-
-
-
-
-
- CBB Front Page
- Scores
- Teams
-
Conferences
- Players
- Stats
- Standings
- Rankings
- Schedules
- Women's Hoops
-
-
-
-
- Soccer Front Page
-
Leagues
- MLS
- England
- Champions
UEFA Cup- English Champ
Germany- Italy
Spain- France
Netherlands- Scotland
Belgium- Mexico
Copa Lib- Copa Sud
Copa Oro- Copa America
World Cup- FIFA U-20
We rank 'em. You react. That's how the Daily List rolls.5/23/2007 11:51:00 AM Great Songs About Cars, Driving and Racing
By John Rolfe, SI.com
The Beach Boys "Fun, fun, fun" is a summer classic.
Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional home of the Indy 500 and the start of the summer driving season. What better time to put the top or windows down, crank the tunes, and head out to the highway?
Check that. With fuel prices on a rocket ride, an appropriate driving anthem is NRBQ's Get That Gasoline Blues. Best known for the song Ridin' In My Car, the Q produced this obscure -- but screaming for mainstream exposure -- gem on their album Workshop. Sample lyrics: I tried to come over last night but my car ain't got no fuel/The way things are going, I might as well get me a mule. By the way, the song first appeared in 1973, when gas was, as keyboardist Terry Adams exclaims, "Forty cents a gallon!"
Even if you've got gas pains and are going nowhere fast, there are still plenty of rippin' good songs about cars, driving and racing to be had for, well, a song. Here are my top five:
5. Jerry Was a Racecar Driver (Primus): Les Claypool's loopy tale of a 22-year old kid who drove so goddamned fast/He never did win no checkered flag, but he never did come in last. Kind of like Robby Gordon. The pummeling car-crash guitar-bass-drums assault sets up our hero Jerry's tragic demise: Had too many cold beers one night/And wrapped himself around a telephone pole.
4. Fun Fun Fun (Beach Boys): Brian Wilson and Co. delivered a truckload of classic car songs -- Little Deuce Coupe, 409 and Shut Down among them, but I'll go with this ode to joyriding in a Ford Thunderbird. It even references this weekend's main event: Well the girls can't stand her 'cause she walks, looks and drives like an ace now/She makes the Indy 500 look like a Roman chariot race now...
3. Voodoo Cadillac (Southern Culture on the Skids): If you've ever taken your honey to one of those dusty, half-mile ovals for a lustrous evening of watching the junker stocks fly, you're bound to get misty listening to this band's epic album Dirt Track Date. Pure high crass. Fried Chicken and Gasoline is recommended, but Voodoo Cadillac is a brilliantly sleazy, swamp-guitar-driven celebration of drivin' down to Naw'luns with the FM stereo on. Coolsville, mannnn.
2. '65 Mustang (Five For Fighting): John Ondrasik's infectious salute to the car in which his father drove him home from the hospital as a newborn and that later became his own ride. Besides the nod to family history, Ondrasik nails the liberating thrill of driving fast on hot wheels: She's been four colors/We've broken forty laws/She goes where she wants/No matter what the cost.
1. Highway Star (Deep Purple): No trip's complete without old school metal. The opening track on Purple's milestone Machine Head is all dizzying acceleration from the chug of the opening rhythm to Ian Gillan's multi-tracked banshee scream to the whirlwind guitar and organ breaks by Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord respectively. Nobody gonna take my car/I’m gonna race it to the ground/Nobody gonna beat my car/It's gonna break the speed of sound/Oooh its a killing machine/It's got everything... Guaranteed to nudge you and your loved one well past the 55 mph limit as the cherry tops come on behind you.
Okay. Gentlemen -- and ladies -- start your lists. What are your favorites?posted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:
How could you leave off "Hot Rod Lincoln" by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen?You cannot forget Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen's classic....Hot Rod Lincoln !!What no 'I Can't drive 55,' or 'Flirtin with Disaster?'Paradise by the Dashboard Lights by Meat Loaf.
