Rolling Stones, Brian Setzer...
CORNISH: ...We listened to them all.
MARTIN: And ultimately decided to get our kicks with the original 1946 hit by the King Cole Trio.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROUTE 66")
KING COLE TRIO: (Singing) Now you go through St. Louis, Joplin, Mo., and Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty you see. Amarillo...
MARTIN: A classic choice.
CORNISH: And we're building our playlist to a road trip-friendly mix of 99 songs.
MARTIN: One for every bottle of beer on the wall that you won't have to sing about.
CORNISH: The ALL THINGS CONSIDERED road trip playlist is at npr.org. Stream it and enjoy.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROUTE 66")
KING COLE TRIO: (Singing) When you make that California trip, get your kicks on Route 66.
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