Cruisin Crashin Car Crazy Celebrated In Songs: Formula One Race 2024?

The Beach Boys

This posting has be regenerated from 2022:

Car Crazy:

With the Singapore 2022 Formula 1 Night Race and expensive COEs in the headlines recently, cars were the subject on everyone's lips. Apparently second-hand vehicles were selling better and it didn't stop the richer ones from buying new. 

Although a hot topic in Singapore, cars have never been celebrated in song here as in the US. In fact certain models have been immortalised by American artistes in love with these machines. So how many of the following songs are you familiar with?

Image: https://greatoldies.com/mustang-sally/

Mustang Sally:

Both music and car aficionados are familiar with Mustang Sally as the Mustang has been a symbol of speed among American motorists for many years, helped along by Steve McQueen’s car chase through the streets of San Francisco in a GT 390 Fastback in Bullitt (1968).

In 1966, Wilson Pickett scored a hit with this R&B rocker about a lady who was advised to slow down, because she was moving too fast. Written by Bonny Rice, it has since become known as a Pickett anthem. You’ve been riding all over town, ooh, guess you gotta put your flat feet on the ground. Ride, Sally, ride.

'Mustang Sally' by Wilson Pickett 

YouTube video from: glazer1134

"Mustang Sally" [Mack Rice - 1966]

"Look it here.

I bought you a brand new mustang nineteen sixty five. Huh

Now you come around signifying a woman, you don't wanna let me ride

Mustang Sally, now baby, oh Lord, guess you better slow that mustang down

Huh, oh Lord. Look here

You been running all over the town

Oh! I got to put your flat feet on the ground. Huh, What I said now?"

Little Deuce Coupe:

Drag racing, while illegal, is nonetheless an American tradition. The Beach Boys (image) paid tribute to it in this ode to a ’32 Ford with a big V8. Brian Wilson co-wrote this with a disc jockey named Roger Christian, who was heavily into cars. Also, there’s the suggestion the little deuce coupe can do 140 mph, an exaggeration really. The song reached No. 15 on the U.S. pop charts in 1963.

Hot Rod Lincoln:

Most people know the version by the country and rockabilly band Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, which was released early in 1972 and rose to No. 9 on the pop charts. One of the more famous lines goes like this: My pappy said, ‘Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’, if you don’t stop driving that Hot Rod Lincoln. There was an earlier version, written in 1955.

409:

The Beach Boys recorded 409 (a Chevrolet) in 1962, and more than a dozen other songs about cars. 409 was released as the B-side of Surfin’ Safari. Most of the lyrics are fairly simple and repetitive, such as Giddy up 409 and She’s real fine my 409. The Beach Boys were infatuated with girls, cars and the beach, often in the same song.

G.T.O:

Ronny and the Daytonas (image) came out of Nashville with dreams of mimicking the Beach Boys’ sound but had mixed success. G.T.O., penned by John Wilkin, was released shortly after the car itself and reached No. 4 on the charts in 1964.

Although they did not have staying power, they did hammer at the car theme and sold more than a million singles of this song as well as a half-million albums.

Naik Kereta Ku: the late Rudyn.

YouTube Video from: nostalgia hassny.

Naik Kereta-ku: [Ride In My Car]

Did Singapore 60s music have songs for cars too? Yes, it's a Malay song, called Naik Kereta Ku by the late Rudyn, who happened to be an old friend. His group was known as the Impian Bateks. The song was a hit in Singapore and Malaysia. Now who says we're not interested in cars?

Comments please?

This post has been revitalised from September, 2010.

[Information, by Michael Ventre (19.3.2007), has been edited for brevity. Website is unavailable now.]

Read DRIVE below:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/07/latest-coe-prices-singapore-beatles.html

Disclaimer: 

This posting is not advertising cars for sale nor does it encourage speeding on our beautiful roads. 

COE Prices Singapore: The Beatles, Deep Purple, Joe Bonamassa. Wen Hing's Song, RIDE.