After all it features Phil Rizzuto and a singer named after food.
Going the Distance by Cake.
Another classic by a band named after food.
Dead Man's Curve by Jan and Dean.
A song by guys who eat food.
Racing in the Streets by Bruce Springsteen.
A song by another guy who eats food but now is it just makes him full of crap.First post is required by all things which are righteous and good to cite "I Can't Drive 55" by the Red Rocker himself, Mr. Cabo Wabo, Sammy Hagarc'mon Jesus Built my Hotrod by Ministry. that'll bring your foot to the floor.Racing in the Streets by Bruce Springsteen, no doubt about it.
From building the car by hand and beating the Camaro and getting a girl all the way to end when she realizes that something's missing from what they had.
The closing lines to the first verse (and the similarly styled and structured lines from the other verses) say it best....
"Tonight, tonight, the strip's just right,
I wanna blow 'em off in my first heat,
Summer's here and the time is right,
For racing in the street."Hey, why did you leave off "Drive my Car" by the Beatles? Bep bep, bep bep YEAH!!!Another glaring ommission:
Radar Love by Golden Earing -
"I been driving all night, my hands wet on the wheel..there's a voice in my head that drives my heel...it's my baby callin' says "I need you here!" & it's half past 4 & I'm shifting gears..."Metallica - Fuel
Tom Cochrane - Life is a Highway (Canadian Content!)How about "piece of Sh*t car" by Adam Sandler....a classic....Moonlight Drive by The DoorsYou honestly can't have a list of greatest car songs without a single Bruce Springsteen song on it. "Racin' in the Streets",
"Thunder Road", etc. He has so many you could make a ton 5 of his! I like the list though other than that."Black Sunshine" - White ZombieFrom the obscure files:
Good:
Screaming Blue Messiahs' "Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge"
Better,
The Reverend Horton Heat, "Galaxie 500." It's a tale of a breakup where
"you take the fish,
I'll take the bowl
You take the dishes,
while you're at it take my soul, but
things ain't so bad, I got a Galaxie 500"
Best line: "you probably would have wanted it to, but it's not air conditioned"
Best:
Sir-Mix-A-Lot's "My Hooptie." Classic.Hey man, "Rapid Roy, that stock car boy...every Sunday afternoon he's a dirt track demon with his '57 Chevrolet..."No Little Red Corvette by Prince?I'm in love with my car - Queen
Locked in the trunk of a car - Tragically Hip
Rumbleseat - Mellencamp
Rolling down the highway - BTO
Let it ride - BTO
Hitch a ride - Boston
Ol 55 - Eagles
She loves my automobile - ZZ TopPEOPLE !!!!! "Maybelline" by Chuck Berry. No question.
Also "My daddy said son you're gonna drive me to drinkin' if you don't stop drivin' that hot... rod... Lincoln.East Bound and Down (from Smokey and the Bandit) is clearly the best car song ever...How about Dragzilla by Rob Zombie or the Road to Hell by Chris Rhea?"She Don't Love Me, She Love My Automobile" ZZ TOP
"Baby You Can Drive My Car" Beatles
Anything by The CarsC'mon...got to include Route 66 in any discussion of Cars.Lowrider Donnie.....Donnie, LowriderI'll stick with "Jerry Was A Racecar Driver" at #5, and add
#4: Little Nash Rambler,
#3: I'm In Love With My Car,
#2: Maybelline, and
#1: Red Barchetta.This is a song about a car, it's called the "Red Barchetta" RUSH!"Jesus Built my Hotrod" by Ministry (with guest vocal by Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers!)
