"Crown Victoria Custom '51" is a song co-written by Jerry Lee Lewis and released as a B side single by Lewis in the U.S. in 1995 on Sire Records. The song was from the Young Blood album released that same year.
"Crown Victoria Custom '51" | |
---|---|
Single by Jerry Lee Lewis | |
from the album 'Young Blood' | |
A-side | "Goosebumps" |
Released | 1995 (1995) |
Genre | Rock |
Length | 3:05 |
Label | Sire Records |
Songwriter(s) | Jerry Lee Lewis James Burton Andy Paley Kenny Lovelace |
Producer(s) | Andy Paley |
"Crown Victoria Custom '51" was recorded for Sire Records in the U.S. and was released as a 7" 45 B side single backed with "Goosebumps" in 1995 as 7-64423.[1] The recording was produced by Andy Paley. The music and lyrics were written by Jerry Lee Lewis, James Burton, Andy Paley, and Kenny Lovelace.[2] The song was published by Twilite Tunes, Warner Chappell, DeCapo Music Inc., James Burton Music, and Ken Lovelace Music. The song originally appeared on the Young Blood album.[3] The recording was included on the 2006 3 disc career retrospective Half a Century of Hits as part of the Legends of American Music series by Time-Life Music.[4]
The theme of the song is a 1951 Ford Victoria V8 coupe, a model based on the 1949 Ford. The Victoria hardtop had a "dual-bullet" grille and heavy chrome bumpers. A new "turn-key" ignition and front suspension featuring independent coil springs were also added. The head room was 36.1 inches. It was a new, post-war streamlined car model which could be customized into a hot rod. The Ford Crown Victoria model was produced in 1955. The opening and closing verse emphasizes the continuing popularity of the 1951 model: "Born in Detroit City back in '51 / She still looks pretty and she's loads of fun / Through thick and thin she's been my only one / It's my Crown Victoria Custom '51".[5]
Jerry Lee Lewis performs a piano solo followed by an electric guitar solo by James Burton.
The recording is featured in the 1999 film A Texas Funeral starring Martin Sheen and Robert Patrick.[6]
The song was favorably reviewed in Rolling Stone: "Whether reclaiming Hank Williams' wry 'I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive' or bragging about his hot rod — or is it his woman? — on 'Crown Victoria Custom '51,' Lewis is in high gear. He revels in the signatures of his fine madness, tossing random glissandi from his piano and shouting lyrics in a voice scuffed yet steel tipped."[7]
"Crown Victoria Custom '51" appeared on the following albums: