My friend Monta from Nashville in a Facebook post last week on "Truckin' Songs", asked what ever happened to them in country music. Wow did it take me back! She is correct, they - for now have disappeared off the country landscape but they have a real history and had a great run within our format. I have given spins to hundreds of them over many years on great country stations around the country, and did so proudly.
Big Alabama Song - Became One Of Thier Biggest Songs
Alan Jackson - One Of His Many #1's
Truckin Songs were not a trend in Country, they were far more. Unlike Pop-Country, Urban Cowboy, the Neo-Traditionalists, or Bro-Country. Those all had a definite "run" as one era sort of gave way to another. Truckin' or drivin' songs were just kind of there for decades, as there always seemed to be room for a couple on the charts no matter the current trend. This went on for about 30 years. Now though, it is out of favor, but if history is our guide, one cool new song, by a new, hot and relevant artist today, would spawn every act in Nashville to have their song too.
Jerry Reed's Classic - This Song Had a Lot To Do With The Movies Success - Still In Pop Culture
Monta also asked peeps to comment and leave their favorite Truckin' Songs in her feed, and there were tons of them. Most of course from the 1970's or so. In the 70's and some on either side, there was a truckin' song phase that spawned a ton of big hits. The C.B. Radio phase of the mid to late 70's fueled by the tremendous success of the movie, Smokey And The Bandit and a few others, gave new life to more trucking songs, like East Bound And Down by Jerry Reed which was from Smokey, and was a number two hit. It has also lived on for years in commercials, and other uses. I still turn it up loud when I hear it come on.
Kathy Mattea - Won Song Of The Year With This Truckin' Song!
Truckin' songs are almost unique to country as far as having chart success. They, at their core honor a sect of our workforce that sometimes can feel unappreciated for their work. And even though they sing about truckin', the sentiment is felt by other hard working, blue collar people in other fields that the work ethic in the song sings about. I love that. In country today we have a tendency to sing about love and relationships, partying, love and loss, and that's fine. But truckin' songs are many times poignant and powerful. That may sound strange to some, but they certainly are to those who live the songs, and not everyone does. And true, they can also be simple escapism. Even though there will always be those who think that these songs are a stereotypical part of country that is silly, twangy and not for them, I am proud of the genre.
Six Days On The Road - One Of The Absolute Anthems Of The Genre
Six Days On The Road, originally by Dave Dudley (1962-Original), has been done by many artists over the decades, including Sawyer Brown (1997), and rocker Steve Earl to name a few. It's one of the real truck anthems that has a life of its own. Many artists have recorded huge truckin' hits, including Ronnie Milsap, Alabama, Alan Jackson, Kathy Mattea, Eddie Rabbitt, Garth, Dierks Bentley and old schoolers too like Merle Haggard, (Theme to a TV Show) Red Sovine, and Del Reeves. Joe Stampley in 1975 may have recorded the ultimate truckin' anthem with Roll On Big Mama. It went number one and was a gigantic hit! I interviewed him as a young broadcaster, and he told me he was enternally thankful for this song as he went on to a long run on the charts after. (I also think it's the only song ever that mentions "Coeur d' Alene) (Idaho)
Joe Stampley - A Smash #1 (They even mic-ed up a Tractor Trailer for the Sound
These songs can also make you feel good. They take us to places that are very personal to those in the trucking industry along with their family and friends, as the life of an over-the-road trucker is far a more than a job, it's a lifestyle with extreme sacrifice. They also are exceedingly visual for those that have never been in a big rig rolling down the road wondering what it would be like. I think everyone on earth has done that in their mind. These songs resonate deeply to those who feel taken for granted, or not as appreciated as they should be. But these are the same people that are always there, keeping us going when times are tough, as we have learned again over the past year or so.
Dierks Bentley - Modern Drivin' Song - His Rig Is A Bus! - Bus Drivers Too, And It Captures The Essence
These anthems are also viewed as patriotic to a degree. I feel they share a whole lot of the same audience that love songs that honor the military, as many of them applaud the commitment to a tough, and important job that doesn't just need to be done - but has to be done. They are plain and simple songs of the working man or woman, and country loves that, as it is about the only genre that takes the time to remember that there are people that should be honored when it is easier to sing about something else.
Garth Got Into The Act Too!
Convoy - Was A Gigantic Record - Crossed Into Pop Culture
Yes, there are silly ones too that found their way to number one. C.W. McCall with Convoy in 1975 comes to mind, but he had the last laugh as it sold a few million, has been used in thousands of ways since, plus a movie was based on it. Cledus Maggard And The Citizens Band went number one with The White Knight in 1976 a silly speed trap song that was a real novelty favorite. (BTW that entire album is hilarious - worth a download if you like silly humor) And of course Red Sovine's, Teddy Bear, which actually has a silly title, but the song is anything but. And is a real old-school favorite.
Forty Hour Week - Alabama - A Truckin' Song Inspired - Working Man's Song
Truckin' Songs helped give birth to the working folks anthems, and that list is endless in country. That is one of the most unique things we do. True, they are not songs of "being in love," or worshiping the new person in your life. But they are love songs of a different sort. A love of their job, a love of the road, their country, a love of their rig, and above all - love to the spouses and loving family that is anxiously awaiting their safe return home after a long week on the road.
Eddie Rabbitt - A Real Favorite - Took Truckin' To The Pop Charts
ROLL ON down the road truckers, Roll ON......But Look Out For Smokey -AND THANK YOU!!!