There's even a picture of a Mopar 440 Six-Pak engine on the cover of the single.I'm stunned nobody's mentioned this classic, "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n the Tears. Check it out!!!!!455 Rocket by Kathy Mattea.Top five songs with a car in the title:
1. Little Red Corvette - Prince
2. Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin
3. Chevy Van - Sammy Johns
4. Little Honda - Beach Boys
5. '65 Mustang -- Five For FightingRAMROD or Cadillac Ranch or Pink Cadillac---Bruce SpringsteenCome on, how can you forget that Janis Joplin song she sang so well and with such heartfelt emotion. I forgot the name but it really is a good song. So can anyone help me here?Are you kidding me???? No Springsteen's "Racing in the Street"???
"Tonight, tonight the strip's just right. Out of our way, Mister, you best keep; cause summer's here and the time is right for racng in the street."
I got goosebumps just coming up with a quote.Little GTO-Ronnie & The Daytonas
A true car classicI cannot believe that nobody has said "Lowrider". Classic and used is several movies.Get Out of Denver by Bob Seger
MGB-GT by Richard ThompsonBitchin Camaro!!!!How about LOWRIDER!!!Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally
Alabama - Roll onSo strange to read an article about great car/racing songs and not to see "Red Barchetta" by RUSH listed. Take a listen and see if it makes your list.Red Barchetta by RUSH"Radar Love" by Golden Earring...Might actually be trumped by the Homer Simpson version, though.Ike Turner's "Rocket 88", Cake's other car manifesto, "Stickshifts and Safetybelts" (sample lyrics: Stickshifts and safetybelts/
Bucket seats have all got to go./
When we're driving in the car,/
It makes my baby seem so far./
I need you here with me,/
Not way over in a bucket seat.) and if you like funny like I do, Adam Sandler's "Ode To My Car" (aka POS Car)"Eye of the Hurricane" about a girl and an insanely fast motorcycle by David Wilcox (the American one) - especially the live version with his intro story.
"Mach 5" by the Presidents of the United States"Miller, Jack, and Mad Dog" Wayne "The Train" Hancock. with verses like "Last night I saw a bunch of kids/ Swerving down route 1/ They's goin' fast as lightening/ Lord I guess they's havin' fun/ They tried to take the corner/ But they couldn't hold the turn/ I saw them hit the tree line/ as their hot rod flipped and burned/ Miller Jack and Mad Dog will do you everytime, but their no good for staying to the right side of that line/ If Johnny Law don't get you/ Somebody else could die/ So do yourself a favor/ Don't go driving while you're high!"Little GTO - Beach Boys (Wa-wa....wa-wa-wa wa-wa, wa; wa-WA, etc...)G.T.O. by Ronnie and the Daytonas - even named the band after the original superspeedway!c'mon for chrissakes.....how 'bout some REAL hot rod songs....eddie hill,daytona,super-six,hemicuda & galaxy 500 by those seattle speed merchants...ZEKE.honorable mention goes to rev.horton heat's "big red rocket of love" & "400 bucks".....want more? bottle rockets "$1000 car".your welcome....texxasracer@yahoo.com"Daddy's Cup" by the Drive By Truckers is a great song about stock car racing.
I'd have to go with "Hot Rod Lincoln" as my #1 car song, though.
A couple of good songs about bad cars:
Bottlerockets' "$1000 Car" and Jonathan Richman's "Dodge Vegematic".
Oh and don't forget the Clash's "Brand New Cadillac"
You could make a list of 100 songs, i think.BruuuuuuuuuuuuucePink Cadillac -- Springsteen
Cadillac Ranch -- Springsteen
Three-Wheel Cadillac -- Foghat
Big Black Mariah -- Tom Waits
Ol' 55 -- Waits/EaglesSpringsteen - Racing in the StreetsYou left out Stroker Ace -- come on, he was born to raceJOHNNY CASH ONE PIECE A TIMEMercury Blues, written by KC Douglas, greatest cover by David Lindley and El Rayo-X.Get out of my dreams and get into my Car- Billy OceanDon't forget the theme song to Speed Racer."Well-weathered leather, hot metal and oil, the scented country air.
