They are often considered as one of the many punk rock bands that sprang from that city in the mid-Seventies, but in fact saw themselves as more influenced by groups like The Who and The Kinks, and other pub rock acts such as Dr Feelgood or Graham Parker & the Rumour. Their brand of energetic R&B was over-trumped massively by the punk explosion, and they withered away. The repertoire consisted of Chicago Blues or Soul covers, plus tunes in a similar vein written by the band's guitarist Dave Higgs.
Before rising to semi-stardom in 1977, the Hot Rods underwent several changes in personnel: One of the first members to leave the band was Eddie himself, a dummy that featured prominently in the Hot Rods' early gigs and was discarded as the joke had worn thin. Otherwise, the band consisted of Barrie Masters on vocals, Pete Wall and Dave Higgs on guitar, Rob Steel on bass and Steve Nicol on drums. Ed Hollis, brother of Talk Talk's Mark Hollis became their manager, and the band were signed to Island Records.
By 1976, Lew Lewis (harmonica) and Paul Gray had replaced Wall and Steel. Lewis's tenure in the group lasted for the release of their first two singles before he too left. With this new line-up, the Hot Rods played a set at London's famous Marquee club - their opening act was a young band named Sex Pistols. They first appeared in the UK singles chart the end of that year with the "Live at the Marquee" EP and the single "Teenage Depression", an energetic rock'n'roll song.
After the release of the Teenage Depression LP, which gave them their first appearance in the UK albums chart, they recorded another EP called "Live - At the Sound Of Speed". During the gig from which this EP was recorded, Graeme Douglas (formerly of the Kursaal Flyers) joined the band onstage and jammed along adding extra lead lines. Afterwards his membership of the band was made permanent, and they set about writing and recording for their second album. The live recording of the "Sound of Speed" EP featured Douglas on only one track, he therefore set about recording additional lead guitar overdubs in the studio, though to keep in with the essence of a live release, he was only given one attempt at recording each song.
With the addition of Douglas, the band was moved in a more radio-friendly direction. Their biggest hit came with the Douglas/Hollis collaboration "Do Anything You Wanna Do" in the summer of 1977, under their shorter, snappier name 'The Rods'. This single made the British Top 10 (number 9 in August 1977) and also proved popular with the then predominant punk audience, as did that year's album Life on the Line. Still in 1977, the Hot Rods toured the Americas. When it came to recording a follow-up album, Thriller, the band tried hard to recapture the success of "Do Anything You Wanna Do", but to no avail. They found themselves sacked by their record company in 1979, and after Fish'n'Chips, another misguided effort for EMI, the Hot Rods disbanded in 1981.
At this point, Gray and Douglas had already left the band, the former joining The Damned. Masters teamed up with The Inmates. Ed Hollis went on to work with some of the best known acts of the punk era including The Damned, Elvis Costello, and Stiff Little Fingers.
In 1985 the band reform with Masters and Nichol joined by Warren Kennedy (guitar) and Russ Strutter (bass)and release a single and live mini-album, but after a couple of years this version of the band fizzles out.
In early 1991 the 'classic' line-up (Masters, Nichol, Higgs, Douglas, and Gray) regrouped to play some live dates, by the mid 90s Masters, Gray and Nichol are joined by Manfred Mann guitarist Mick Rodgers to record the album Gasoline Days; plus in 2005 a Masters-led outfit recorded Better Late than Never in preparation for a 30th anniversary tour. The band is currently enjoying renewed popularity throughout Europe with regular tour dates, and is also performing in the U.S. after a 25 year sabbatical.
Glória
Eddie & The Hot Rods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you hear about my baby? She come around,
She come round here, the head to the ground?
Come round here just about midnight,
She makes me feel so good, make me feel all right.
She come round my street, now
She come to my house and
Climbing up my stairs, one, two
[unwriteable improvisation]
Come on baby
Here she is in my room, oh boy
Hey what's your name?
How old are you?
Where'd you go to school?
Aha, yeah
Aha, yeah
Ah, ah yeah, ah yeah
Oh haa, mmm
Well, now that we know each other a little bit better,
Why don't you come over here
Make me feel all right!
Gloria, gloria
Gloria, gloria
Gloria, gloria
All night, all day
All right, okey, yey!
(Gloria, gloria)
You were my queen and I was your fool,
Riding home after school.
You took me home
To your house.
Your father's at work,
Your mama's out shopping around.
Check me into your room.
Show me your thing.
Why'd you do it baby?
Getting softer, slow it down
Softer, get it down
Now you show me your thing.
Wrap your legs around my neck,
Wrap your arms around my feet, yeah
Wrap your hair around my skin.
I'm gonna huh, right, ok, yeah.
It's getting harder, it's getting too darn fast
It's getting harder
All right!
Come on, now, let's get it on.
Too late, too late, too late,
too late, too late, too late,
Can't stop, wow!
Make me feel all right!
Gloria, gloria
Gloria, gloria
All night, all day
All right, okey, yey!
Gloria, gloria
Keep the whole thing going, baby!
All right!
All right!
Aaaaah
The lyrics to Eddie & The Hot Rods's song G.L.O.R.I.A. describe a late night encounter with a girl who comes over and makes the singer feel good. The singer is excited about her arrival and the lyrics make it clear that the two have a sexual relationship. The second verse reveals that this girl is the singer's queen and he is her fool. They spend time in her room and she shows him "her thing." Later in the song, the tempo increases as the two become more passionate and cannot stop.
The lyrics can be interpreted as an expression of teenage lust and desire. The girl who comes over represents a forbidden fruit or a taste of freedom for the singer. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to risk everything for this girl, even if it means getting into trouble. The repetition of "Gloria" throughout the song can be seen as an expression of the ecstasy that the singer feels during this encounter.
