My mom overheard me sing this to myself when I was around 7…I had just heard it on the radio. I then heard my first.middle.last name being called. Whenever I heard all three names…it usually wasn’t a good thing. She wasn’t strict on me at all but she didn’t exactly like her 7-year-old kid sing about raising hell.
The song was written by band members Steve Cash and John Dillon and released on their first album. Ozark Mountain Daredevils were from Springfield, Missouri, and sported some of the same attitude of the song.
“If You Wanna Get To Heaven” peaked at #25 on the Billboard 100 and #23 in Canada in 1973; two years later Jackie Blue peaked at #3 on the Billboard 100.
Their two big hits sound like two different bands. You have the rough-edged If You Want To Get To Heaven and the very pop Jackie Blue.
During their peak years, few bands could draw a bigger crowd in Kansas City. The Daredevils were seen by Glyn Johns at Kansas City’s Cowtown Ballroom and then produced them. Glyn worked with about every big name in the business including The Beatles, Stones, Who, Led Zeppelin, and many others.
The band still tours and released an album in 2018.
If You Want To Get To Heaven
I never read it in a book
I never saw it on a show
but I heard it in the alley
on a weird radio
if you want a drink of water
you got to get it from a well
if you want to get to heaven
you got to raise a little hell
I never felt it in my feet
I never felt it in my soul
but I heard it the alley
now it’s in my rock and roll
if you want to know a secret
you got to promise not to tell
if you want to get to heaven
you got to raise a little hell
I never thought it’d be so easy
I never thought it’d be so fun
but I heard it in the alley
now I got it on the run
if you want to see an angel
you got to find it where it fell
if you want to get to heaven
you got to raise a little hell
if you want to get to heaven
if you want to get to heaven
if you want to get to heaven
if you want to get to heaven
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Great story. Did that make you think in the future about what you were singing ? Are you familiar with The Dancing Outlaw Jesco White? That was one of this theme songs.
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Oh yes it did…I was a mother’s son no doubt at that age.
No I never did hear of him…I just looked it up…Jennifer has told me about that White family in WV…When you mentioned it I didn’t make the White family connection.
Some youtube clips look entertaining.
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I think this song is about getting laid, no wonder your mom didn’t want you singing it.
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lol
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A fun song I find few people remember. The great ‘ two hit wonder’ band of 70s!
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Totally forgot about this song until now. I love that harp intro. It would be a good song to cruise to.
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I forgot about it also. The one that pops in my head more is Jackie blue.
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Like the harmonica and the sentiment of this song. Also liked “Jackie Blue”…
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I like that one also it’s like two different bands
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I like “Jackie Blue” better, but this one’s good too. Kind of like Climax Blues Band in that two hits and that was all and they didn’t sound much alike at all.
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Yes that is right…I forgot about that band…and the Sweet
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In my area (KC & eastern KS), they were of course way over-played. But I did like their songs back then. I love their roots in the Cowtown Ballroom.
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When I saw the name of that Ballroom I thought you had mentioned that place before…
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The Ozark Mountain Daredevils – rolls right off your tongue! 🙂
Cool tune! I don’t think I had heard of them before. I think I’d recall the name.
And, yes, Jackie Blue, to which I’m currently listening, does sound quite different. I’m not surprised it did much better in the mainstream charts! Looks like it was by far their most successful song, which may have helped to pay a bills!
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They do have a cool name…they are still touring I believe.
Yes Jackie Blue was much more successful but this one is a lot of fun.
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Haven’t heard this in years.
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