Sunlight on chrome, the blur of the landscape, every nerve aware!"
As others have said, it's got to be Red Barchetta.1. Kickstart My Heart - Crue
2. Radar Love - Golden Earring
3. Driver's Seat - Sniff'n'the Tears.
4. Bad Motor Scooter - Montrose
5. Real Gone - Sheryl Crow (Cars)
6. Red Barchetta - Rush
7. Fuel - Metallica
8. Black Sunshine - Rob Zombie
9. Highway Star - Deep Purple
10. Mota - Offspring
I could keep going but I have to say that I'm shocked no-one mentioned Kickstart by Crue. Guaranteed to drop my right foot a couple of inches.OK kids, here's three you missed:
Coup De Ville - Del Fuegos
Silver Thunderbird - Mark Cohn
Ridin' Thunder - Donnie Iris and the Cruisers (roll down the windows to this one and just drive.)Although its been mentined several times already, Hot Rod Lincoln cannot be mentioed enough in this discussion.Red Barchetta!! Great Call. And by the by, Little Red Corvette ain't about a car or driving, but something much more interesting. Go find the lyrics"Son of Mustang Ford" - Swervedriver...
The radio still plays
Amongst the mangled metal frays
Petroleum spirit dazeRoad Fever -- by Foghat, the kings of '70s boogie.
I'm back on the road and I ain't gonna stop,
Goin' to roll 'til I'm old, gonna rock 'til I drop.
Out of the smog, headin' into the sun,
I'm goin' to New Orleans, Bourbon Street here I come!
Road fever, wheels turnin' in the rain,
Road fever, fire burnin' in my brain,
Give her the gun, drive like a hurricane.
Got the heat up high, and the radio's on,
Diggin' rock and roll music while we're ridin' along.
Maybe Atlanta, may be Birmingham,
I know where I'm going, God knows where I am!
Road fever, wheels turnin' in the rain,
Road fever, fire burnin' in my brain,
Give her the gun, drive like a hurricane.
Speeding along like a bullet from a gun,
It's a three day ride, we're gonna make it in one.
I'm back on the road and I ain't gonna stop,
Goin' to roll 'til I'm old, gonna rock 'til I drop.
Road fever, wheels turnin' in the rain,
Road fever, fire burnin' in my brain,
Go driver go! Move like a hurricane.Led Zeppelin "Trampled Under Fott" Talkin' bout LOVE . . .With a nod to many of the additions listed, how about:
Headin' out to the Highway -- Judas Priest
Brand New Cadillac -- Clash
And...
Detroit Rock City -- KissRed Barchetta by Rush, far and away, followed by Gonna Hitch a Ride (By Boston), and the Doobies' Rockin' Down the HighwaySorry Bruce, you can't put fuelie heads (small block) on a 396 (big block). Otherwise a great song.
How about "Rev on the Redline" by Foreigner.Reverend Horton Heat - Big Red Rocket Of Love
Reverend Horton Heat - Five-O Ford
Reverend Horton Heat - Like A Rocket
Reverend Horton Heat - Like A Rocket (2002 Daytona 500 version)
Reverend Horton Heat - Galaxy 500
Reverend Horton Heat - Suicide Doors
Reverend Horton Heat - The Happy Camper
Reverend Horton Heat - Rumble Strip
Reverend Horton Heat - Sleeper Coach Driver
Reverend Horton Heat - 400 Bucks
Mike Ness - I'm In Love W/ My Car
Social Distortion - Highway 101
The Clash - Brand New Cadillac
Johnny Cash - One Piece At A TimeRacing in the Streets - Bruce SpringsteenWhat about "Cars And Girls" by Prefab Sprout!from da boy vince
Then best car song is probably either "Ridin Dirty" by Chamillionaire, "Showstoppers" by Danity Kane, "Automobile" by NWA, "King Kong", by Jibbs, "Top Let Back" by T.I., and that highway song by Rascal Flats.
