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Sniff ’n’ the Tears — Driver's Seat
Album: Best Of Sniff 'n The Tears
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3387









Released: 1978
Length: 3:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Doing all right
A little jiving on a Saturday night
And come what may
Gonna dance the day away

Jenny was sweet
She always smiled for the people she meet
On trouble and strife
She had another way of looking at life

The news is blue (The news is blue)
Has it's own way to get to you
What can I do? (What can I do?)
When I remember my time with you

Pick up your feet
Got to move to the trick of the beat
There is no elite
Just take your place in the driver's seat

Driver's seat, driver's seat, yeah

Doing all right
A little jiving on a Saturday night
And come what may
Gonna dance the day away

Driver's seat, driver's seat, yeah

Jenny was sweet
There is no elite
Pick up your feet, pick up, pick up
Pick up your feet, gonna dance the day away

Driver's seat, driver's seat, yeah
Driver's seat, driver's seat, yeah

Driver's seat
Comments (421)add comment
Turn it up
Posted 3 months ago by dlirious    [ Reply ]
Great call back on this one! Fun little catchy tune from that era. Thanks!
Posted 9 months ago by reguru2112    [ Reply ]
Like @johkir I remember the exact location I first heard this song because I thought it was so great. A classic RNR song with a great beat and all the elements of a hit! Still a favorite.
Posted 10 months ago by jimlandwehr2582    [ Reply ]
Total flashback to high school days and listening to WDHA in North Jersey. Great tune, great memories.
Posted 1 year ago by costoonces    [ Reply ]
 dandueck07 wrote:
Driving across Canada from Vernon, BC to Brantford, Ontario with my fiancee in 1981 in our 1980 Mazda RX7, this song was part of our cassette diet.  The volume would go way up, the gas pedal would go way down, and the new recruits from the RCMP around Yorkton, Saskatchewan got to up their speeding ticket tallies.  
Still married to the same gorgeous woman, both still love this song, and . . . still haven't paid those speeding tickets.


Live 150km from Yorkton this makes me laugh 
Posted 1 year ago by sheldon_uss    [ Reply ]
My kids grew up on Mop and Smiff.......about the same era iirc
apropos of nothing.
Posted 1 year ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Driving across Canada from Vernon, BC to Brantford, Ontario with my fiancee in 1981 in our 1980 Mazda RX7, this song was part of our cassette diet.  The volume would go way up, the gas pedal would go way down, and the new recruits from the RCMP around Yorkton, Saskatchewan got to up their speeding ticket tallies.  
Still married to the same gorgeous woman, both still love this song, and . . . still haven't paid those speeding tickets.
Posted 1 year ago by dandueck07    [ Reply ]
about to hit the driver's seat. Time to go home
Posted 1 year ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
The song's rhythm and chords feel like they are pasted together by a corporation from "All Along the Watchtower" and some Dire Straits song....
Posted 1 year ago by NelsonBlack    [ Reply ]
Sometimes a band just does one perfect song.
Posted 1 year ago by fgreene    [ Reply ]
Best of? Did they have more than one hit?
Posted 1 year ago by jjbchansen159    [ Reply ]
Part of the soundtrack from my youth! Living in a small town in New Mexico with nothing to do but drive around on a Saturday night. The video to this song is awesome. I see something new every time I watch it. I am fascinated with it. 
Posted 1 year ago by angicure691    [ Reply ]
Still a great Top 10 hit after so many years!!
Posted 1 year ago by Montreal_Mort    [ Reply ]
 roadie wrote:

I was a Top 40 DJ and worked at stations that burned this song to a crisp.  Such a perfect radio record.  After all these years, it holds up. 



Old "album rock" DJ here.  This one's as good as the first time I dropped the needle on it.
Posted 1 year ago by fgreene    [ Reply ]
one hit wonder, they were
Posted 1 year ago by acferrad    [ Reply ]
Yeah! Sniffin' the Seat!
Posted 1 year ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 dtown40 wrote:

If this doesn't take you to a memory, I'm not sure what will. Thanks RP.



For sure it did ;)
Posted 2 years ago by Dapps    [ Reply ]
Sounds just as good today as it it did back then - and I still love it just as much as I did back then - sure have some lovely memories of that time.

Thanks Bill
Posted 2 years ago by Dapps    [ Reply ]
Saturday night, home and cooking.  A few drinks... this comes on.. I can't smile big enough, nor can my husband.  Memories...  Then Cracker afterwards doing Low.. RP forever....
Posted 2 years ago by waterwench21    [ Reply ]
I don’t know what it is about this song but it’s had me hooked ever since I first heard it all those years ago. I often have it on loop when driving fast on back roads (safely, I’m too old for stupidity) and on my way to track days. Overall, a fabulous driving song, so appropriate with the lyrics.
Posted 2 years ago by Ian_and_Annie    [ Reply ]
Bill, the Amazon MP3 link doesn't work for this song.  And I'd say that most of the time the links haven't worked for me.  Just wanted to let you know because I would like RP to get credit when I buy music that I hear on your site.
Posted 2 years ago by brosen    [ Reply ]
 xray38 wrote:

Best car driving song ever.  How could it not be?




Have you forgotten about Radar Love? 
Posted 2 years ago by SoundThinker    [ Reply ]
Best car driving song ever.  How could it not be?
Posted 2 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
Good Tune!  Thanx RP!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
I was a Top 40 DJ and worked at stations that burned this song to a crisp.  Such a perfect radio record.  After all these years, it holds up. 
Posted 2 years ago by roadie    [ Reply ]
 surfrider4life wrote:
Should I be ashamed to say that I like this one?


Nah, it's a good song.
Posted 2 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
The production of this song sound far more recent than 1978.  More like 1988.  And I mean that as a compliment. 
Posted 2 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
IMO, maybe the best pop song ever !
Posted 2 years ago by finoufk    [ Reply ]
an essential song
Posted 2 years ago by Jeffrey_Mishik    [ Reply ]
This is my standard one hit wonder. Love it.
Posted 2 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
All time classic 👍
Posted 2 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by Luumu    [ Reply ]
Not to be confused with Sniff 'n' the Seat -- "Driver's Pants Tears".
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Good Tune!




I Agree!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 sid1950 wrote:

This was a staple at my parties in the late '70s! Guaranteed to get the feet moving.

'Yeaah!"

Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Good Tune!
Posted 3 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 ziakut wrote:

"The Best of?"


Lol, yeah. What else was there?
Posted 3 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
 AmberStClaire wrote:


Saw these guys in London at The Venue mostly ; in the early 80s and they were a great band live; there used to be quite a crowd of us who would go, in American cars lol. After the band there was a great dj til around 3am and we m/f mix danced our arses off. What a total blast that all was. 



The Venue - I went there, too - not often enough! Good memories. pxd
Posted 3 years ago by pxd    [ Reply ]
My 1980 Mazda RX7 always seemed to have a boost in horsepower when I played this song.  My heavy foot had nothing to do with it!
Posted 3 years ago by dandueck07    [ Reply ]
Should I be ashamed to say that I like this one?
Posted 3 years ago by surfrider4life    [ Reply ]
Saw them in Baton Rouge ~1981 touring with Kansas.  They were the worst group in concert that I ever witnessed.
Posted 4 years ago by jalcorn    [ Reply ]
I was 13 when this song first hit my ears. I was neither, metaphorically or literally, in the Driver's Seat..of anything.
Posted 4 years ago by Hodgie    [ Reply ]
 neptunejeff wrote:
 One of the signature songs from the "new wave" sound
of the late 70s. Heavy airplay  in the day but still sounds great...
 

Saw these guys in London at The Venue mostly ; in the early 80s and they were a great band live; there used to be quite a crowd of us who would go, in American cars lol. After the band there was a great dj til around 3am and we m/f mix danced our arses off. What a total blast that all was. 
Posted 4 years ago by AmberStClaire    [ Reply ]
 One of the signature songs from the "new wave" sound
of the late 70s. Heavy airplay  in the day but still sounds great...
Posted 4 years ago by neptunejeff    [ Reply ]
 johkir wrote:
This is one of those songs that has an indelible memory etched in my brain from the first listen.  Lake Tahoe, 14 years old, laying on the beach with my transistor radio, antenna all the way up to get the one rock station from Reno(?).  Surrounded by the beauty that is Lake Tahoe, and the beauties in their bikini's, nodding my head to this new song, and that beat!
 