Overall, the song captures the excitement, danger and desire of youth. It is an energetic and rebellious anthem, celebrating the freedom and passion of young love.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, right.
Expressing a doubtful or sarcastic response to a previous statement or question.
Did you hear about my baby? She come around,
Asking if the listener is aware of the singer's romantic interest, who has made an appearance.
She come round here, the head to the ground?
Describing the woman's demeanor upon arrival.
Come round here just about midnight,
Describing when the woman arrived.
She makes me feel so good, make me feel all right.
Expressing how the woman's presence is uplifting and enjoyable for the singer.
She come round my street, now
Reiterating the woman's appearance on the singer's street.
She come to my house and
Continuing to describe the woman's actions upon arrival.
Knock upon my door
Explaining how the woman announced her presence.
Climbing up my stairs, one, two
Describing the woman ascending the steps to the singer's room.
[unwriteable improvisation]
An inaudible vocalization that cannot be transcribed.
Come on baby
An invitation to the woman.
Here she is in my room, oh boy
Confirming that the woman has joined the singer in his room.
Hey what's your name?
Asking the woman's name.
How old are you?
Asking the woman's age.
Where'd you go to school?
Asking the woman where she attended school.
Aha, yeah
An affirmative vocalization.
Aha, yeah
An affirmative vocalization.
Ah, ah yeah, ah yeah
Vocalization expressing agreement or pleasure.
Oh haa, mmm
A vocalization indicating satisfaction or pleasure.
Well, now that we know each other a little bit better,
Acknowledging the brief conversation between the singer and the woman.
Why don't you come over here
Inviting the woman closer to the singer.
Make me feel all right!
Asking the woman to continue to uplift the singer's spirits.
Gloria, gloria
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
Gloria, gloria
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
Gloria, gloria
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
All night, all day
Implying the situation is ongoing throughout the day and night.
All right, okey, yey!
Expressing the singer's satisfaction with the current situation.
(Gloria, gloria)
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
You were my queen and I was your fool,
Describing a past romantic relationship between the singer and the woman.
Riding home after school.
Describing a past event when the singer and woman traveled together after school.
You took me home
Describing when the woman took the singer home.
To your house.
Describing where the woman took the singer.
Your father's at work,
Describing the absence of the woman's father.
Your mama's out shopping around.
Describing the absence of the woman's mother.
Check me into your room.
Indicating the woman brought the singer to her room.
Show me your thing.
Asking the woman to showcase her personality or interests.
Why'd you do it baby?
Asking the woman why she took the singer to her room and shared her interests.
Getting softer, slow it down
Asking the music to decrease in volume and tempo.
Softer, get it down.
Further instructing the music to become quieter and slower.
Now you show me your thing.
Asking the woman to continue to express herself.
Wrap your legs around my neck,
Requesting the woman wrap her legs around the singer's neck.
Wrap your arms around my feet, yeah
Requesting the woman wrap her arms around the singer's feet.
Wrap your hair around my skin.
Requesting the woman wrap her hair around the singer's skin.
I'm gonna huh, right, ok, yeah.
Expressing the singer's excitement and pleasure.
It's getting harder, it's getting too darn fast
The music is becoming more intense and faster.
It's getting harder
Clarifying how the music is changing.
All right!
Indicating excitement and enjoyment of the current situation.
Come on, now, let's get it on.
Encouraging the woman to be intimate with the singer.
Too late, too late, too late,
Indicating the singer is running out of time.
too late, too late, too late,
Repeating the previous line.
Can't stop, wow!
Expressing the singer's inability to cease enjoying the current situation.
Make me feel all right!
Requesting the woman continue to lift the singer's spirits.
Gloria, gloria
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
Gloria, gloria
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
All night, all day
Implying the situation is continuing throughout the day and night.
All right, okey, yey!
Expressing the singer's satisfaction with the current situation.
Gloria, gloria
Repeating the name 'Gloria.'
Keep the whole thing going, baby!
Encouraging the woman to continue to engage with the singer.
All right!
Indicating excitement and enjoyment of the current situation.
All right!
Repeating the previous line.
Aaaaah
An inaudible vocalization that cannot be transcribed.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE IVAN MORRISON, VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimmygrieves2909
I remember hearing this on the radio in 1976 - music had been a bit dull for a while and then this came on - my God - the excitement I felt when those opening chords came thundering through my transistor radio - I saw them at the Marquee the following year - Barrie came strutting out and said "It's great to be back here ain't it !".
@loucostello3111
I bought their albums back in the day. No regrets.
@cliveclapham4748
I was there. Not this night but nights later immediately before Queen headlined a free concert in Hyde Park. The crowd was packed so tight I could lift my legs off the floor and remained 'standing'. It was the summer of punk... but top pub rock like this beat those poseurs every time.... Glorious Days...
@simplemods7098
Je l'ai acheté le jour de sa sortie...et depuis je n' ai trouvé mieux...15 jours après ils défonçaient la salle Franklin au Havre/ Normandie pour ce qui restera pour moi le beau plus concert de ma vie....!!!...Jusqu’à péter les plombs de la salle 3 heures durant...!!!!...RIP Master qui sautait sur les amplis et les colonnes son....!!!
@egbertnobacon7556
I was there the night they recorded it....... fucking amazing!!
@stevebowness9435
How lucky was you 😍 ❤ 👏👏👏
@michelst14
one of the most ultimate electric song ...
@GravityBoy72
Great EP, how times flies.
@doctorskull8197
Still got it!
@metalkarjala
Thanks! Found this 7” today. I’m born in 1992 by the way.