THOUGHTS AT LARGE 6-1-06

“Retro Rock Rendezvous”
c. 2006 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(5-06)



Once upon a time, in America… during an age not far removed by years, yet seemingly on the yonder side of a cultural division that moved us beyond the age of innocence… there was a thing called Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Typically, journalists from the ‘baby-boom’ era become sentimental over thoughts of postwar, popular music. When considering the birth of ROCK, it is nearly impossible for us to avoid hyperbole. The revolution was so culturally important that it touched everything else. Fashion, sports, politics, and religion were all affected. Our tempo of living accelerated because of this artistic phenomenon.
In current terms, commerce and modern technology are fracturing the genre. No single, pervasive trend holds dominance. The modern music industry now functions like any other retail operation. Groups are efficiently promoted in the manner of a refrigerator, washing machine, or electric toothbrush. Yet some still remember when the music mattered.
For this writer, a reminder of such bygone days came recently, while shopping on eBay. I located a true gem by accident. As I searched with the keyword ‘Fender’ my hunt yielded more than just guitar listings. Also uncovered were two recordings for sale:

ITEM #4878025230 (Compact Disc)
DRAG BEAT (DFCD 70242-2 / Del-Fi Records)
Winning Bid – 3.49

“DRAG BEAT was originally rush-released in 1963 to cash in on the car-song craze that would eventually be wiped out by Beatlemania. The format here is simple--three-chord instrumentals with loosely automotive titles like "Rum Runner" and "Taco Wagon" are overlaid with drag strip "vroom-vroom" sound effects. What keeps DRAG BEAT interesting is that The De-Fenders, led by crack guitarist Tommy Tedesco, were made up of the creme de la creme of L.A. session musicians. Many of the musicians featured on this album played on countless hits by Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. Guitarists Glen Campbell and David Gates would go on to do considerably bigger things with Bread. Good, twangy fun.”

ITEM # 4878649390 (Vinyl LP)
THE DE-FENDERS PLAY THE BIG ONES (WP 1810 / World Pacific)
Winning Bid – 3.75

“1963 Surf Garage MONO. Front and back of sleeve look VG+, but grades VG- due to seam split along bottom. Vinyl VG to VG+, plays with some noise, not really audible during the rockin’ surf tracks! TRACKS: Wild Weekend, Boss Guitar, The Wayward Wind, Wiggle Wobble, Wild One, Pipeline, Yep, Yakety Sax, All About My Girl, 40 Miles Of Bad Road, Dumplins, Honky Tonk.”

These platters were tantalizing to discover. I daydreamed about Link Wray, Dick Dale, and Davie Allan while reading the item descriptions. They offered a period-perfect view of the pop world as it was before John, Paul, George, and Ringo arrived in America. The arrangements were cheesy and quickly-crafted, but fun. Each track was bright with reverberating guitar riffs. Sassy bursts of saxophone enhanced the party mood. Overdubbed racetrack sounds only served to broaden my grin. Each tune reflected the seductive nature of youthful celebration. But then… there was more. On the flipside of ‘Drag Beat’ (depicted faithfully in the disc booklet) was a list of topical jargon that related to the car-crazed scene. After reading the first definition, I was hooked!

DRAG-RACING GLOSSARY…

DROP THE HAMMER; PUT YOUR FOOT IN IT
Full throttle, wide open acceleration

A TUBE STEAK
A Hot Dog sandwich. Standard fare at Drag track

STUFFER; PUFFER; PUMP; WINDMILL
Supercharger

RATCHET JAW
A constant talker

BENCH RACING
After-race quarterbacking or theorizing on wins or losses

JACK-THE-BEAR
A car ran like ‘Jack The Bear,’ etc.

RUN A TYPEWRITER
A Dodge pushbutton automatic transmission

TACK
Tachometer

BOX
Type of transmission

JUICE; PUNCH
Fuel mixture of Nitro, Methane, Alcohol, Crystal T.N.T. used in hot cars

PUT THE CAN IN
Use of complete fuel mixture

GASSER
Rail dragster, gas coupe or sedan. High performance car that runs on pump gasoline

FUELER
Same as above, but on fuel mixture

CHEATER SLICKS OR SLICKS
Special rear tires with little or no tread. Soft butyl or rubber composition, wide surface area that provides good traction for standing start acceleration runs

LUNCH THE ‘ENGINE,’ ‘TRANS,’ ETC.
Loss of part or assembly referred to due to failure

HAULIN’ MOTHER
Fast or top running vehicle

HIGH COG, LOW COG
Axle-ratio in use by vehicle

SKINS
Tires

WINDING UP; WOUND UP
Maximum rpm’s of engine

TOP END
Engine or car speed at end of quarter mile or maximum speed during a run

OFF THE LINE
Type of start on standing quarter-mile run

FEATHER FOOTED
Easy quarter-mile run on purpose

SAND BAGGER
Poor sport; hides in work area; does a minimum of runs; protests competitors

FINK
Cheater. Won’t go by rules

SEAGULL
Complainer, i. e. a seagull squawks

IN THE CHUTE
Staging area ready for a run

SPOOK
Technique by unnerving competitor by making false starts, etc.

STROKER
Engine that has been bored and stroked

THROUGH THE LIGHTS
Mechanism that measures top speed and elapsed time of a run

MILL
Size in cubic inches or type of engine

MOPARS
Dodge or Chrysler product

HONK
To beat another car

RUN FOR TIN
Trophies in lieu of prize money

These terms from yesteryear came as a welcome surprise. I marveled at the stylized verbiage, and cheerful images. This lesson in hot-rod slang magnified my listening experience many times over. Before long, I found myself wanting to share the vintage recording with neighbors and friends who also revered the golden age of hopped-up cars, and crude musicianship!
My next workday drive past THOMPSON DRAG RACEWAY had a different character, thanks to this collection of vintage tunes. I paused at the yellow billboard on Rock Creek Road with a sense of wonder. For just a second, I could see across the ages. Deuce Coupes and T-Bucket Roadsters filled my imagination. Then, I realized someone was following my truck… in a black, Ford ‘Anglia’ Hot Rod! The moment was a stunning coincidence. I turned up my in-dash stereo, and the De-Fenders rocked in time with this custom, V-8 chariot. Sunshine tickled the pavement, and I breathed a silent oath as the recording ended:
“LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!”

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