In the early 1960s a man at Capitol Records named Jim Economides had the brilliant idea to head to the drag races with a full compliment of audio equipment, several engineers, and what amounted to a mobile production studio to capture the sounds of a sport that was taking the nation by storm. His work resulted in the “Big Sounds” series that was a massive smash hit for Capitol and a total cash cow. Because races were considered “newsworthy” events, the company did not have to pay royalties or anything else after their production costs were completed. That means that these things were basically a pure profit enterprise.
According to a 1964 copy of Billboard magazine, this album sold 100,000 copies in the first year it was available. Follow ups were made and different motorsports were featured but the drag racing albums always did the best. You can still find and buy this album today. We see copies selling for about $20.00 a whack on eBay and other places. Big Sounds of the Drags was a big selling hit.
The majority of the audio you are going to hear was taken in 1962. The front side of the album does not tell us where the recordings were made but it does move us up the horsepower scale from stockers to street roadsters, and up. The second side of the record was made at the 1962 NHRA Winternationals. Know what that means? You won’t hear any nitro cars as this was still the period that NHRA was in the midst of its “nitro ban”. Instead of the cackle of nitro you do here more than a couple twin engine dragsters making the noise that they were famous for. The thundering gas engines sound really good at the top end of the track.
Filmed with multiple microphones and the latest technology of the day, the full audio experience is available here. The cars sound like they are driving right by you and it is really something else. We have long known of the album’s existence but up until the other day we had not gathered the smarts to actually search the thing out for a listen. We think you will love it.
This is THE perfect soundtrack to run behind whatever work you are doing in the office on this beautiful summer Friday afternoon. This is doubly true if you are going drag racing this weekend!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO HEAR BOTH SIDES OF “BIG SOUNDS OF THE DRAGS”
