Three thousand travellers about to hit the U.S. highways for the holidays this year were asked for their favourite road trip song by Pioneer Electronics USA, a car navigation and entertainment systems manufacturer.
Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again nabbed top spot with 27 per cent of respondents choosing it as their favourite.
On the Road Again is a song made famous from the country singer’s soundtrack for his 1980 film Honeysuckle Rose, a romantic drama, panned by critics, about a country singer juggling his career and family.
The Academy Award nominated song, about life on tour, came about when the executive producer of Honeysuckle Rose approached Nelson about writing the song.
On the Road Again became Nelson’s ninth Number 1 hit overall (sixth as a solo recording act) in November 1980, and became one of Nelson’s most recognizable tunes. In addition, the song reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his biggest pop hit to that time.
The rest of the rankings included Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf, Take it Easy by The Eagles, I Get Around by The Beach Boys, Highway to Hell by AC/DC, and Free Falling by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, among others.