😲

Because of the strict rules and regulations, traffic jams 

in Singapore are manageable but could be just 

as frustrating like in other countries.

UP TO 1,000 VIEWS

Ride

The recent COE prices [date published: 7.7.22] have soared right back up to pre-COVID days, and who can blame us. Owning a car in Singapore will always be our dream. With a car-per-capita ratio of 1:5, Singapore ranks right in the middle of about 200 countries on the list. But if we use the car-per-kilometer ratio, our ranking shoots all the way up to number two! For a land-starved country like Singapore that says a lot about our love for cars.

And our love for songs about cars and driving too! Although we don’t get to cruise our beloved marquees on the autobahn or on the highways - with the top down and the wind on our faces; we can almost get the same experience from songs such as “Drive My Car” by the Beatles or “Drive” by Joe Bonamassa. But how can I leave out “Highway Star” (Deep Purple)!? Although this song may be deemed too “heavy” for this blog, it certainly is a beloved song that many - including me, grew up with. It is a classic for many a Purple fan, but for a greenhorn like me I had always wondered what it is like ‘racing it to the ground’. 

Highway Star: Deep Purple 

YouTube video from Jan Plexy

Driving in Singapore is stressful, and racing is a definite no-no! Music is always there to take our minds off the bumper to bumper situation we often find ourselves in. An interesting incident happened last year (2021) which may be a sign of just is how stressed out road user here are. This gentleman rode on a motorbike on a busy road buck naked! He must had been going through a really rough patch, and like most netizens I was both amused and sympathetic of his antics. I think he must have had music piped in through his helmet, so much so that he was totally oblivious of his actions.

The funny thing was when I read about it and saw the photo, the song “Drive” by Joe Bonamassa suddenly started playing in my head. Being a songwriter wannabe, I couldn’t resist and wrote a new set of lyrics for this song based on the story of the naked rider - sorry about that Joe. So here is my take on JB’s Drive - I named it "Ride".

Joe Bonamassa: Drive

YouTube Video from:

 JoeBonamassaTV

Ride

[Composer: Chow Wen Hing]

Man I’m slowly going crazy
Watching the same old show
It’s time to feel the wind on my face
I’m going to take off my clothes

And ride
Onto the PIE onto the PIE
Don’t close your eyes
Put on some rock and roll
And let all my troubles go
And ride

Man I’ve been indoors way too long
I can’t feel my toes
It’s time to burn me some rubber tonight
But first let me take off my clothes

And ride
Onto the PIE onto the PIE
Don’t close your eyes
Put on some rock and roll
And let all my troubles go
And ride

*Repeat till you hear the police sirens

I’m glad to inform readers that this gentleman is now being given the help and support that he needs to resist the naked urge. I wish him well and hope that he can rejoin the Singapore dream-chasing regime soon. In the meantime, let Rascal Flatt’s “Life Is A Highway” guide us on, and let’s all enjoy our mode of getting around - be it driving or riding.

An Original Article by: Wenhing    

Singer, composer and writer Chow Wen Hing.

Beside singing, Wenhing is a composer too and I can't thank him enough for another one of his well-articulated articles for this blog; he has written a number of them these past years together with many original songs.

His articles and songs have received heavy-weighted, positive feedback and comments. Kamsiah Mr. Chow. You'll be one of Singapore's well-known  composers soon.

[Click his name under LABELS below to read them.]

Images: Google

YouTube Videos and Webpages:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_vehicles_per_capita

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Vehicles/Per-km-of-road

https://youtu.be/kfSQkZuIx84

https://youtu.be/Wr9ie2J2690

https://www.musicgrotto.com/songs-about-cars-driving/

https://youtu.be/euMNVyuqmwo

60's Car Park Boys (Jaga Kereta) Give You A Flat

Del Vikings: Flat Tire Video by Eric Sempels

Motor cars cost a fortune in our country. The cheapest two-door, standard would cost at least S$60,000 brand new. With what is known as COE (Certificate of Entitlement), which an owner needs to drive a vehicle on the road, it would be heartbreak to find a tiny scratch, a dent or a puncture on the recently acquired car, etc.

