I remember listening to Dr. Demento years ago as he explained that the “Hot Rod Lincoln” song plainly referenced an earlier hit about a A, which the singer of “HRL” claimed to have been driving in the first scenario. He then played them back to back.
What is that original song?
Who did the original hit version of HRL that is played the most often? I found it (I think) on Napster listed as Johnny Cash, but I’ll eat my hat if that’s him.
I’m pretty sure HRL was originally by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.
The version most of us are familiar with is Commander Cody, recorded in 1972. Some history of the earlier versions is here:
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/HotRodLncln.html
I have the Cody CD (Lost in the Ozone) in front of me - the writer credits on the song are C. Ryan / W. S. Stevenson in agreement with that link.
Charlie Ryan recorded it first, but the definitive version is Johnny Bond’s 1960 recording.
Fascinating that Johnny Bond’s version and that of Charlie Ryan hit Billboard’s Top 40 only two weeks apart in 1960!.
The term “hot-rod” first appears in the US in 1945, according to JE Lighter, American Slang. In Life Magazine, calling it a hot rod, hot iron, hop up, and gow job.
Dave, if I’m reading correctly, you also asked about the song which featured that Model A. That was Hot Rod Race, the version by Ramblin’ Jimmy Dolan is available in Rhino Records’ “Hot Rods and Custom Classics” box set. Funny that they switch HRL and HRR on the disc.
BTW: the closing theme of the Beverly Hillbillies movie is HRL as sung by Jim Varney.
There was a real Hot Rod Lincoln, I believe owned by Charlie Ryan, as I recall he wrote the song about his own car. Model A Ford coupe body (red) (“That Model A body makes it look like a pup”), Lincoln flathead V-12 engine (“Got 12 cylinders and uses 'em all”). Apparently it would really go, though I wonder just how nose-heavy it was. Odd proportions; the radiator ended up somewhat forward of the stock position, which of course fouls up the A’s classic lines. I think the car is still in existence; there was an article about it in one of the rod mags maybe ten years ago.
As far as the song goes, my fav is the Commander Cody version, which just-plain-rocks a lot more than the earlier versions…
“Hot Rod Race” also has a Model A reference ("…just a hopped-up Model A; a hopped-up Model A", but I think TOP was about “Hot Rod Lincoln.”
There was a real Hot Rod Lincoln, I believe owned by Charlie Ryan, as I recall he wrote the song about his own car. Model A Ford coupe body (red) (“That Model A body makes it look like a pup”), Lincoln flathead V-12 engine (“Got 12 cylinders and uses 'em all”). Apparently it would really go, though I wonder just how nose-heavy it was. Odd proportions; the radiator ended up somewhat forward of the stock position, which of course fouls up the A’s classic lines. I think the car is still in existence; there was an article about it in one of the rod mags maybe ten years ago.
As far as the song goes, my fav is the Commander Cody version, which just-plain-rocks a lot more than the earlier versions…
“Hot Rod Race” also has a Model A reference ("…just a hopped-up Model A; a hopped-up Model A", but I think TOP was about “Hot Rod Lincoln.”
Ah, just found a site:
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/HotRodLncln.html
There was a real Hot Rod Lincoln, I believe owned by Charlie Ryan, as I recall he wrote the song about his own car. Model A Ford coupe body (red) (“That Model A body makes it look like a pup”), Lincoln flathead V-12 engine (“Got 12 cylinders and uses 'em all”). Apparently it would really go, though I wonder just how nose-heavy it was. Odd proportions; the radiator ended up somewhat forward of the stock position, which of course fouls up the A’s classic lines. I think the car is still in existence; there was an article about it in one of the rod mags maybe ten years ago.
As far as the song goes, my fav is the Commander Cody version, which just-plain-rocks a lot more than the earlier versions…
“Hot Rod Race” also has a Model A reference ("…just a hopped-up Model A; a hopped-up Model A", but I think TOP was about “Hot Rod Lincoln.”
Ah, just found a site:
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/HotRodLncln.html
Holy mackerel, here’s the Real thing:
Although the original members of Commander Cody have long since parted ways, they are still around. I highly recommend listening to Bill Kirchen, the guitarist from the Cody version of Hot Rod Lincoln. Or better yet, see him live - he rocks!
He put out an album a year or two ago called “Hot Rod Lincoln Live”, and it’s one of my favorites. I’ve seen him live a few times, and even got him to teach me the guitar riff for HRL!
Here’s a web site for Kirchen’s band:
Sorry about the triple post. The server was slow, and I thought, “How nice! I can catch it before it posts and add this little bit of info”… but noooooooooo…
Ahhh, yes…the Lincoln V12… ::drools::
From Rocketeer’s cite
Whoa! Hold on there, buckaroo! What about this:
Carl Perkins/Blue Suede Shoes/hit Billboard Top 40 on 3/10/56, went to #2. Elvis Presley/Blue Suede Shoes/hit Billboard Top 40 on 4/28/56, went to #20. Probably one of the only times Elvis got bested.