The third installment (you can find the first here and the second here) of Rah-rahs Per Minute, TWER’s series focusing on the vinyl (and otherwise-formatted) sounds of Auburn Spirit too long relegated to the rotting Shasta box bulk-bins of our thrift stores and garage sales, is, like the previous installment, one of… oh… one hundred or so numbers salvaged from the dumpster behind the old WJHO offices (now WANI) in Opelika.
Last week, I said I was certain that, instead of just another generic pre-season jingle, I could find a ditty or two specifically ragging Mississippi State.
Well, I found four — all preambles to Auburn victories, and, again, all produced and sung by the prolific Smilin’ Jack Smollon, the Lee County radio legend who’s story and significance we will soon explore (likely during a week that doesn’t feature both a national holiday and a Thursday night game for our Tigers).
In the meantime, stock the cooler, grab your vuvezela, and download these suckers to soundtrack what might be the greatest Starkville road trip of all time.
Enjoy.
The first song is from 1960 and, like most of the Smollon oeuvre, is sung to the tune of a catchy old standard. I know it, but can’t name it. It helped Ed Dyas have a field day with the Dawgs, breaking and tying all kinds of national records. [Download]
“The Beat State Special,” from – I think – 1971, is definitely riding “Wabash Cannonball.” Auburn rode the Sullivan-to-Beasley Express to a 31-21 win. [Download]
A loungy, Honolulu airport, Pat Dye-at-Lake-Martin-styled accompaniment to – I think – our 1983 win, 28-13. [Download]
This one is just brilliant – the music, the annunciation, the lyrics: “Tigers got a date, 1:30 Saturday, to clobber Mississippi State. No foolin’ around, the TDs will abound, as the Auburn Tigers eradicate Mississippi State.” Auburn 24 – Mississippi State 21. [Download]
Can’t wait for the Clemson songs.
The first song, from 1960, is Perfidia by The Ventures.