Low Rider - War (1975)

It's a car! It's a culture! It's a "Great Song of 1975!"

"Low Rider" by War is about those crazy-looking customized cars that have separate hydraulic lifts on each wheel, which allow the the driver to make the car bounce down the street.

Low Riders were very much a pop culture icon in Latino communities in the the Southwestern US, Mexico, and Central America.

War's drummer, Harold Brown grew up in Southern California during the '50s, and was intrigued by the low riders he saw while cruising up the coast and down into Tijuana. His brother KB and cousin Leon eventually got into customizing low riders, and Harold followed suit...but Harold's hobby also gave birth to the song: a percussive funky groove with a Latin flavor.

Because of lyrics like, "Take a little trip with me," some people thought the song was about drugs, but Harold explained that it was actually about the excitement of cruising in a modified trophy car, looking for adventure on the highways.

"Low Rider" definitely struck a chord with radio listeners, Latino and otherwise, reaching #1 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Chart, and #7 on The Hot 100. It was even a hit in Canada, reaching #6 on the Top 40, and the UK, where it peaked at #12.

"Low Rider" by War: A car, a culture, and a "Great Song of 1975!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkwuz0iXQg