Every road trip has its own soundtrack—and no two trips are exactly the same. However, if I had to compile one definitive CD, I would start with these absolutely must-have tunes:

Helpless-Neil Young

California Stars-Wilco & Billy Bragg

Sway-Rolling Stones

Open All Night-Bruce Springsteen

Big Sky Country-Chris Whitley

Already Gone-Eagles

Blue-Jayhawks

Lake Marie-John Prine

I Walk The Line-Johnny Cash

Little Wing-Stevie Ray Vaughn OR Jimi Hendrix

These are the tracks that keep me awake when I drive across South Dakota or Nebraska, where the Interstate runs from horizon to horizon. I realize most of these songs are reflective of my late baby-boomerish demographic, but I prefer to categorize them as timeless classics.

So, what songs are on your ultimate road trip CD?