Nowadays in Singapore, if you park your car anywhere you can be reasonably certain that it will still be in one piece and unscathed when you come to pick it up from a parking lot. But it was a different ball-game a long time ago.

In Singapore 50's and 60's when you are about to park your car on a playing field or open ground - there was hardly a designated car park those years - a group of boys will swarm your car and demand that they look after it for the duration you are away. 

If you refuse the car will probably be in a mess afterwards. These *jaga kereta boys (or watch car boys) would probably have decorated it one way or another with a long artistic scratch, a large beautiful dent on the body work or a newly-shaped designer wheel (punctured).

I remember an incident when I was parking my car near the Odeon Katong Cinema (image) along East Coast Road in the mid-sixties. A few friends and I were going to watch a pop music show featuring some of our Shadows bands on stage. 

As we were driving into the large grass patch two boys approached the car, knocked on the window and suggested they looked after the car while it was parked. 

I refused them but very politely, hoping not to antagonise the two scruffy looking lads. It was a mistake because I found some scratches on my grey Volkswagen (image) afterwards. The jaga kereta boys, who formed a gang around the area, had all disappeared into the night.

All too soon as the four of us drove out on the main East Coast Road and proceeded to Siglap which is on a hill, a tire caved in.

Down the road and over the hill
I took my baby ridin' in my automobile
Ridin' along, me and my heart's desire
Ssssssss, a flat tire...

It took us some time to fix the flat but definitely most of the evening was wasted and our trip to Changi Point for a sea-food dinner was cancelled.

Incidents like these became quite a fearful experience for many drivers, especially the ladies. Although reports were made to the police it was not easy to catch these youth. 

Even as late as 1971, there were incidents of jaga kereta nuisance. Here's an edited letter from a 'taxpaying motorist' in the Straits Times Singapore, dated 24th February, 1971, who wrote:

On February, 6th, at about 4pm, I was pestered by a group of jaga kereta boys on arrival at the Chinese Swimming Club.

 I ignored them and went to the club canteen to phone the police. At 5 pm when I returned to my car the boys were still present, bold and demanding as ever.

That was not the first time I phoned the police about this menace. I have phoned four times in all.

Why has no action been taken?

(Left images of jaga kereta boys not from Singapore.)

           http://adoi-means-ouch.blogspot.sg/2007_11_01_archive.html


I was all shook up and feelin' bad
I was thinkin' 'bout the fun 
That we could have had
I had just about figured out what to do

But the Police, and all government departments that were involved, took action. Like the notorious Singapore gangsters that terrorized the island during those tumultuous years, the jaga kereta boys with underground connections were got rid off from the streets and car parks soon enough.  Today there is not one jaga kereta boy in Singapore. 

Do you have a social nuisance like jaga kereta boys in your country? What about our Singaporean reader? I'm sure you have encountered our nuisance in the 60's?

*Jobless, these boys resorted to making a few cents for their daily expenses. When the government stepped in, most improper activities were resolved as these young people acquired a decent education, housing, proper work and career paths. 

An original article.

NB
The Song and Vocal Group

The Del-Vikings or The Dell-Vikings is a vocal group specialising in doo-wop, rock n roll and recorded several pop singles in the 1950's. They lasted for many years with different line-ups and known for their racially integrated members. Their top hit was Come Go With Me.

Images; Google.
You Tube and Lyrics: Del Vikings, Flat Tire.

Cherrio Cefiro, Changing Car, Current COE n CD's

 Drive My Car: The Beatles: Aesthetics Lyrics. 

YouTube Video: Lyric Hub.

