Taking a drive this summer? Need a playlist for the long road ahead? We dug through thousands of tapes, CDs and 8-tracks to find Cincinnati-centric driving songs to keep you singing wherever you’re going.
1. “Going to Town” – The Afghan Whigs (1996): The perfect driving song from the Cincinnati ’90s band. Greg Dulli has a way with dark lyrics. “Get your coat and come outside/I want to take you for a ride…”
2. “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon (2014): The Cincinnati band’s ’80s-style rocker was the song of the moment in 2014. It was played everywhere – at schools, at parties, even at the 2015 MLB All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park.
3. “Mambo Italiano” – Rosemary Clooney (1954): Augusta, Kentucky’s own Rosemary Clooney was the first to record this up-tempo hit with the Mellomen. The lyrics may be a nonsense mash of Italian and Spanish, but Rosie sings it with gusto.
4. “Shout” – The Isley Brothers (1959): Brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald Isley of Lincoln Heights have recorded numerous hit records across six decades, starting with this energetic song. The call-and-response and the build-up calling for all of us to sing along “a little bit louder now” makes us want to shout.
5. “Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)” – Blessid Union of Souls (1999): The Cincinnati alternative band scored a Hot 100 hit with this anthem that namedrops Leonardo DiCaprio and supermodel Tyson Beckford among other ’90s celebrities.
6. “South of Cincinnati” – Dwight Yoakam (1986): Yoakam was born in Pikeville, Kentucky, but grew up in Columbus, and became very familiar with the Queen City driving back and forth along Interstates 71 and 75. He told The Enquirer back in 1986 that coming around the corner in the cut in the hill and seeing the city was his inspiration for this heartfelt ballad.
7. “There Is an End” – The Greenhornes featuring Holly Golightly (2002): The Greenhornes out of Dearborn County, Indiana, brought in vocalist Golightly for this 1960s-style tune that was used as the theme of the 2005 film “Broken Flowers” with Bill Murray.
8. “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” – James Brown (1965): The Godfather of Soul recorded this song for Cincinnati’s famous King Records label. Brown’s “new bag” was funk, his signature groove with an emphasis on the downbeat, which he introduced in this number – a seminal moment in R&B history.
9. “Hoochie Coochie Man” – The Allman Brothers Band (1970): The Allman Brothers covered this Willie Dixon tune at one of their favorite venues, the legendary Ludlow Garage in Clifton. Duane Allman’s sweet guitar work is a reminder of what was lost with his untimely death in 1971. “Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970” was finally released in 1990.
10. “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” – Doris Day (1956): The Cincinnati-born star first performed this jaunty tune in the Alfred Hitchcock film “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” It went on to be her signature song, which she sang in several other shows.
11. “Lovesick Blues” – Hank Williams (1949): The country music legend recorded the song that made him a star during a session at Herzog Studios on Race Street in Cincinnati.
12. “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)” – Andy Williams (1971): The crooner from Cheviot performed this sweeping, inspirational song from the musical “Man of La Mancha” that was used in a memorable Honda commercial with racing cars, motorcycles and boats.
13. “Baby, I Love Your Way (Live)” – Peter Frampton (1976): The British rocker and former Indian Hill resident scored a hit with this love ballad from his “Frampton Comes Alive!” album.
14. “The Ghost of Cincinnati” – Big Red Machine (2021): Can you get any more Cincinnati that this name? Aaron Dessner of The National and Justin Vernon just released the single, with a bunch of Queen City references, from their upcoming album. Dessner hadn’t intended to include his ode to his hometown, but was urged to by frequent collaborator Taylor Swift.
15. “Good Rockin’ Tonight” – Wynonie Harris (1948): Harris’s cover of this jump blues number on Syd Nathan’s King Records is in contention for the first rock ‘n’ roll record.
16. “Heat It Up” – 98 Degrees (1998): Nick Lachey and Cincinnati’s boy band turned up the heat in their breakthrough album “98 Degrees and Rising.”
17. “Fins” – Jimmy Buffett (1979): Cincinnati’s “Parrot Heads” have a unique attachment to the voice of island life. This song returns the favor: “She came down from Cincinnati…”
18. “Green Tambourine” – The Lemon Pipers (1967): The psychedelic ’60s band from Oxford was a one-hit wonder with this infectious tune.
19. “Hey Jude (Live)” – Paul McCartney (1990): It’s difficult not to sing along to the classic Beatles tune, with its endless “na-na” refrain. McCartney gets the whole crowd involved during his live shows. The track from the tour album “Tripping the Live Fantastic” was recorded at the Riverfront Stadium concert Feb. 12, 1990.
20. “The Power of the One” – Bootsy Collins (2020): The indelible funkmaster general completed his latest album from his “Boot-Cave” home recording studio during the quarantine. He hasn’t missed a beat; neither has jazz guitarist George Benson, who is featured on the title track.
So, buckle up and rock on.
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