Yeah Boy
ChiaYou mentioned NRBQ. Got to include their "Me & The Boys" (also covered by Dave Edmunds) and "Green Lights" (covered by Bonnie Raitt) along with "Riding In My Car."Hot Rod Lincoln was greatest car song every written. Telephone poles looked like a picket fence.
BigBadBone"Drivers Seat" by Sniff 'n the TearsOh man, so manny songs, so little space. Not necessarily my top 5 but they are definitely up there.
5 Slow ride - Fog Hat
4 Radar Love - Sniff and the Tears
3 Paradise by the dashboard Light - Meatloaf
2 You've got Personality - No idea who sang this
1 Hot Rod Lincoln - Johny Cash's version do disrespect to Comander CodyI'm disappointed you didn't have "Thunder Road" as a pick.Jan & Dean - Dead Man's Curve
Golden Earring - Radar Love
Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road
Foghat - Slow Ride
The Doobie Bros - Rockin Down the Highway
The Rip Chords - Hey Little Cobra
Bruce Springsteen - Pink Cadillac
etc., etc., etc.Excuse me, but let's credit Johnny Bond with Hot Rod Lincoln, most of us original rodders got started with Mr. bond. But Rocket 88 by Jackie Bernston paved th e way for our modern car songs, and created space for the likes of Ronnie and the Daytona's Little GTO. No Particular Place To Go by Chuck Berry was the theme song for the beginning of cruz night at Bob's on Van Nuys Blvd. We ahd fun with Beep Beep by the Playmates, and my children enjoyed sining Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for hours on end as we traveled on vacation. The modern singers have done a nice job, but with out the originals, we would'nt have theme songs for our car culture. Every car guy my age, 60's has his own theme music embedded in his mind, and it plays as he backs out of the driveway on cruz night. Even if only when we dream of old cars, pretty girls and warm southern california nights.How about Benny's Cadillac by The Iguanas, or Rusty Old American Dream by David Wilcox?
"I'm a tailfin road locomotive from the days of cheap gasoline..."Pearl Jam - Rearview MirrorCheck out Gillian Welch's "Pass You By" and Fred Eaglesmith's "Lucille". Both very worthy of consideration.Brand New Cadillac - The ClashI have to add my vote for Rush's "Red Barchetta". Not only do the lyrics exude that great feeling of "love of driving," but it tells a story and musically has a great sense of building to a frenetic ending!
Here are the full lyrics:
My uncle has a country place, that no one knows about
He says it used to be a farm, before the motor law
On Sundays I elude the eyes and hop the turbine freight
To far outside the wire, where my white-haired uncle waits.
Jump to the ground
As the turbo slows to cross the borderline
Run like the wind,
As excitement shivers up and down my spine
Down in his barn
My uncle preserved for me, an old machine ---
For fifty-odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream
I strip away the old debris, that hides a shining car
A brilliant red Barchetta, from a better, vanished time
I fire up the willing engine, responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel, I commit my weekly crime...
Wind in my hair ---
Shifting and drifting ---
Mechanical music ---
Adrenalin surge ---
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
Suddenly, ahead of me, across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air-car shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires, to run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley as another joins the chase
Drive like the wind
Straining the limits of machine and man
Laughing out loud
With fear and hope, I've got a desperate plan
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded
At the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle
At the fireside...How about "The Cup" by the Drive by Truckers?Top 5:
#5--"501" by Megadeth
#4--"Bitchin' Camaro" by The Dead Milkmen
#3--"Lowrider" by War
#2--"Fuel" by Metallica
#1--"Thunder Road" by The Boss"Hey Little Cobra" by the RipchordsDefinitely RUSH's Red BarchettaRecent Posts
Copyright © 2008 Time Inc.A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.Terms under which this service is provided to you.Read our privacy guidelines.