Saying Hello, Goodbye to the Car:

Cuboid Cefiro

This car of mine
No slow poke now
I never want to part with her you see
This little car means a heck of a lot to me*

After 10 years exactly, at the end of May 2016, my faithful 2300 cc steed will finally be silenced in the scrapyard. Can you imagine a beautiful Japanese Cefiro built in 2006, complete with the latest features that only some cars have today, being towed away to be crunched and crushed into cuboid? 

I know I shouldn't be writing about cars but I am totally devastated that I have to lose $14,000 (scrap value) and pay another $25,000 (current prevailing COE price) to use my own car for another 5 years. $40,000 is a lot of gas. And the Cefiro has done only 90,000 kilometers. It hasn't seen its day yet.

CD Changer

Having taken the bus, taxi and MRT I find it truly convenient to take public transport but only if it is during retirees' hours from about 11am to 3pm. Try taking a bus outside those hours and you're done for.  

Also during a rain-storm at the bus-stop without an umbrella.  Or try to queue for a taxi at Orchard Road on a week-end. Or ride the train, which can be squeezy. I'm missing the car already.

And missing the music with it. The stereo set in the car is a simple one. Nifty though with four fabulous speakers and two twitters near the windscreen. There's a ten-piece CD changer in the boot and a GPS screen in front. 

Children's Choice

While driving I am only interested in listening to music from the 50's, 60's and 70's.  And the radio station is stuck at 90.5FM. Reminder for Brian Richmond. And I know you read my blog often :>).

So here goes. When my grand children were between the ages of 4 to 8, they love songs by The Blue Diamonds like Bebek Angsa and Summer Holiday. Then Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da by The Marmalade and Don Spencer's Fireball XL5.  

Paul Anka's Diana was a must with The Beatles' Hello, Goodbye and Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat with emphasis on, Any Dream Will Do. The youngest enjoyed Fraulein and Little Dutch Girl.

Strange but true; never once did they fall asleep listening to the selection. They remember the track number of each song and the efficient Kenwood stereo never missed its cue playing CD's that the kids pushed into its mouth. We hardly used the changer.

Creditable CD's

For my own driving entertainment, The Eagles Greatest Hits, Queen with Jewels, Neil Diamond's Gold Selection, Johnny Lion and The Jumping Jewels CD Selection and a mixed bag of choice 60's Indonesian guitar group instrumentals from Larry Lai. 

The song change occurs only on occasions when CD's are replaced with a new selection. Then my son's Dire Straits: Money For Nothing with Sultans Of Swing sticks in the player for months.

Lately experienced rhythm guitarist, Michael Bangar gave members of the group a CD called, Elvis Presley: Artist of the Century with a BMG/GSM/RCA label. Disc One has Presley's usual hits. 

Disc Two was a surprise. Songs like: Like A baby, That's Someone You Never Forget, Down In The Alley, Run On, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Stranger In My Own Home Town and After Loving You. Thank you Mike for the CD. Bet readers never heard the songs?

Cherrio Car

So good bye dear car. Had wonderful and comfortable rides these ten years, providing much space for the kids to topsy-turvy in the back seat and scream with Elvis in the front.

Want readers to know Singaporeans' heartaches with their cars. And balancing the mind with songs in their hearts, every driving day, to keep the sanity intact.

You drive don't you. Stories to tell?

*This Car of Mine: The Beach Boys.
Drive My Car - The Beatles Video by: DrHooty911

Images: A Private Collection

There are 100's of car songs. Below is the longest list I've seen:
http://www.calif-tech.com/blog/carsongs.html 

Formula 1 Singapore Boy's Passion For Model Sports Cars 2019 [2024]

This article has been reposted from 2014 to coincide with
the Formula 1 Singapore Race from 20 September, 2019.
Reposted again on 30th September, 2022 after a 3 year absence.
Reposted today: 20th September, 2024.

Young J's Collection

Ronnie n The Daytonas - 'Little GTO' - Video: 

A 2014 Singapore Grand Prix F1 Night Race Marina Bay Posting:

"Little GTO, you're really lookin' fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin' up now, listen to her whine
C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO..."

