Driver's Seat - Sniff 'n' the Tears

Groovy!

"Driver's Seat" is a 1978 song by the British band Sniff 'n' the Tears that appears on their debut album, Fickle Heart. The band is considered a one-hit wonder, and "Driver's Seat" was that hit.

Sniff 'n' the Tears are led by singer/songwriter Paul Roberts, the band's sole constant member. Roberts, a noted painter, is also responsible for painting all of the band's album covers.

The genesis of the song dates back to 1973 and a demo tape recorded for a French record label by singer/guitarist Paul Roberts for the band Ashes of Moon. However, that band broke up and, at the suggestion of drummer Luigi Salvoni, Roberts reformed it as Sniff 'n' the Tears with guitarists Laurence "Loz" Netto and Mick Dyche and bassist Nick South. They shopped the demo tape and signed with the small Chiswick label in 1977. One of the key decisions made during the recording of "Driver's Seat" was to start the song with Roberts' acoustic guitar and drums and gradually fade in other instruments.

According to Paul Roberts, "Driver's Seat" isn't about driving, but rather "fragmented, conflicting thoughts and emotions that might follow the break-up of a relationship".

"Driver's Seat", a hit in many countries including #15 on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts in the fall of 1979, and reached the top 10 in The Netherlands in November 1980. The exception was the UK itself where a problem with EMI's pressing plant meant that the single was not available following the band's appearance on Top of the Pops and it peaked just outside the Top 40. It reappeared at #1 on the Dutch Top 40 eleven years later as a result of use of the song in a Pioneer commercial.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• driver's
• seat
• sniff
• the
• tears
• groovy
• 70s
• 70's
• '70s
• 80s
• 80's
• '80s
• pop
• dance
• one
• hit
• wonder
• rock music
• classic rock
• pop music
• glam rock
• classics

[revenstock]

It's amazing how we are attracted to songs which we ourselves can put into context. This was a flash in the pan but i remember it so well in a great time of my life ,junior in high school ,dating a cheerleader,my first car, bonfire parties. GREAT MEMORIES now watching mine build theirs

[Elconquistador69too]

@revenstock .... AWESOME! : )

[jvflexx]

music was just better in the 70's & 80's...PERIOD!

[Elconquistador69too]

@jvflexx AGREED!

[BradMichaelElmore]

@revenstock Right on man, wonderful sentiment. So true. Amazing how experience elevates ephemeral music into something so bittersweet and beautiful.

[SSGLew]

1983 - Racing a Porsche with my '74 Electra 225 down Mission Highway in San Diego. I drifted onto I-5 and beat him. Brakes good, tires fair, and this song was blasting out the radio while doing 145 mph. Good times, and they don't write them like this anymore.

[thebrothersinstep]

ok i am too young to have experienced a mid to late 60's muscle car. wish now that i had a 1969 corvette L88 black on black, that'll come in due time......am i the only one introduced to this song while watching boogie nights, the penultimate scene when philip t hall rolls in and the colonel cowties to him?? its the best scene of the movie, the song is soooooooooooo perfect

[whatever4354]

Early surfers of the new wave!

[JALtheImpaler]

Yes, I bought the single of Driver's sit. At that time, a single was a 45 rpm record with usually 1 song on each side of the disc.

I recommend the song "The Game's Up" if you like this song.

This song will forever be a hit in my mind.

[revenstock]

@beekr123 mine was a piece of shit 76 maverick,but it got the job done.Amazing how many chicks dig a cool cat in a litter box

[beekr123]

ok so heres my car tale this I can remember this tune cranked and the windows down on my 66 chev biscayne light metalic blue with monte carlo high back buckets and a custom made console. I bouth it with the following included 327 with a muncie rock-crusher 4 gear with a limited slip diff. Sadly it met a horrible fate that put me in intensive care after being air lifted off of the 401 in toronto.dropped a ball joint at 122 mph.

[goboats]

ok since were on great stories lol. I recall this song when i was in the back seat of a 69 roadrunner and we passed a 69 coronet doing 145mph ...UP HILL ..IN Town at @ 3 am .. a girl screams slow down! but the driver just turns up the volume and presses the peddle harder to the floor ..wow lucky to be here after some night like that ..a few friends werent so and are not here today ..drivers seat oyyya love it ,always will (born in the 50s)

[tyme4mike]

@oldthrash83 I had more than one, I kid you not. My favourite was my '66 Pontiac Beaumont Sport Deluxe customized with a 327 Chev small block(yes, A 327 CHEV SMALL BLOCK, high performance limited slip differential, procharged, turbo 400 tranny and 3200 shiftkit, metallic baby blue, crushed midnight blue velour interior, 2 door hardtop. Also had a '69 Plymouth Roadrunner with the 426 Hemi, a holley six-pack, 3 gears forward no clutch, hit 203 mph on the local airstrip.

[soulsur5er]

Reminds me when we used to go down the road in our suped up 300 HP '64 Ford Mustang.

Back then, you could do the back country roads where the cops didnt go. ;)