ON ROTATION:
Songs for a long desert drive
Our Team Picks Playlist
by Art Muse LA
This month we’ve created a playlist for a long desert drive. So, whether you’re heading out for an art vacation in Coachella Valley, a hike in Joshua Tree, or just taking some leisure time for a weekend getaway to Palm Springs, these songs will surely provide a beautiful backdrop on the open road.
Leon Payne
“Lost Highway”
1948
Fun Fact: Leon Payne first recorded the song in 1948, and later, Hank Williams sang “Lost Highway” in 1949. The song has been covered countless times over the last 70+ years, and was the title of David Lynch’s 1997 film.
Led Zeppelin
“In the Evening”
1979
The Sundays
“Wild Horses”
1992
Fun fact: The Sundays created a hauntingly beautiful cover of the infamous Rolling Stones song. However, even though "Wild Horses" was written by the Rolling Stones, it was first released in 1970 by The Flying Burrito Brothers – the Stones weren’t satisfied with their own demo. Later, it was added to the Stones’ album Sticky Fingers, which came out in 1971.
Pat Benatar
“Painted Desert”
1984
Fun fact: The song “Painted Desert” is part of Pat Benatar’s album Tropico. The well-known song from this album, “We Belong,” is coincidentally part of the musical, Invincible, which was featured in LA in 2022. Invincible reimagines Romeo & Juliet set to Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo’s music.
America
“A Horse with No Name”
1971
Fun fact: Dewey Bunnell, America’s vocalist and guitarist, wrote this song about his childhood desert travels while his family was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, in Santa Barbara County, California.
Johnny Cash
“Lost on the Desert”
1962
Paul McCartney & Wings
“Band on the Run”
1973
Fun fact: Recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, the band decided they needed a break from London. While in Nigeria, the band saw the musician Fela Kuti (byname of Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti) (b. 1937–d. 1997, Abeokuta, Nigeria) play; and Kuti’s music influenced the band.
The Allman Brothers
“Ramblin' Man”
1973
Fun fact: “Ramblin' Man” was inspired by Hank Williams's song from 1951.
Tom Cochrane
“Life Is a Highway”
1991
Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
“Old Town Road”
2019
Marty Robbins
“Night Time on the Desert”
1966
The Marshall Tucker Band
“Desert Skies”
1977
Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
“Caravan”
1957
Sting featuring Cheb Mami
“Desert Rose”
1999
Fun fact: Sting recorded “Desert Rose” with the popular Algerian singer Cheb Mami (byname of Mohamed Khélifati) (b. 1966, Saïda, Algeria). The Arabic word “cheb” before his name means ‘young man,’ which is a defining title in Raï (“opinion”), at the time, music with a spirit of rebellion.
The Cult
“A Flower in the Desert”
1986
Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
“The Call of the Canyon”
1940
Sam Cooke
“Bring It on Home to Me”
1962
Big Country
“In a Big Country”
1983
Link Wray
“Fallin' Rain”
1971
Fun fact: The song “Fallin' Rain” is part of Wray’s eponymous album Link Wray. Wray, part of the Indigenous Shawnee Tribe, is depicted in profile on his album cover wearing a Shawnee band on his head.
Robert Plant
“29 Palms”
1993
Fun fact: Robert Plant was the lead singer for Led Zeppelin for the entirety of the band’s existence from 1968–1980.
Cat Stevens
“Wild World”
1970
John Barry
“Midnight Cowboy”
1969
Fun fact: John Barry wrote “Midnight Cowboy” as a theme song to the eponymous Oscar-winning film starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight. The movie generated Oscars in the categories for “Best Picture,” “Best Director,” and “Best Writing.”
Bobbie Gentry
“The Fool on the Hill”
1968
Talking Heads
“Road to Nowhere”
1985
Leadbelly
“In the Pines”
1944
Fun fact: While this song is now widely known as “In the Pines,” Lead Belly has referred to this song’s title as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” “Black Girl,” and “Black Gal.” The song has roots in the late-1800s/early 1900s from African American communities living near the Appalachian Mountains.
Otis Redding
“Down in the Valley”
1965