The collection above is only one-third of what he has.  With many more miniature vehicles, highways, car parks and buildings from Tomica, Hot Wheels, Realtoy, Fast Lane and Siku, this boy has quite a lot in his playroom.  Whenever he gets news from a current catalogue about the latest model he would run off to the nearest toy-shop to get one.

Highway Connections

Together with the toy cars in his four-year collection, he has as many in his memory.  Young J. can rattle off the makes and models of cars by just looking at the particular model for a second or two.  

Hennessy Venom GT

He names a Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin easily but is only interested in the fastest ones and quickly recognizes a Koenigsegg Agera R, Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport or Zenvo ST1 and others in similar category. Because of this special interest, others have inherited his beautiful array of buses, vans, trucks and police/fire-fighting vehicles.

Young J's Photos Of Real Cars And Toy Ones. Know which?

He plays cars, reads cars, talks cars, surfs cars, carries cars, photographs cars, bathes color-changing cars and even eats and sleeps with them. He has these tiny vehicles everywhere in his home and ours. The only time he doesn't have one around him is when he's at school. Carrying a little car in his pocket has been disallowed.

At Wisma Atria

During weekend evenings he is taken to Ion or the area around Scotts Road, where, to his heart's content, he takes a photograph or a video of the sports cars that roam the streets. He uses a digital camera that his father gave him.  A hobby has now become a passion for this youthful enthusiast.

A Child's Paradise

The current September 2014 display of Lamborghini's masterpieces at Wisma Atria was a gigantic draw for him so he had a whale of a time taking pictures of the different models showcased for the general public.  

His Racing Spirit

Later this week a trip to the Formula One race at the Marina Bay area would be a special treat for him. He has been advised to get ear-plugs for the occasion. 

F1 Security Tags With Bar Codes Erased

So come Friday he would probably have a great afternoon watching Formula Ones (not his interest actually) speeding straits and maneuvering bend at Stamford Road. His folks would be around to lug his water-bottle and umbrellas.

                               Heavy vehicles and security cars.

But young J. still has one wish. That he will be able to ride in one of his favorite super-cars these few weeks.  Any offers?

Images: A Personal Collection. 
Video: YouTube.
Song: Ronnie n The Daytonas - 'Little GTO' - 1964. It's considered to be the first muscle car.

Rollin' On Canadian Highway With BTO Rockers...

SONGS I LOVE:

Thanks to my wonderful Canadian buddy Rob M. for the songs I've learnt and the ride along the scenic Canadian Highway:

My own knowledge of heavy metal or rock bands is hardly enough for me to write any decent posting on the genre. But I truly appreciate my first ever heavies when I listened to Deep Purple in the 70s and except for a few songs like Smoke On The Water, Highway Star and Black Night the interest stopped there because I could not take too much of the cacophony and extremely high decibels emanating from both the powerfully voiced singers and their amplified instruments. It was only by chance that I listened to this genre of music again.

On a nostalgia trip in the mid-nineties I returned to Vancouver, Canada and travelled from there to Winnipeg in a car. A really wonderful Winnipegian friend (image 2) came all the way from his home town, drove West to B.C. for two days, picked me up from the city in his purple, 1995 two door sports Chevvy Cavalier and we drove back East for the next 8 days, seeing sights across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskachewan, Manitoba and hearing songs by *BTO (image 5, 6) and other 60s to 70s rockers from his car-radio.

We met many friendly bikers along the way (image 4), bears catching trout on the Canadian rivers, deer that walk the roads, camouflaged white goats amidst the pale hills and sometimes soaring eagles in the skies. In the background, the rugged mountains, hush pines and glacial plains (image 1) were a bonus.

"You seem to love loud music?" I asked on the second day of our journey.

