In addition to the audio only version of Hot Rod Mercury by Don Walser posted by The Shift Wizard there is a video version of it on You Tube that is really well produced with a totally bitchin mild custom Mercury, definitely worth the view, another great rockabilly hot rod song not yet mentioned is "Daddy in the Caddy" by Doug Moreland.
Not really hot rod, but good car songs for the road... Buick 59, The Medallions 455 Rocket, Kathy Mattea
For me its the sadly never released on Sun Records, "Peroxide Blonde In A Hopped Up Model Ford" by Gene Simmons. It was never released, and later the master tape was damaged, so only half of the original exists. Other have since recorded their own versions of it, such as Brian Setzer in his Sun Records tribute album, but, its not that Sun Sound. Who can not like hot rods and not smile at that song title and these lyrics Well, I went out cattin' on a Friday night I was dressed to kill, I was a-lookin' for a fight I looked in the mirror, just a-waitin' for the light I saw a hot chick that really looked right I'm draggin', draggin' down Main once more With a peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford Yeah, I'm draggin', draggin' down Main once more With a peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford Well, I pulled on over, she asked me for a ride She moved real close, sittin' side-by-side I looked out the window and to my surprise Was a hotrod Ford just a-passin' me by I'm draggin', draggin' down Main once more With a peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford, Yeah...... Well, we drug down Main, just to make a scene I barked my tires when the light turned green I slapped it to the floor, let out on the clutch And what was left on the road, well - it wasn't very much We flew out of town, we were side by side Twin carburetors were open wide Tires were smoke, it started to whine I'm tellin' ya, that blonde, she left me way behind! I'm draggin', draggin' down Main once more With the peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford Now I'm never-never-never draggin' down Main no more, ooh-ooh… With a peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford, A peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford, ooh-ooh! A peroxide blonde in a hopped up model Ford
Bringing it back because I just heard it on my iPod..........BEST F'ing song about a car/engine.......... RIP Torr
There are a ton of really good ones. Fuel by Metallica,little deuce coupe, 409, jerry was a racecar driver…. The list can go on and on, but the all time hod rod song is hotrod lincoln.
They covered quite a few. Moon was a big fan of surf music. A rare time for me, actually enjoying a Beach Boys song.
#1. Mercury Blues ….“Gonna buy me a Mercury an cruise up-n-down the road” Many recordings since 1952. Alan Jackson probably the most known.. Written and recorded in 1948 by KC Douglas… #2. Can’t go wrong with “Rocket 88”…Jackie Brenton/Ike Turner 1951
This song was written by a band member of Leon Smith, here in Oregon, in '59. As of a couple years ago, Leon was still preforming. Some history about Leon and the song. Little 40 Ford. https://lanemusichistory.com/leon-smith/#:~:text=With roots in the early,in rock 'n roll history.
Hello, This song was a favorite of mine and a million others. At the time, most that heard the song did not know where those places were located. Unless of course, you were a So Cal surfing teenager. It was a travel log of road trips to the places we visited almost every week. In order to seem like the singers were “with it,” there were a lot of misspelled words and slang in the wording. For us, it was a weekly travelogue and the memories of those waves at the different spots was always fun and brought us back for more each week. Our old hot rods, station wagons, 4 door sedans and cruisers were all in the action to get to the waves at various surf spots. So, a constant moving action was part of the daily sightings along the PCH, with waves and thumbs up signs being very popular. Jnaki We never called it a “surfing safari,” but for those that saw a station wagon or a funky Flathead powered sedan delivery with longboards sticking out of the back, it was a bunch of surfers on a “safari” of sorts. The 1962 playlists at school dances, all played their part and we were right in the thick of the action. Both on the floor and in real life action for us. A road tripping travelogue in real teenage life. So Cal style… [Chorus 1] Let's go surfing now Everybody's learning how Come on on safari with me (Come on on safari with me) [Verse 1] Early in the morning we'll be starting out Some honeys will be coming along We're loading up our Woody With our boards inside And heading out singing our song [Chorus 2] Come on (surfing) baby wait and see (surfing safari) Yes, I'm going to (surfing) take you surfing (surfing safari) with me Come along (surfing) baby wait and see (surfing safari) Yes, I'm going to (surfing) take you surfing (surfing safari) with me [Chorus 1] Let's go surfing now Everybody's learning how Come on on safari with me (Come on on safari with me) [Verse 2] At Huntington and Malibu They're shooting the pier At Rincon they're walking the nose We're going on safari to the islands this year So if you're coming get ready to go [Chorus 2] Come on (surfing) baby wait and see (surfing safari) Yes, I'm going to (surfing) take you surfing (surfing safari) with me Come along (surfing) baby wait and see (surfing safari) Yes, I'm going to (surfing) take you surfing (surfing safari) with me [Chorus 1] Let's go surfing now Everybody's learning how Come on on safari with me (Come on on safari with me) [Verse 3] They're angling in Laguna in Cerro Azul They're kicking out in Doheny too I tell you surfing's mighty wild It's getting bigger every day From Hawaii to the shores of Peru [Chorus 2] Come on (surfing) baby wait and see (surfing safari) Yes, I'm going to (surfing) take you surfing (surfing safari) with me Come along (surfing) baby wait and see (surfing safari) Yes, I'm going to (surfing) take you surfing (surfing safari) with me [Chorus 1] Let's go surfing now Everybody's learning how Come on on safari with me (Come on on safari with me) With me Surfin' safari With me Surfin' safari With me Surfin' safari With me Surfin' safari Surfing Safari Not only was the wording a copy of our itinerary at various times of the year, but a happy feeling we got when we arrived at some spots that had outstanding waves... "At Huntington and Malibu They're shooting the pier At Rincon they're walking the nose We're going on safari to the islands this year So if you're coming get ready to go" After listening to our friend tell his experience with the air flight from the L.A. Airport to Hawaii for the winter waves, we opted not to fly on those prop planes. Plus, our pocketbooks could not take the hit, either. So, we just enjoyed the So Cal coastline as much as we could, with what we had... YRMV
I'm scratching my head at what some consider "hot rod" songs. Songs that you dig while driving don't necessarily qualify. A hot rod song should be about hot rods & drag racing or at least have some sort of tie to the culture. "Rev Up" by Manuel & The Renegades and "Car Hop" by the Exports, though being instrumentals, sure qualify. And both have that classic '60s guitar sound.
How about black sunshine by white zombie? Jerry was a racecar driver by Primus? Both meet your criteria, but still I doubt we'd consider them hot rod songs. But hot rod Lincoln isn't from the hot rod era but is still a killer hot rod song.... I feel what you're saying tho...
Of course there are kool car related songs but when I hear them I don't think of black '40 Ford coupes or T-buckets. "I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar and "Rev On The Redline" by Foreigner are two great examples. Then there's Ministry's "Jesus Built My Hot Rod". I'm thinking late '60s Mopar muscle when I hear it. Ah, what the hell, music is subjective. We dig what we dig. Car songs have been around for a long time but I'd say the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean really gave things a push. Keep rockin' in the free world.
I've got a bunch of wolf man and Alan freed downloaded and when I'm in the shoebox I put those on often and 'listen to the radio' from bitd. I also have a few old baseball radio broadcasts from the 50s I'll listen to sometimes. But I'm a square. If I had to pick a favorite rod tune, it's little duece coupe.
A few songs on the playlist in the garage Tom Robins Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway. Hotrod Lincoln Johnny Cash - One Piece at a time The Highwaymen - Highwaymen Beach Boys - Little Duce Coupe Beach Boys - Fun, Fun, Fun Willy Nelson - City of New Orleans Jerry Reed - East Bound and Down. ZZ Top - Im Bad, Im Nationwide Metallica - Fuel
I was thinking about doing something like this for my 30 Model A., but it will most definitely be implemented in an off topic way. I like adding the baseball broadcasts too, really cool.
If we are allowed to include the video, I propose ZZ tops I gottsta get paid, introduced to me here on the hamb by porknbeaner- power of the hamb. Look up the thread, give a listen, time well wasted!
Y&T All American Boy got a 57 Chevy with four on the floor Glass packs cheater slicks 454 Girls on the phone girls at my door Just keep comin back for more… Chain on my mirror made of beer can tops made one of those, too bad it was on the mirror of a ‘80 Olds Gutless. Haha
The Jalopy Journal
