Johnny Burnette - 1960 - You're Sixteen [originally posted on 6/6/2011]

I grew up wanting to drive a semi truck, a big rig.  For ten years I drove a rig up and down the mountains, the desert, the high plains, most of the big cities and manufacturing centers of this country, from sea to shining fuckin' red flashing lights. Saw the same loading docks, interstates, truck stops, rest stops, hashers, hikers, dock apes, smokies, trying to make time and a dollar. The only company you’re gonna have is a radio and a CB.

Anyhoo, I’ve had reelers, 8-tracks, cassettes and now the CD player- a bridge to the outside world. Having grown up listening to 50s rock and roll, driving down the road, I needed these old friends. They rode along with me singing their tunes about high school days, dreaming, girls, cars. Of course, the “Wolfman” rode with me at night!

Driving the west and south I would listen to Cow-Wow music. I heard about heart breaks, prison, cheatin',

pick-up trucks and dogs! Being there weren't really big speakers and amplifiers in them days, a friend built my own sound system. We modified two sets of Sony stereo speakers- they had tweeters. We put these four in the cab of my COE Peterbilt, later a Freightliner. The amp had been cannibalized out of an electric guitar. When the stereo was turned on, the amp and speakers were on a separate volume switch. ”Lighting” the speakers off there was a loud hum, which meant you best turn it down if you didn’t want to up your heartbeat and blow your eardrums. This was my system! This homegrown system could produce many decibels, as the stereo was in competition with a 400 HP diesel, which was nearly in the cab (COE means 'Cab Over Engine').

With windows and vents open, I would need a “youler” to hear the Del Vikings, The Impalas... I will argue these early “rockers” were the BEST EVER! Roy Orbison, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Burnette, Richie Valens, Elvis, Buddy Holly.

My son Joe built me what he calls a system- huge speaker and box, amplifier, heavy duty alternator. I had put the speaker in the rear of my Samurai or bed of the jacked-up Blazer. I would pull up beside a “rap listener” at a stoplight, with ”In a Gadda Da Vida” or the “Marine Corps Hymn” blaring. They usually get a confused look on their face! I would cruz!

Joe (my son) got a ticket in Minneapolis. They called it “excessive noise”! The ticket was $128.

Remember surf music? And then there was Motown. And what was called the English Invasion. Psychedelic rock!I will get to them later. They will need more than a page. The Wolfman would Say Rock On!!! Share and Enjoy...