"To keep me awake Andy," he replied. "You don't wanna drive the car since you guys drive on the wrong side of the road in Singapore and I have to keep myself awake all the time. Besides, BTO music is truckers' music and drivers keep themselves awake and entertained with heavy metal and CBRadio."

I understood what he meant. It was hard for him to keep awake during the long and quiet drives (image 2), especially after lunch. I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the journey realising that if it weren't for my good friend I would have to suffer a bus trip that would take more days. But I always made sure he was awake and chatted with him when the player was switched off.

The baptism of gutter guitar filled me with fire and after some driving practice I took over Rob's car on the fourth day. I learnt a few songs on the road like, Taking Care Of Business, Roll On Down The Highway, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, Take It Like A Man, Let It Ride, a favourite American Woman and other rock hits.

I also realised that the growling guitars and gruff grinding of voices from heavy rock kept me awake while we were on the long Canadian roads from two o'clock in the afternoon, sometimes under a blazing Canadian sun in the middle of June. But when the eyes just would not open, we would shade under a large tree on a side road and take a cat nap.

I was sad, not glad, when I had to leave Winnipeg again and missing the BTO stuff that I never got to collect. I am still learning about this genre of music. Anyone got any vinyls or CDs of truckers' music to spare?

*"Bachman–Turner Overdrive (frequently known as BTO) is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that had a series of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. Their 1970s catalog included five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles.

The band has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide, and has fans affectionately known as gearheads (derived from the band's gear-shaped logo). Many of their songs still receive play on FM classic rock stations (Wiki)."

Images 1, 2, 3, 4/original article: Andy Lim Collection.

Image 5, 6: You Tube and Google.

Impian Bateks: Rudyn Dan Ismail Ahmad

*Latest News (09/01/2018)

Kematian Ismail Ahmad - Death of Ismail Ahmad.
Extract at the end of this posting.

Pop songs with car themes were blazing the Top Hit Charts in the US in the 60s especially with the Beach Boys Fun, Fun, Fun. Similarly, our local pop stars did the same. Malay singer Rudyn *al-haj (image 3) is associated with his well-known hit Naik Kreta Ku (Drive With Me) or literally translated, 'Hop Into My Car.' He made this particular recording with Cosdel (CEP 3009 - image 4) and backed by his own group The Bateks (as in kain batek or sarong material).

After some changes within the group and because of unavoidable circumstances they joined forces with another called D'Impians (dreamers) and formed The Impian Bateks (Indonesian spelling: batik - image 2). This group was just as popular outside the Malay community playing western music.

Having an academic degree was rare in the 60s but Rudyn was one of those who had a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University in the U.S. Rudyn whose full name was Khairudin Haji Hashim, besides singing Pop-yeh-yeh music with his group, also served as a Planning Officer for Sabah Film Production. In November 2007 Rudyn passed away in his hometown at Johore Bahru, Malaysia. He was 61 years young.

Music and lyrics for Naik Kreta Ku were by Rudyn himself while the other three, Selendang Hitam (The Black Veil), Terima-lah Lagu Ku (Please Accept My Song) and Berjumpa (Meeting) were originals by The Impian Bateks. Did Rudyn cut another record with a group called The Falcons singing Naik Kereta Baru (Hope In My New Car), Bukan Salah Ku (Not My Fault), Pengembara (Wanderer/Vagabond) and Selamat Hari Raya (celebration after fasting month)?

The Impian Bateks were as popular under their own banner with previous recordings (Cosdel CEP 3005) like Gadis Sekolah (School Girl), Wanita (Woman), Siapa Juwita (Who's That Girl) and Mengapah (Why). Another recording with Panda (YHEP 111) had Dari Ku Untok Mu (From Me To You), Guru Baru (New Teacher), Sekolah Ku (My School) and Oh Posmen (Oh Postman).

Song themes were typical teenage angst and schoolgirl crushes. Pen-pals were also actively pursued by our youngsters and a record cover (image 1) that looks like an addressed envelope with stamps could sell. "Ku rindu pada mu, Ku ingin bertemu selalu... (I am lovesick and wish to meet you often...)"

