Hans 2021 Song Draft: Round Three-Pick One-Driver’s Seat-Sniff ‘N’ The Tears (1978)
Hanspostcard has a song draft challenge. This is my Round Three pick.
I can’t recall the first time I heard Driver’s Seat but, the song entered Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart on July 21, 1979. I was twelve and I was immediately hooked. It was released in 1978 but, took a while to gain any traction. It managed to get to #15 for a couple of weeks, sandwiched between Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) by Robert Palmer and Born To Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez. It was the first track from Sniff ‘n’ The Tears debut album Fickle Heart and was the band’s only hit despite fifteen albums, spanning 1978 to 2020.
The history of this British rock band is a little sketchy. Colin Larkin, the British Editor-in-Chief of The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, stated in the 1997 edition that they “had been gigging in England as early as 1974” but, an Athens Calling interview in 2018 reflects 1972. A Jason Ankeny, writing for All Music, stated that lead singer/songwriter Paul Roberts dissolved the band after not being able to get a record deal. Drummer Luigi Salvoni talked Roberts into re-forming the band with Mick Dyche, Loz Netto, Chris Birkin and Alan Fealdman. Ankeny has the actual musician line-up all wrong in comparison to the official website. There is also no mention of Noel McCalla as backing vocals for the time period. The name of the band apparently came from their manager, as Roberts had hay fever and sniffed a lot.
The band is still active as of 2001 as a quartet, with Roberts & Salvoni still working together. ~Vic
Top of the Pops 1979 (Proper Line-Up)
Official Video
August 2, 2021 at 6:58 PM
I can vaguely remember this. It heard it in years.
August 2, 2021 at 8:17 PM
Awesome pick Vic…this one was on my list
August 2, 2021 at 9:55 PM
THIS was on your list for Hans draft???
August 2, 2021 at 9:57 PM
Yes…this one and You Ain’t Worth The Salt In My Tears…
August 2, 2021 at 10:12 PM
Martin Briley! I haven’t heard that in years.
August 2, 2021 at 10:16 PM
Oh I love that one! Oh I’m writing on an 80s song… I just died in your arms tonight….bla bla bla… I use to hate it but now I quite like it.
August 2, 2021 at 11:17 PM
Cutting Crew! Cool synthesizers. It was played to death at one time but, it’s a good song.
August 2, 2021 at 11:23 PM
that is what I have in my post…. we use to mock it in the bar we played..”Ah I just died in your arms tonight…must have been something I ate” We were so sick of it…this one and “Josie’s on a vacation far away”
August 3, 2021 at 12:29 AM
Heh. The Outfield. An old friend and classmate LOVED them. Played that album cassette to death in her old Mazda.
August 3, 2021 at 12:38 AM
I liked them also until both of those songs were wore out
August 3, 2021 at 1:05 AM
LOL!