Appropriate audio noises and sound effects have long been created for all kinds of entertainment
and they also enhanced a slew of pop and rock hits over the years. Effects were sometimes created
in the studio, often using primitive methods. Songwriters/producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller came up
with the idea of banging two blocks of wood together to sound like gunshots for the track SHE WANTS TO ROCK
by The Flairs featuring Richard Berry (who wrote the song), issued on Flair in ’53.
Jerry & Mike often used other noises to illustrate and accompany the fun songs they recorded with
The Robins and The Coasters while certain other producers brazenly used existing sound effects
records to enhance their 45’s!
During his early days as an engineer at Atlantic, Tom Dowd created the sound effect of splashing water
for the opening of Bobby Darin’s 1958 hit SPLISH SPLASH by swiveling his hand in a cup of water.
In later years, sound effects became more sophisticated with actual recordings of tweeting birds,
ocean waves and thunderstorms integrated to create the right atmosphere to accompany romantic ballads.
When it came to their landmark “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, the Beatles
along with producer George Martin were particularly adventurous in their use of a range of effects
of animals, crowd noises and even a swirling fairground organ.
One of my collecting obsessions was to make lists of pop and rock 45’s which utilized sound effects
such as the rollercoaster sounds in PALISADES PARK by Freddy Cannon,
the clinking milk bottles in UNE NUIT A PARIS by 10cc or the shattering glass in
WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT by Tom Jones.
I thought that from time to time, I’d share some of my favorites
with you beginning this time with car-related records.
Remember, these are just a few examples.
Included are a handful of YouTube audio links of the actual records.
For starters, here are a group of examples of the use of the sound of gas-driven cars starting up:
AUTOBAHN
by Kraftwerk
(Vertigo: 1974)
BUCKET ‘T’
by Jan & Dean
(Liberty: 1964)
https://youtu.be/GUPPz1he3sQ ,
DRIVING IN MY CAR
by Madness
(UK Stiff: 1982)
GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR
by Billy Ocean
(Jive: 1988)
MERCEDES BOY
by Pebbles
(MCA: 1988)
SHE DRIVES ME WILD
by Michael Jackson
(Epic: 1991).
Among my most-played instrumentals was
STICK SHIFT by The Duals
(Star Revue/Sue: 1961)
which, in addition to its fast take-off effect,
also contains a cool sound of screeching tires.
I also single out HOT ROD
by Lou Berry & The Bel Raves
(Dreem: 1959)
because, in addition to its start up, revving up and squealing tires,
it ended with an ultimate crash effect.
Three other vintage singles which included audio effects of disastrous collisions were :
DEAD MAN’S CURVE
by Jan & Dean
(Liberty: 1964)
the tasteless I WANT MY BABY BACK
by Jimmy Cross
(Tollie: 1964)
and the novelty 45: TRANSFUSION
by Nervous Norvus
(Dot: 1956) https://youtu.be/HbhvZ2y1V80.
In addition, the reggae track
AL CAPONE
by Prince Buster
(UK Blue Beat: 1965)
opened not only with a car crash
but also gunfire and burning rubber!
Cars revving up were also memorably prominent in:
DRAG CITY
by Jan & Dean
(Liberty: 1964) https://youtu.be/c2GwDGjiV4k
and 409
by The Beach Boys
(Capitol: 1962).
Alongside those, audio inserts of autos in motion were also included in
BABY DRIVER
by Simon & Garfunkel
(Columbia: 1970)
I GOTTA DRIVE
by Jan & Dean
(Liberty: 1963)
R.P.M.
by The Four Speeds
(Challenge: 1963)
TRAVELLING WITHOUT MOVING
by Jamiroquai
(Work: 1997).
There were also quite a number of records that made use of the sound of car horns, among them
APEMAN
by The Kinks
(Reprise: 1971)
the previously mentioned
AUTOBAHN
by Kraftwerk
(Vertigo: 1974),
the comical BEEP BEEP
by The Playmates
(Roulette: 1958)
COUNTRY HONK
by The Rolling Stones
on their ‘Let It Bleed’ album
(London: 1969)
HOT ROD LINCOLN
by Charlie Ryan & The Livingston Bros.
(Souvenir: 1955)
NO PARKING (On The Dance Floor)
by Midnight Star
(Solar: 1984)
SHE DRIVES ME WILD
by Michael Jackson
(Epic: 1991)
and TIJUANA TAXI
by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
(A&M: 1965)
My absolute favorite was one of Gamble & Huff’s early successes
EXPRESSWAY (TO YOUR HEART)
by Soul Survivors
(Crimson: 1967)
During the Lovin’ Spoonful’s million-seller
SUMMER IN THE CITY
on Kama Sutra in’66
You could hear not only car horns but also a pneumatic drill and on
THE MESSAGE
by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
(Sugar Hill: 1982)
a car horn was followed by a police siren!
Finally, a group of 45’s which also contained police sirens:
THE BALLAD OF BONNIE AND CLYDE
by Georgie Fame
(Epic: 1968),
BLOCKBUSTER
by The Sweet
(Bell: 1973),
CHRISTMAS IN JAIL
by The Youngsters
(Empire: 1956),
D.O.A.
by Bloodrock
(Capitol: 1972)
FLASHIN’ RED
(Clingman/Armstrong/Wheeler)
by The Esquires
(Durco: 1964)
INDIANA WANTS ME
by R. Dean Taylor
(Rare Earth: 1970)
In an earlier “Door To Yesterday” blog (Vol.3, No.23),
you can find a broader collection of Car Songs with and without sound effects.
See you on the road!
Alan Warner
As in all my postings,
the recordings listed above are personal choices & recommendations
and are in no way intended as definitive collections of the genre.
© Alan Warner, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material
without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Alan Warner
with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.