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UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- Racing: Montoya/Rosberg/Edwards all had a good Sunday—as did TV viewers.
- Apple/Android/Auto: Are the players from Silicon Valley ready for primetime?
- Automotive brand valuation: Walmart has greater value that Mercedes. Whoa.
- Merger Talk: Sergio Marchionne continues to seek a partner for FCA.

All that and much more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production; Scott Burgess, Motor Trend; Todd Lassa, Automobile.

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone and Jeep Renegade

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners and friends AutoFieldGuide.com and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!

Driving, riding, roads and of course cars themselves have all been immortalized by writers, composers and musicians around the world. Auto Tune is our way to spotlight a unique transportation song to celebrate these “ridden” gems along with the artists or composers who crafted them. Some you may know, many we’re sure you don’t.

Joe Ely is a legend in Texas. If you’re not aware of the name, wander down to Houston, Dallas or hang out at Waterloo Records in Austin and you’ll soon discover he is one of the foundations in Texas music.

A rock and roll guy from way back, early in his career Ely joined forces with fellow Texans Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, both who favor country and folk genres, and formed The Flatlanders in 1970. The group has only released a handful of albums over their 45 years together, but that hasn’t stopped the trio from playing and influencing each other’s solo efforts.

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UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- 2016 Camaro: Enough to take on Mustang?
- GM says it owns your car’s software
- Starbucks vs. A Car Lease: Which costs more?

SPECIAL GUEST: Richard Rawlings, TV Host & Author, “Fast N’ Loud”

All that and much more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production; Mike Austin, Autoblog.

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AAH Richard Rawlings Book Giveaway

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone and Jeep Renegade

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners and friends AutoFieldGuide.com and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!

Driving, riding, roads and of course cars themselves have all been immortalized by writers, composers and musicians around the world. Auto Tune is our way to spotlight a unique transportation song to celebrate these “ridden” gems along with the artists or composers who crafted them. Some you may know, many we’re sure you don’t.

It was 1966, the greatest year in music but that observation is for another column. In movies there’s was nothing hotter than the nascent James Bond series. The fourth installment of Ian Fleming’s Super Spy, Thunderball, was still basking in critical acclaim and filling theaters as the team began work on the next film in the suite “You Only Live Twice.”

Meanwhile in music, the Beatles and the Beach Boys were waging a spirited battle for the hearts, minds & wallets of the music listening public. In fact, while the rest of the band toured Europe, head Beach Boy Brian Wilson stayed home in California creating what would become arguably the greatest pop album of all time.

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UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- Inside the Volvo XC90 and the strategy behind its new U.S. plant
- The autonomy plot thickens with reports of Google-car accidents

SPECIAL GUEST: Travis Hester, Executive Chief Engineer, Cadillac CT6
- Learning the secrets of Cadillac‘s innovative new flagship

All that and much more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production; Lauren Fix, The Car Coach.

AAH Richard Rawlings Book Giveaway

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone and Jeep Renegade

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners and friends AutoFieldGuide.com and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!

Driving, riding, roads and of course cars themselves have all been immortalized by writers, composers and musicians around the world. Auto Tune is our way to spotlight a unique transportation song to celebrate these “ridden” gems along with the artists or composers who crafted them. Some you may know, many we’re sure you don’t.

These days Al Anderson is a first rate songwriter in Nashville, TN playing gigs around town every now and then. But back in the early days of his career he was the guitarist for one of the most beloved bands who still performs today, The New Rhythm & Blues Quartet, or better known by its initials: NRBQ.

The band has been a favorite of any self-respecting hipster who has been listening to music since the ‘60s. And what’s so great about the band is that it’s, well, just a band. Despite several talented iterations, these guys have never made it big which is probably one of the reasons it’s still kicking today. However, if I were to choose, it’s a no-brainer that the ’74 to ’94 version of the band was the best by far.

Led by pianist Terry Adams –- today’s remaining original member — with drummer Tom Ardolino, Joey Spampinato on bass and Al Anderson on guitar, this band released 18 albums during its 20 years together and influenced countless future musicians. And without a doubt, the best song these four ever recorded is the upbeat but heartfelt break up tune called “Ridin’ In My Car.” Written by Al, I call it the sweetest fantasy breakup song ever. With summer just around the corner, plug it into your audio system and see if you don’t agree.

- Chip Drake, Executive Producer, Autoline

Feedback on Auto Tunes? Send us your comments.

AAH Richard Rawlings Book Giveaway

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UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- Remembering the late, great automotive legend Denise McCluggage
- Autonomy leaps forward as Freightliner‘s Inspiration Truck hits the road
- April Sales: The Golden Age of the Muscle Car?

All that and much more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production; Todd Lassa, Automobile; Stephanie Brinley, IHS Automotive.

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone and Jeep Renegade

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners and friends AutoFieldGuide.com and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!

Driving, riding, roads and of course cars themselves have all been immortalized by writers, composers and musicians around the world. Auto Tune is our way to spotlight a unique transportation song to celebrate these “ridden” gems along with the artists or composers who crafted them. Some you may know, many we’re sure you don’t.

In the early ‘70s, pianist Tom Waits was a Sunset Boulevard vagabond. He crafted songs that featured a world of Jack Kerouac characters, probably because he interacted with them on a daily basis.

Hanging out a LA’s famous Troubadour club paid off when he was signed by Asylum Records, which released his first album called Closing Time in 1973. It was followed quickly by his sophomore effort the next year, “The Heart Of Saturday Night,” which was an unmistakable homage to the great Sinatra concept album “In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning” in both cover art and content.

And though there are several cuts on the album that could’ve been this week’s Auto Tune, our choice today is the title cut. Here, the song’s protagonist has got his weekly pay, gasses up his Oldsmobile, picks up his girl and goes “barrelin’ down the boulevard… cruisin’ with a 6… looking for the heart of Saturday night.” The song is a melancholy bit of nostalgia that causes many of us, as Waits so aptly observes to be, “dreamin’ of them Saturdays that came before.” Of course memories and age play a big part of that, but so do songs that capture the essence of the car culture and what it means to us, especially when we’re young.

This song was recorded in 1974, but listening to it today it seems just as fresh as it must’ve been then. Check it out and maybe like Tom says, “this’ll be the Saturday you’re reachin’ your peak.”

- Chip Drake, Executive Producer, Autoline

Feedback on Auto Tunes? Send us your comments.

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UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- Will VW’s Ferdinand Piech be missed?
- Cadillac is “V-serious” about performance. The right strategy?
- Who will Sergio Marchionne ask to dance with FCA?

SPECIAL GUEST: Klaus Busse, VP of Interior Design, FCA US LLC
- Inside the coming trends of car interiors and the secrets of award-winning design

All that and much more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production; Drew Winter, Wards.

Thanks to our sponsors who make Autoline After Hours possible: Bridgestone and Henkel

Subscribe to the free podcast version of Autoline After Hours:

Thanks to our partners and friends AutoFieldGuide.com and WardsAuto.com for embedding AAH!