Latin Road Trip

Whatever the destination, nothing beats that big feeling you get as the road rolls out in front of you and the speakers are doing like they ought to... Here are classics to get yer motor runnin' — a lo Latino. Windows down, volume up. Oh, hell yes!

Often it's just the shout-it-out chorus, or maybe a hot rhythm. Other times it's more about the lyrics, an evocative description of a place. Some of these have gotten the radio play they deserved, some of them have just made the rounds on mixtapes. One way or another, they're all inspirational travel tracks.

On the road is also where you hear a pop staple you were SO sick of eight years ago, or maybe a random tune by your weird friend's favorite band . . . and suddenly it makes perfect sense.

Everyone needs good road music. Here's the whole bundle of favorites, from every stripe of Latin music: the irrepressible rumba of the Gipsy Kings giving wings to a jukebox oldie; a hipster essential for every generation by the group War; Latin jazz and salsa tracks that take no prisoners; Brazilian tropicalia for early morning grins; pensive pop for sunset drives. Vaaamos!