Brett Barrow Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) The poll from the other day about the hot rod songs got me thinking - What was the first "pop" song written about cars? I mentioned Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" from 1951, which was recorded by Sam Phillips before he started Sun Records and I've heard several sources claim that this song and the others from that recording session were the original Rock 'n Roll songs. http://youtu.be/Gbfnh1oVTk0 Then there's legendary bluesman Robert Johnson's "Terraplane Blues" from 1936, obviously the Terraplane in the song is a metaphor for Johnson's old lady, so it really isn't about cars, exactly... http://youtu.be/dloPrGI0EuY So what is the orginal song about cars? Can anybody come up with anything older than these 2? How do you embed YouTube videos here? I thought there was a button? Edited September 6, 2014 by Brett Barrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillyb1 Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 "In My Merry Oldsmobile" is from 1905. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Uh, neither of those songs are even close. Try "In My Merry Oldsmobile", written in 1905 by Gus Edwards and Vincent Bryan. Youtube audio/video from a very old recording, quite possibly a cylinder as opposed to a disc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7QnPtkn8q0#t=24 Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Off the top of my head I came to the same conclusion, even though I'm far from certain there weren't others from prior years (although we're certainly getting back there...). In their old-fashioned, charming way the lyrics really are surprisingly "racy", too! In My Merry Oldsmobile By Gus Edwards and Vincent Bryan First published in 1905 Young Johnny Steele has an Oldsmobile He loves his dear little girl She is the queen of his gas machine She has his heart in a whirl Now when they go for a spin, you know, She tries to learn the auto, so He lets her steer, while he gets her ear And whispers soft and low... They love to "spark" in the dark old park As they go flying along She says she knows why the motor goes The "sparker" is awfully strong Each day they "spoon" to the engine's tune Their honeymoon will happen soon He'll win Lucille with his Oldsmobile And then he'll fondly croon... Chorus Come away with me, Lucille In my merry Oldsmobile Down the road of life we'll fly Automobubbling, you and I To the church we'll swiftly steal Then our wedding bells will peal You can go as far as you like with me In my merry Oldsmobile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) I would have to think the Olds song is surely the first "hit" popular song about cars. Which reminds me how sad I still think it is that GM thought apparently nothing about having under its corporate umbrella the OLDEST surviving American car brand (as well as one of the oldest in the WORLD) established in 1897. Oldsmobile had the first assembly line, and established Detroit as the "Motor City". But of course, why bother to retain a link to the founding of America's automobile industry anyway? People who know and care about old stuff are useless codgers, right? Mercedes makes a big deal out of being a car company with ancient roots (Benz's 1886 vehicle) in the automobile biz, but GM couldn't care less about its history, or so it would seem. Also interesting, as Oldsmobile used the melody from the 1905 song in its '50s commercials and promotional material, like this '51 factory tour. Edited September 6, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Barrow Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 I was sure that songs about cars were as old as cars themselves, I just didn't know any that old. Any others you guys can think of prior to the rock n roll era? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 1901 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 How 'bout Woody Guthrie? Considerably pre-rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) A little earlier... okay, yea I know the song dates back to the 1940s Edited September 6, 2014 by Tom Geiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfink Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Not the first, but one of the best! http://youtu.be/Ldyx3KHOFXw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 A little earlier... okay, yea I know the song dates back to the 1940s Not exactly a car, is it? Plus, the song only dates to 1943. I'm from Oklahoma and I know this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 1913 "Get out and get under (and fix up his automobile)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYbxobpp2pE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 1916 "The little old Ford rambled right along" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aszNe8xCSXI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 1907 "I Think I Oughtn't Auto Anymore" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 1928 "Henry's made a lady out of Lizzie" (About the new model "A") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmXU8aywPU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) 1901 So we're at 1901. Only 15 years to go, assuming that Benz was the first to offer an automobile to the buying public (circa 1886), versus prototypes like Cugnot's steam wagon (1769) or Gustave Trouvé's electric 3-wheeler shown at the Paris Exposition of 1881. Let the Internet search madness begin! Edited September 6, 2014 by Bernard Kron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, is considered by historians as the first true Rock and Roll song. I don't know if Ike Turner had much to do with the writing of the song or not. He was mainly playing keyboards as a member of Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats. I could be wrong on that. By the way. I like the song. Interesting that one of the first big hits about automobiles, is In My Merry Oldsmobile. The first Rock and Roll song, Rocket 88. Again about an Oldsmobile. And where is Oldsmobile today? :^( Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Barrow Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, is considered by historians as the first true Rock and Roll song. I don't know if Ike Turner had much to do with the writing of the song or not. He was mainly playing keyboards as a member of Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats. I could be wrong on that. By the way. I like the song. Interesting that one of the first big hits about automobiles, is In My Merry Oldsmobile. The first Rock and Roll song, Rocket 88. Again about an Oldsmobile. And where is Oldsmobile today? :^( Scott "Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats" existed in name only on the label for Rocket 88 and one other song he sang lead on. The band was in reality Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm. Brenston played saxophone in the band. He wrote the song, changing the lyrics from his earlier "Cadilliac Boogie", which I don't believe was ever recorded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 "In My Merry Oldsmobile" is from 1905. That gets my vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 A little earlier... okay, yea I know the song dates back to the 1940s Of course, a Surrey is a horse-drawn vehicle. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToyLvr Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 My Mother the Car.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Bacon Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 "I bought a horseless carriage for my baby", 1899, by Robert Allen Cole, according to Amazon... ;-P bestest, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 The Automobile Spin Sheet Music Written by Grace Walls Linn Published 1899 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Back, back we go... Perhaps Karl Benz wrote a song... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Back, back we go... Perhaps Karl Benz wrote a song... Looks like 1899 is as old as it gets... http://www.authentichistory.com/1898-1913/1-industrialization/5-automobile/3-music/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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