Chevy Van (song)

This article is about the song. For the actual van, see Chevrolet van.

"Chevy Van" is a song by American singer and songwriter Sammy Johns, written and sung by Johns. The song was originally released in 1973 by GRC Records on Johns debut album, which was also released in 1973. The instrumental backing was played by Los Angeles-based session musicians from the Wrecking Crew.^[2]

"Chevy Van"
Single by Sammy Johns
from the album Sammy Johns
B-side	"Hang My Head and Moan"
Released	1973; re-release January 1975
Genre	Folk rock, country rock[1]
Length	2:59 (LP) 2:54 (single)
Label	GRC
Songwriter(s)	Sammy Johns
Producer(s)	Jay Senter, Larry Knechtel
Sammy Johns singles chronology
"Early Morning Love" (1974) "Chevy Van" (1973) "Rag Doll" (1975)

In 1975, the song experienced success across the United States and Canada reaching #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, eventually achieving one million sells.^[3] It was played primarily on Top 40 radio stations during the 1970s; later re-recordings were done in a country vein.

It was later re-released in 1975. The song details how an unnamed male driver picks up an unnamed female, who then eventually seduces him into a one-night stand in the back of a Chevrolet Van. At the end he drops her off "in a town that was so small, you could throw a rock from end to end. A dirt road main street, she walked off in bare feet", and laments "It's a shame I won't be passing through again". The song struck a chord with listeners in the sexually liberated 1970s when Johns released it. The popularity of the song is also reflective of the vansploitation films of the period. The original 1973 version is featured in the 1977 film The Van. On May 5, 1975, the song was certified gold by the RIAA.^[4] The song is Johns only hit.

Legacy

In recent years, country artists Eric Church, Waylon Jennings, and Sammy Kershaw and rock artists Joe Pernice and Fu Manchu have each released covers of the song. Unlike Sammy Johns's original chorus that opens "Cause like a princess she was laying there...", the aforementioned artists sing "Cause like a picture she was laying there..."^{[citation needed]}

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1975) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 74 Canada RPM Top Singles[6] 7 New Zealand (RIANZ)[7] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 5 US Cash Box Top 100[9] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1975) Rank Canada [10] 79 New Zealand [11] 10 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 46 US Cash Box [13] 72

See also

• List of one-hit wonders in the United States
• Sleeper hit

References

1. Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Carnal Knowledge: Sexual Revolution". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 91. ISBN 031214704X.
2. Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
3. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 114. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
4. Sammy Johns entries on the RIAA official website.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 159. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1975-05-03. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
7. NZ Top 40 Singles, 2 June 1975
8. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
9. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 3, 1975". Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
10. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
11. The Official New Zealand Music Chart - NZ End Of Year Charts 1975
12. Musicoutfitters.com
13. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1975". Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2018.

External links

• Sammy Johns - Chevy Van on YouTube