Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Category: Truck Driving Songs

"Prayer of a Truck Driver's Son"
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King Truck Driver Bluegrass 45

Fans of both bluegrass and truck-driving country music take note:  “Prayer of a Truck Driver’s Son” was recorded by The Stanley Brothers In Cincinnati’s King Studios on September 20, 1965.  King issued the song as a B-side for “Never Again” in July, 1966. Gary B. Reid writes in The Music of The Stanley

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"Haulin' Freight"
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“Haulin’ Freight”: 1959 (not 1951)

An Ebay sales listing from January, 2016 validates my hunch that truck driving classic “Haulin’ Freight” by Bob Newman was recorded twice — first, in 1951, and then again in 1959 with some of the rough “barrelhouse” edges smoothed out via overdubs.  The more contemporary version would be issued again

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"At the Truck Stop"
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Buddy Allen Rick’s Classic Truck Driving 45

Love the deep twang of the Fender Telecaster that opens and closes “At the Truck Stop” — a prime ingredient in achieving that classic truck driving sound: “At the Truck Stop” Buddy Allen Rick (1972?) Music Blogs I’d Like to Read would surely include anything written by Tom Avazian, gifted

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"Keep Them Big Wheels Hummin'"
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David Allan Coe’s Trucker Tune

David Allan Coe, intriguingly, merits four full paragraphs in Neil A. Hamilton‘s history of The 1970s — here are two of them: “Born in Ohio, Coe spent part of his youth in reform school and, in the 1960s, served time in the Ohio State Penitentiary.  Here was a man to whom

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"When I Come Driving Through"
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Willis Brothers: Giants of Diesel

When you think of truck-driving country classics, the names of four artists should come readily to mind:  Dave Dudley, Red Sovine, Red Simpson … and The Willis Brothers!  Brotherly harmonies + offbeat humor + trucker tales = a winning sound and track record. “Give Me Forty Acres (To Turn This

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"Big Tennessee"
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“Big Tennessee”: Ol’ Truckin’ Tex

Remember “Tulsa Trot” by Tex Williams and his top-notch western swing ensemble?  Zero to 180 just discovered that ol’ Tex had a #30 country hit in 1965 with a truck driving tune “Big Tennessee” that was penned by Kenny (‘Round Mound of Sound’) Price and released on Kentucky indie label,

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"Tonight My Baby's Coming Home"
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Top 10 Trucker Tune from ’71

Zero to 180’s previous piece about a surprisingly decent truck driving song by The Archies – “Truck Driver” – makes a pretty persuasive case for 1968 being pop’s peak for the dieselbilly artform.  1971 might be no match for 1968, however, yesterday’s featured song – “I’ve Come Awful Close” –

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"I've Come Awful Close"
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Diesel + Diction = Radio Hit

One of Zero to 180’s earliest pieces from 2013 makes light of Hank Thompson‘s famously well-enunciated vocals, as featured on “Squaws Along the Yukon” – a Capitol A-side from 1958.  Hank, whose recording career spanned five decades, would wax a classic piece of toe-tapping truck-driving country in 1971 with “I’ve

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"Hey Truckers"
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“Hey Truckers”: Cover Your Ears

Thanks to Bill Hanke, I’ve been privileged to witness several live performances by a  Canadian band who – along with Los Straitjackets – have brought blazing guitar instrumentals into the 21st century.  Among musicians-in-the-know, word has gotten out about this musical conflagration, as evidenced by their collaborations with Neko Case,

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"The Flying Saucer Man and the Truck Driver"
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Red Simpson/David Bowie Tribute

Shame on Zero to 180 for not celebrating Red Simpson‘s musical legacy as a pioneer of the “Bakersfield Sound” until now – after his spirit has already left this mortal plane. I’m afraid Simpson’s passing might have gotten overlooked in all the media attention given to the unexpected loss of

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