What was your travellin’ music growing up?

I grew up about 45 minutes north of Detroit in Waterford, MI. Every year we would drive to South Florida for Spring Break. It was the best. So exciting as we would get ready for the trip. The anticipation of going to “the ocean”.

We made the drive over the years in several different vehicles but for a while we had a fully decked out conversion van. I mean the curtains, deli table that you could move and fold the benches out into a bed, refrigerator. . the whole deal.

As I would get ready to go I used to take all the money I had saved and I would wash it. I would run all the bills under the sink and get them wet, dry them with a hair dryer, and then put each bill in different pages in a heavy book like a hard back dictionary so the they would be crisp and flat. Then I would go stash them throughout the van. I couldn’t keep all those Benjamins. . . ok Washington’s in one place you know.

Anyway, I remember all these things about these trips but what I specifically remember is the 8 Tracks we would listen to. It was our Travellin’ Music. I could be wrong but I feel like we just listened to the same ones over and over on our 24 hour trip. Not that I had a problem with that. This was GOOD music and you can be assured that I knew and sang every song. Today on iTunes I will just purchase only the songs I want but back then we would listen to the whole project.

Here was the music that we would listen to:

Neil Diamond – Hot August Night
Harry Chapin – Greatest Stories Live
Eagles – Greatest Hits
Barry Manilow – This One’s For You
Kris Kristofferson – The Silver Tongued Devil and I

I’m sure there were more but these are the ones I remember.

I think about this from time to time. Specifically when we are getting ready to go on a trip. Currently, we have 3 laptops, 2 ipads, a kindle fire, 4 iphones, an old iphone and an ipod touch that serve as a movie / game player and a dvd player in the car. When we drive each kid will have their own headphones and playlist. It’s all good. I’m pro technology. I get it.

I would be lying though if I didn’t say that there are times when I long for the days of limited options and 8 tracks. (Hard to believe that there are readers of this blog who don’t remember 8 tracks)

How about you? What was your travellin’ music growing up?