Actually “Cruisin’ Classics” with Shell, circa 1989

Produced by CBS, it’s part of a series that not only chronicled selections of popular songs from the 1950s through the 1980s, performed by the various original artists, but unfolding the cover insert also reveals an enclosed rebate card for Shell oil and oil changes. My son recently found a vintage cassette called Cruisin’ Classics Volume II 70’s & 80’s, which was offered by Shell. Knowing that I’m always looking for automotive-related blog subjects, he bought it for me.

Here’s the rebate card.

Oddly enough, except for Volume II’s Ramblin Man by the Allman Brothers and Rock’ n Me by the Steve Miller Band, Volume III’s Travelin’ Man by Rick Nelson and I Get Around by The Beach Boys, and Volume V’s Ventura Highway by America, few if any of the other 55 titles could be considered road songs or car songs.

Side 2 of the enclosed cassette.

Though I only have Volume II, some further research disclosed the songs found on the other five volumes, so here they all are, just in case you’re wondering. Volumes I, II and III were produced in 1989 and Volumes IV, V and VI followed for a summer 1990 introduction.

Song Lists and Cover Art

Volume I: 60’s & 70’s

The cover art is a rendering of the ‘60s style AM/FM car radio in a red dash panel.

You Can’t Hurry Love—The Supremes

Kind Of A Drag—The Buckinghams

I Heard It Through The Grapevine—Marvin Gaye

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher—Jackie Wilson

Joy To The World—Three Dog Night

Proud Mary—Creedence Clearwater Revival

Do You Believe In Magic—Lovin Spoonful

Hot Fun In The Summertime—Sly & The Family Stone

Lady Willpower—Gary Puckett & Union Gap

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)—The Byrds

Volume II: 70’s & 80’s

This cover art you see at the top of this article.

Uptown Girl—Billy Joel

Rosanna—Toto

Love Train—The O’Jays

Your Mama Don’t Dance—Loggins & Messina

Crocodile Rock—Elton John

Don’t Stop—Fleetwood Mac

What A Fool Believes—The Doobie Brothers

Sara Smile—Hall & Oates

Rock’ n Me—Steve Miller Band

Ramblin’ Man—The Allman Brothers Band

Volume III: 50’s & 60′

The cover art is a rendering of a 1950s or early 1960s AM radio in an aqua dash panel.

Johnny B. Goode—Chuck Berry

Great Balls Of Fire—Jerry Lee Lewis

All I Have To Do Is Dream—The Everly Brothers

My Girl—The Temptations

Travelin’ Man—Rick Nelson

That’ll Be The Day—Buddy Holly & the Crickets

Blueberry Hill—Fats Domino

He’s So Fine—The Chiffons

Reach Out I’ll Be There—The Four Tops

I Get Around—The Beach Boys

Volume IV: More 60’s & 70’s

Cover art is a rendering of an early red Mustang convertible on the beach.

Come See About Me—Diana Ross & The Supremes

Beautiful Morning—The Rascals

Midnight Train to Georgia—Gladys Knight & The Pips

Mr. Tambourine Man—The Byrds

Build Me Up Buttercup—The Foundations

Chain of Fools–Aretha Franklin

You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice—The Lovin’ Spoonful

How Sweet It Is—Marvin Gaye

My Guy—Mary Wells

Monday, Monday—The Mamas & The Papas

Volume V: More 70’s & 80’s

Cover art is a rendering of a yellow Corvette convertible.

Listen To The Music—The Doobie Brothers

It’s So Easy—Linda Ronstadt

Ventura Highway–America

Could It Be I’m Falling In Love—The Spinners

Can’t Fight This Feeling—REO Speedwagon

The Heat Is On—Glenn Frey

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go—Wham!

Kiss On My List—Hall & Oates

September—Earth, Wind & Fire

Footloose—Kenny Loggins

Volume VI: More 50’s and 60’s

Cover art is a rendering of a baby blue ’57 Chevy.

Sherry—The Four Seasons

Blue Moon—The Marcels

Oh, Pretty Woman—Roy Orbison

Why Do Fools Fall In Love?—Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

Get A Job—The Silhouettes

Runaround Sue—Dion

Do You Want To Dance?–Bobby Freeman

Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On—Jerry Lee Lewis

Yakety Yak—The Coasters

Oh, What A Night—The Dells

I couldn’t remember the price offhand, but a newspaper archive story of the day reported that each tape was, “just a $1.99 with an eight-gallon fill-up” at the Shell station. It was an interesting way to promote Shell and its oil rebates. Do you own or remember these Shell cassettes? Tell us your story.

Though I can’t readily recall, surely there were other gas station promotional music cassettes produced in this era. Do you remember any? If so, tell us about them.