The best type of comment.
Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
If this doesn't take you to a memory, I'm not sure what will. Thanks RP.
Posted 4 years ago by dtown40    [ Reply ]
I got a speeding ticket in 1980 because of these guys! I was driving in time to the music I guess. Loved this song then and now!
Posted 5 years ago by moirajlaurie771    [ Reply ]
 sid1950 wrote:
This was a staple at my parties in the late '70s! Guaranteed to get the feet moving.
 

And that staple has holding power! Still love this tune.
Posted 5 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
Big song my freshman year in college - great memories! For a one hit wonder they have their own station on Pandora
Posted 5 years ago by admascott    [ Reply ]
 TAI wrote:
WHY DO I ALWAYS THINK THESE GUYS ARE THE   CLIMAX BLUES BAND?
 
What's that you said?  I couldn't hear you over the YELLING....lol....sorry...had to do it...and this considering that I type in all CAPS all day long....so there ;-) 
I've got this one at an 8 still.  Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
WHY DO I ALWAYS THINK THESE GUYS ARE THE   CLIMAX BLUES BAND?
Posted 5 years ago by TAI    [ Reply ]
This was a staple at my parties in the late '70s! Guaranteed to get the feet moving.
Posted 5 years ago by sid1950    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Reading your post and the Wikipedia and AllMusic entries, I'm sure the video mixup was because the personnel in the band had probably changed 3 times between recording and filming...
 

The synth always reminds me of Rick Wakeman
Posted 5 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
I read years back that the Irish band Horselips came about during a drunken night in the pub trying to come up with a band name and whoever was scribbling was too wasted to write 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Where do you suppose these guys came up with theirs?
Posted 5 years ago by memoryboxer    [ Reply ]
 Peter_Burrows wrote:
The synthesiser player was Keith Miller, a lovely guy I shared a house with in the 70s.  On the video he plays guitar, perhaps because he is so good looking.  He was an early adopter of the synthesiser, who worked with many famous names including the likes of Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend,.  He died of a brain hemorrhage on May 17, 2005.

 
Reading your post and the Wikipedia and AllMusic entries, I'm sure the video mixup was because the personnel in the band had probably changed 3 times between recording and filming...
Posted 5 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
I have never heard this played on the radio before unless I have requested it from our local dj. Wow! how impressed I am, so many memories wrapped up in this record, this was also my husbands' all time favourite record.
Posted 5 years ago by Bev_and_Wendy    [ Reply ]
"The Best of?"
Posted 5 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Great flashback to a fun time...
Posted 5 years ago by chuck.b.meyers    [ Reply ]
Worth a mention for it's inclusion in the brilliant Boogie Nights.
Posted 5 years ago by Steelydan1969    [ Reply ]
 Laptopdog wrote:
They put out a "Best of" album?!
 
By retitling their other album?
Posted 6 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
They put out a "Best of" album?!
Posted 6 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
 TianGongZhong wrote:
Godlike.....
 

Yeahhhhhh.... Drivers Seat.... Yeahhhhh.....
Posted 6 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Nice!  Brings back memories of much younger days...  Driving on a Saturday night, sure!
Posted 6 years ago by dtl    [ Reply ]
Godlike.....
Posted 6 years ago by TianGongZhong    [ Reply ]
 pinto wrote:
 
We'll adjust.  Grow up.
 
"Adjust" to dishonest and greedy?  No thanks.
Posted 6 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
Did this band ever have another hit? Song? 
Posted 6 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
I'm always amazed that this seldom if ever shows up on the list of  "Top Driving Songs"
Posted 6 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
By the way. which one is "Sniff?"

If RP doesn't play Golden Earring "Radar Love" after this...  I won;t know what to make if it!
Posted 6 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
Sniff 'n' the drivers seat?
Posted 6 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
 LinThizzy wrote:
THEY ARE REALLY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT NOW WITH NET NEUTRALITY REPEALED,
SPECTRUM KEEPS CUTTING OFF MY RP FEED AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY OTHER CRAPPY ISP THAT HAD 1/30 THE SPEED.
FUCK FASCIST CORPORATIONS AND DOUBLE-FUCK FASCIST POLICIES THAT ALLOW DOUCHEBAGS LIKE AJIT PAI TO DESTROY COMMON SENSE AND GOOD FAITH.
SPECTRUM IS DISHONEST AND GREEDY 
  
We'll adjust.  Grow up.
Posted 6 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
I put this as a 9 thinking about 100 years from now.  What's going to represent the late 20th century?  Something with meaningful lyrics or challenging chord progressions?  I doubt it.  Probably something dessertish like this one.
Posted 6 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
THEY ARE REALLY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT NOW WITH NET NEUTRALITY REPEALED,
SPECTRUM KEEPS CUTTING OFF MY RP FEED AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY OTHER CRAPPY ISP THAT HAD 1/30 THE SPEED.
FUCK FASCIST CORPORATIONS AND DOUBLE-FUCK FASCIST POLICIES THAT ALLOW DOUCHEBAGS LIKE AJIT PAI TO DESTROY COMMON SENSE AND GOOD FAITH.
SPECTRUM IS DISHONEST AND GREEDY 
Posted 6 years ago by LinThizzy    [ Reply ]
 misterbearbaby wrote:
By the way, which one is Sniff?

 
The one next to the third tear
Posted 6 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
By the way, which one is Sniff?
Posted 6 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
From She's About A Mover to this?

Really?
Posted 6 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
This is one of those songs that has an indelible memory etched in my brain from the first listen.  Lake Tahoe, 14 years old, laying on the beach with my transistor radio, antenna all the way up to get the one rock station from Reno(?).  Surrounded by the beauty that is Lake Tahoe, and the beauties in their bikini's, nodding my head to this new song, and that beat!
Posted 7 years ago by johkir    [ Reply ]
   yeeeaaahhh.. {#Mrgreen}
Posted 7 years ago by moodfood    [ Reply ]
Bill's just said that there are a couple of other songs on here, but when I click on the artist link it only shows the one song - this one?
Posted 7 years ago by rtrt    [ Reply ]
Don Cheadle as Buck Swope and Melora Walters as Jessie St. Vincent in “Boogie Nights.”
Posted 7 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
The synthesiser player was Keith Miller, a lovely guy I shared a house with in the 70s.  On the video he plays guitar, perhaps because he is so good looking.  He was an early adopter of the synthesiser, who worked with many famous names including the likes of Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend,.  He died of a brain hemorrhage on May 17, 2005.

This is so so good!  Whatever happened to these guys?
 
 


Posted 7 years ago by Peter_Burrows    [ Reply ]
The guitar riff begins and the volume goes to 11.
Posted 7 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
band sounds so similar to Climax Blues Band
Posted 7 years ago by TAI    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:
Belongs somewhere on the spectrum of great music that includes Don't Fear the Reaper and Year of the Cat.

 
We share musical tastes! Kudos my friend
 
Posted 7 years ago by Quixx_II    [ Reply ]
I have a different album cover which I find much better!!
And I also  had a picture posted here but now it is disappeared! 

Why?
Posted 7 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite band names...and the song is great
Posted 7 years ago by Emwolb    [ Reply ]
This is so so good!  Whatever happened to these guys?
Posted 8 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
 flyboy50 wrote:

That is so wrong its right.

 
Definitely nothing wrong with this!
Posted 8 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
memories! turn up the volume
Posted 8 years ago by kevin06    [ Reply ]
 Otomi wrote:

  Businessgypsy wrote:

With all this business about seats and sniffing, an ad I once saw in the back of the Portland, OR Willamette Week comes to mind:

LADIES BICYCLE SEATS
New $10
Used $25


 



 
That is so wrong its right.
Posted 8 years ago by flyboy50    [ Reply ]
 Businessgypsy wrote:
With all this business about seats and sniffing, an ad I once saw in the back of the Portland, OR Willamette Week comes to mind:

