“Hot Rod Race” is a Western swing song about an automobile race out of San Pedro, California, between a Ford and a Mercury. Released in November 1950, it broke the ground for a series of hot rod songs recorded for the car culture of the 1950s and 60s. With its hard driving boogie woogie beat, it is sometimes named one of the first rock and roll songs. Written by George Wilson, it became a major hit for Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys (Gilt-Edge 5021), staying on the charts for seven weeks, peaking at number five in 1951. Trying to repeat his success, Shibley recorded at least four follow-up songs. (More from Wikipedia)
The opening verse in “Hot Rod Lincoln” makes it sound as though there was even more to the story: “Have you heard this story of the Hot Rod Race / When Fords and Lincolns was settin’ the pace / That story is true, I’m here to say / I was drivin’ that Model A.” And actually there was – “Hot Rod Lincoln” is an answer to a song dating from the year of my birth: “Hot Rod Race”, a Western swing hit song from 1951 by Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys.
The original song “Hot Rod Race” is largely forgotten today, but “Hot Rod Lincoln” has shown up in all kinds of places over the years. The song was written and first recorded in 1955 by Charlie Ryan (who had also recorded a version of “Hot Rod Race”); he actually owned a “hot rod Lincoln” as described in the song: a shortened 1948 Lincoln chassis with a 12-cylinder engine that had the body of a 1930 Model A Ford.
According to Wikipedia: “‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ and ‘Hot Rod Race’ are defining anthems of the hot rod community.”
(December 2014)
