Bon Voyage

Heading off somewhere? Then be sure to pack these farewell essentials, which supply you with all manner of send-offs, from the rousing fanfare of the South Shore Concert Band to the lilting, hanky-waving harmonies of Quebec's Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and the jet-set crooning of Frank Sinatra. When you've gotta go, you've gotta go.

We all hit the road sooner or later, for business or pleasure, but whatever the reason for your journey we suggest you pocket the charming lo-fi miniaturism of Etienne Charry ("La France est en Vacances"), the Senegalese rap of Daara J ("Paris Dakar"), and Randy Newman's deceptive eulogy for African slaves, "Sail Away."

Sometimes, electronica best captures the sensation of travelling in the slick, modern world: Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" and Terre's Neu Wuss Fusion's "Love On a Real Train (Risky Business)" should point you in the right direction. If you prefer to keep it raw, try the peerless, passion-fuelled blue-eyed soul of the Box Tops ("The Letter").

As the ultimate expression of happy travelling, the phrase "bon voyage" requires no translation: that's why we've used it as a label for these essentials, all hand-picked to send you on your way with a melody in your heart. From Gilbert Bécaud and Charles Trenet to the Clash and the Carpenters (who add an exquisite melancholy to the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride"), all the artists in our selection confirm the notion that it's not where you go, it's how you get there.