Crash, wreck, and disaster songs have a long history, covering trains, planes, automobiles, ships, motorcycles, and trucks. There are probably some wagon, buggy, and maybe even bicycle wreck songs, but I haven't come across them.
Audio only:
Another audio only (no relation); Joan Baez also recorded this song, but I cannot find a live clip:
Some more:
Trashed by Black Sabbath
Don't Crash the Ambulance by Mark Knopfler
Live for Me by Blue Öyster Cult
Hot Rod Lincoln by Commander Cody
Detroit, Rock City by KISS
James Dean by Eagles
Broke Down South of Dallas by Junior Brown
Ridin' With the Driver by Motörhead
Casey Jones by Grateful Dead
Posted by: Red State Kulander | August 28, 2022 at 05:03 PM
Thanks, Red State. Good suggestions, but there is no crash in Hot Rod Lincoln:
I looked in my mirror; a red light was blinkin'
The cops was after my Hot Rod Lincoln!
They arrested me and they put me in jail.
And called my pappy to throw my bail.
And he said, "Son, you're gonna' drive me to drinkin'
If you don't stop drivin' that Hot... Rod... Lincoln!"
Posted by: Steve L. | August 28, 2022 at 05:14 PM
There was no crash in Hot Rod Lincoln?
Geez, wrong again.
Took a corner; sideswiped a truck,
Crossed my fingers just for luck.
Posted by: anon | August 28, 2022 at 08:01 PM
Last Kiss by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers; subsequently covered by Pearl Jam
Posted by: Pete Wentz | August 29, 2022 at 11:35 AM
I only thing I missed: Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen sang it.
At the Bottom of Everything by Bright Eyes
Dreaming While You Sleep by Genesis
Impact is Imminent by Exodus (heard it live)
Jerry Was a Race Car Driver by Primus (heard it live)
Fire and Rain by James Taylor (heard it live with my grandma)
Low Light by Pearl Jam (heard it live)
Spellbound by AC/DC (never played)
Five-O Ford by the Reverend Horton Heat (stage-dived to it)
Posted by: Red State Kulander | August 29, 2022 at 03:04 PM
Commander Cody's "Hot Rod Lincoln" was a cover of Charlie Ryan's 1955 original. I often heard the Commander and the Airmen play it at various bars on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley in the early '70s. I believe the Commander (George Frayne) kept playing it at his performances almost to the end. He passed away last September at 77.
Although there is no wreck in "Hot Rod Lincoln," I might do a post one of these days on Commander Cody and his band mates. Andy Stein, for example, went on to play with Garrison Keilor on "A Prairie Home Companion." And Bill Kirchen had a solo career. Or maybe I'll spread them around.
Watch this space for future developments.
Posted by: Steve L. | August 29, 2022 at 03:28 PM
The lyric quoted above is at 1:36.
youtube[dot]com/watch?v=868DSi85odQ
"Took a corner; sideswiped a truck,
Crossed my fingers just for luck."
Yet, Lubet doubles down:
"[T]here is no wreck in "Hot Rod Lincoln"
Perhaps Prof Lubet has down an analysis, based on the wealth of knowledge acquired during his youth in Berkeley watching Commander Cody, that leads him to this conclusion that "side swiping a truck" does not involve a wreck.
Badly damaged would suffice, in the world of reality. And, in the world of reality, one wouldn't have quibbled with RSK above about his citation, in a post about "Crash, wreck, and disaster songs [that] have a long history, covering trains, planes, automobiles, ships, motorcycles, and truck."
Side swiping a truck is a crash in the real world.
If so, enlighten us, please, Prof Lubet.
YOu seem to have invited the argument with RSK.
Posted by: anon | August 29, 2022 at 03:51 PM
I'm watchin' SL! ;-)
Posted by: Red State Kulander | August 29, 2022 at 05:02 PM