LADIES BICYCLE SEATS
New $10
Used $25


 
lul wut?
Posted 8 years ago by netskink    [ Reply ]
Thank God it was just the short version.
Posted 8 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
What about Drivers A  and   B  ?  ;)
Posted 8 years ago by gregr79    [ Reply ]
Belongs somewhere on the spectrum of great music that includes Don't Fear the Reaper and Year of the Cat.
Posted 8 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 8 years ago by molson    [ Reply ]
One of the greatest one-hit wonders of all time - love it, thanks RP!!
Posted 8 years ago by jfowler    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}
Posted 8 years ago by Feathers    [ Reply ]
TURN IT UP!!!
Posted 8 years ago by dlirious    [ Reply ]
From 6 (what was I thinking) to 8. Yeah!
Posted 8 years ago by spindrift    [ Reply ]
Baby, it's understood.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
Top notch song from a top notch and under-rated band. Love Sniff and the Tears!{#Clap}
Posted 8 years ago by konakid    [ Reply ]
"Driver´s seat" directly after "Drive my car". I have to correct my rating for the Beatles-song downwards
Posted 8 years ago by TianGongZhong    [ Reply ]
Such strong childhood memories tide to this song.  As a little boy, I always thought it was from the film Prophecy (came out around the same time) and that was what they were saying instead of Driver Seat.  Prophecy...Yeah Prophecy...lol
Posted 8 years ago by Charlatan_i    [ Reply ]
Stirs up awesome memories. Thanks RP!{#Yes}
Posted 8 years ago by jkhandy    [ Reply ]
Time to retire this one. Marginal when it came out.  Hasnt aged well either. 
Posted 9 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
Always liked and still like the Sniffers.
Posted 9 years ago by epiclectic    [ Reply ]
Sorry, but the song and band names make for goofy combinations (sniffing car seats) that lead to strange visualizations. 
Posted 9 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
One of those yeah I know this song kind of songs.  Pretty cool.  Couldn't have told you the song or band name until I looked though and even then they don't look familiar.
Posted 9 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
 Zedediah wrote:
Guilty pleasure, perhaps. But it's so post-70's, anti-Disco, granting permission to reclaim some simple joys... It's just cool.

 
No reason to feel guilty, It's a nice little song...very nice.


Posted 9 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
Guilty pleasure, perhaps. But it's so post-70's, anti-Disco, granting permission to reclaim some simple joys... It's just cool.
Posted 9 years ago by Zedediah    [ Reply ]
I think I just have to raise this up from a 7 - it's always great to hear and SO classic...8!  {#Cool}
Posted 9 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
I'm hearing a lot of "White Socks/Flip Flops" by the Super Furry Animals in this song. 
...rather, I'm hearing a lot of this song in "White Socks/Flip Flops".
Posted 9 years ago by bc    [ Reply ]
 There used to be a comic strip in one of the distinguished gentlemens magazines, back in the 80's. It was about a cat, Uncle Flat Nat, the ladies bicycle seat sniffer. Of course that could just be a figment of my imagination.      

       Otomi wrote:

  Businessgypsy wrote:

With all this business about seats and sniffing, an ad I once saw in the back of the Portland, OR Willamette Week comes to mind:

LADIES BICYCLE SEATS
New $10
Used $25


 



 


Posted 9 years ago by carlos65    [ Reply ]
 orangecraig wrote:
Wonder where Greg Kihn was influenced?

 
Greg Kihn was releasing albums several years before these guys were.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Always thought of this as an 80s song, so maybe a little ahead of its time? 7.
Posted 9 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
I still make 'mix tapes' myself - with iTunes, burnt to disc or iPod - and must admit I've stolen a few of Bill's mini-lists for myself.

The Police's "Driven To Tears" makes sense as a follow-up to this, but my mix has Wilco's "Passenger Side" coming next. Changes up the tempo and throws in a bit of hillbilly flavour!
Posted 9 years ago by subgyro    [ Reply ]
The DJ is in fine form (again or as always, take your pick).

 Terrific follow up to Widespread Panic — Traveling Light.
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:
Suggested segue: All Along the Watchtower

 
Or "Don't Fear the Reaper".
Posted 9 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 wingo395 wrote:
One of my stranded-on-an-abandoned-island songs - especially, the extended version!

 
We had the debate about what songs we would want if we were stranded on a deserted island.  My friend had an interesting take - he would not pick any songs that he liked a lot, since if you had to listen to them over and over again, you would grow to hate them.  By that criteria, this song could make my list.


Posted 9 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
Top 40 crap material...ooo-ooo,yeah-ah-ah-ah
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]


Smells like the 70s....
Posted 9 years ago by zepher    [ Reply ]