Here’s a gem from way back in 1954: Paul Westmoreland and his Band with the country classic, “Hot Rod Rag.”
For hooking us up with this CarTune, we owe thanks to our friend Tom Payne, IMSA and NASCAR team member, sailor, and musician. He found this gem and we grabbed it.
The song, “Hot Rod Rag,” was written and performed by Paul Westmoreland, also known as “Okie Paul,” a Sacramento, California performer and disc jockey. With his flair for slice-of-life compositions, Westmoreland was best known as the author of “Detour,” a hit single for both Spade Cooley and Patti Page. This tune is equally catchy, with some tasty fiddle and steel guitar licks.
The video (assembled by/for Ric Vintage Records Shop of Lyon, France, it seems) features a whole series of familiar still images of period hot rods, along with some footage from a classic hot rod movie. If we remember correctly, the squirrely race/chase scene with dueling roadsters is from Hot Rot Gang, the 1958 potboiler by American International Pictures. All great hot rod fun—please enjoy.
Woo-Hoo! A great Saturday Morning Car Tune is just what I needed on this freezing cold and gloomy Ohio morning. I’m going to go straight to the shop and hug my ’27 T Roadster. Thanks MCG!
Dig dig dig my little hot rod……..Oh yeah!
Thanks MCG, always like “CarTunes”. I’ll admit, it’s a little before my time. Eric Clapton or Yes, it’s not, but one thing for sure, I was born 25 years too late. I would have had a “hot rod” for certain!!!