Both Rudyn and Impian Bateks were a force to reckon with in the Pop-yeh-yeh 60s era. They stood among the top Malay artistes then and their wide popularity spread across Singapore, Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. If you are familiar with them, please contribute more information.


SOME SLEEVES SPEAK (MALAY):

"Rudyn al-haj ada-lah sa-orang penyanyi berbakat dewasa ini, yang munchul di-tengah kemainan lagu2 pop yang pesat. Dengan kugiran Impian Bateks Rudyn al-haj menyanyi dengan gaya dan suara yang tersendiri. Rudyn berjaya menawan hati peminat pop dengan bentok lagu yang tersendiri.

Rudyn al-haj ada-lah bekas ahli kugiran yang kini sudah tiada lagi, tetapi Rudyn berjaya dalam usaha-nya merakamkan empat buah lagu2 pop pujaan ramai." Sharikat Cosdel Singapura. (Record back sleeve cover). Kalau kenal kugiran ini, harap beri maklumat.

*Term used for a Muslim who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.

9th January 2018

According to an article by NUR DHUHA ESOOF from the Berita Harian Singapore,
Ismail Ahmad, a member of Impian Bateks, passed away this morning aged 70 years. 

He had been hospitalised for the last six days at the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Mr Ismail was the keyboardist for the band. 

I send condolences to his family. May he Rest In Peace.

Image: FORD 1907 Model R/Universal Cars Ltd, Singapore
Translated information about Rudyn: Malay Wikipedia.
Information/Images: radiodiffusion.wordpress.com
Article: compiled by Andy Lim

                                      Video by Nasri Kelan. November, 2012.

Pop Songs About Cars All The Way (Part II)

Rocket 88*The song was put together by Ike Turner and his band. It is a hymn of praise of an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, which had recently been introduced. The song was based on the 47 song Cadillac Boogie and was the second-biggest R&B single of 1951.

Ike Turner's piano intro to the song was later used, nearly note-for-note by Little Richard in Good Golly Miss Molly. Again, when vehicles reigned supreme and the American car symbolises sexual prowess: 'Gals will ride in style, movin’ all along...'

Pontiac Blues*

It was written by blues great Sonny Boy Williamson but when the British blues bands emerged in the 60s, they covered just about every memorable blues tune by every important blues artist.

In this case, an early edition of the Yardbirds with Eric Clapton recorded Pontiac Blues, and joined up with Sonny Boy for a live album recorded in 1963 at England’s Crawdaddy Club. And the lyrics? 'I found out what my baby likes... whole lot of loving, and a straight-eight Pontiac.'

Crocodile Rock:

It is a 1972 composition by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The song was inspired by John's discovery of Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit, Eagle Rock, while the lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock n roll and a relationship with Suzie. It has possibly been influenced by The Diamonds 1957 hit, Little Darlin, while the chorus resembles Pat Boone's Speedy Gonzales.

Don't forget the car, cause it's a Chevvy again, 'Me and Suzie had so much fun, holding hands... Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own, Long nights crying by the record machine, Dreaming of my Chevy and my old blue jeans...

Hitchin' A Ride:

This song spells it all. It's a problem without a car in the US because, as the lyrics explain, 'I got no fare to ride a train, I'm nearly drownin' in the pouring rain, Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride, Gotta get me home to my baby's side... Oh won't somebody stop to help a guy...' Especially if it's a male!

Vanity Fare (image), a UK based band, made this 1969 song a hit in the US, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 and selling a million copies. It didn't do too well in the UK charts though. It was written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.

Steve Farram is right. There are many pop songs about cars. But the road ends here. If you know of favourites with the same theme, do contribute.

Image: http://belovedsong.com/?m=201006&paged=3

*Edited Info: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17579943

Original article: Andy Lim.