1978 Soft Rock Hit, Written After a Band Breakup, Became a Career-Defining Classic

In 1978, the Sniff 'n' the Tears released their hit song, "Drivers Seat," and it steered the band into the spotlight.

The single was a part of the British band's debut album, Fickle Heart. Though the record didn't do well in the United Kingdom music market, the song reached the Top 20 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as the Top 10 in the Netherlands. In the United States, "Drivers Seat" peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1979.

A little less than 20 years later, "Drivers Seat" was used in a commercial for the Pioneer car stereo, which led the song to peak at the top of the charts in the Netherlands in 1991.

"When I first heard it, I recall saying to my friend, 'I never heard this Bob Dylan song before,'" wrote Dave Christiane of Yacht Rock Nation on Facebook last June. "I have loved it since 1979. Sniff's best….and, as far as I know….only major song."

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'Driver's Seat' was written after a band breakup

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Paul Roberts wrote "Driver's Seat" sometime in the early-to-mid 1970s after his previous band, Ashes of the Moon, split up. He eventually shifted away from a music career and tried to become a painter, but drummer Luigi Salvoni encouraged Roberts to reform the project, which led them to sign with indie label Chiswick Records, record the hit, and it eventally becoming the lead single for Fickle Heart.

Salvoni's idea also led to the formation of Sniff 'n' the Tears, which also included Loz Netto, Chris Birkin, Mick Dyche and Alan Fealdman.

While often mistaken for a driving song, the lyrics are actually about the conflicting thoughts emotions and desires to move on after a relationship breakup.

"It just means to take charge of your own life," Roberts told Interviewing the Legends in June 2023. "Get your act together, really."

Continuation into the 1980s

Following the success of Fickle Heart, Sniff released their sophomore album, The Game's Up, in 1980. Unfortunately, The Game's Up garnered no hits, and Netto and Dyche left to pursue solo careers. Robert decided to continue on, find new members and released Love/Action in 1981 and Ride Blue Divide in 1982. These albums didn't produce hits, and their contract with Chiswick Records was not renewed. The group broke up in 1983.

Two years after the split of Sniff, Roberts debuted as a solo artist and signed with Sonet Records. He released two albums: City Without Walls (1985) and Kettle Drum Blues (1987). Meanwhile Netto issued singles such as "Fade Away" and "We Touch" with the former being a No. 82 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and the music video having airplay on MTV in 1983, and the latter song appeared in an episode of Miami Vice.

Where are Sniff 'n' the Tears Now?

After being absent during the 1980s, Sniff 'n' the Tears suddenly revived after "Driver's Seat" made a comeback in 1992, thanks to a European ad. Roberts took this as an opportunity to create a new Sniff 'n' the Tears, and took them out on the road in the Netherlands and Germany. The new lineup included Roberts, Les Davidson, Jeremy Meek, Steve Jackson and Andy Giddings. In addition, they released No Damage Done, their first studio album in a decade.

"Driver's Seat" got a brief revival again in 1997 when it was heavily featured in the film Boogie Nights, and the tenth episode of the second season of The Walking Dead. Since the 1990s, Sniff has released four studio albums, with their most recent being Jump in 2020, which includes acoustic versions of their best songs, including "Driver's Seat."

Now, Sniff 'n' the Tears is just Roberts and Davidson as an acoustic duo, with Paul Robinson and Robin Langridge joining them occasionally on keyboards and drums, respectively.

When it comes to the success of "Driver's Seat," Roberts "[doesn 't] really know" why it's such a huge success, even today.

"I don't really know," the 78-year-old musician told Athens Calling. "I think it has an energy and it's unusual in its structure, the lyric is positive. People seem to love it."

Related: 1977 Rock Classic, Originally Carried by Radio Stations, Outlasted No. 1 Hits

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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM.