If You Wanna Get To Heaven

"If You Wanna Get To Heaven" by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils is a Southern rock anthem that’s been firing up Zoo Freaks since its 1973 release on the band’s debut album. This track, which hit #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold about 500,000 copies, was the band’s first big splash, capturing their rebellious, rootsy vibe with lines like, “If you wanna get to heaven, you got to raise a little hell.” Written by Steve Cash and John Dillon, the song’s gritty energy came from a spontaneous jam, with Cash’s iconic harmonica riff—described by fans on r/ClassicRock as “killer”—stealing the show. The song’s outlaw spirit made it a perfect fit for the 1991 PBS documentary Dancing Outlaw, where it soundtracked the wild life of West Virginia’s Jesco White, and it even revs up Rebel Radio in Grand Theft Auto V. In a 2022 Springfield Business Journal interview, Dillon shared that playing the song at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019 earned a standing ovation, a moment he called “an interesting bolt from the blue,” especially since the band never saw themselves as strictly country.

The song’s legacy got a fresh spin in 2019 with the band’s EP Heaven 20/20, featuring a re-recorded version titled “If You Wanna Get To Heaven 20/20.” The Music Universe called it a “hard-driving, nails-through-steel” take, showcasing the band’s knack for reinventing their own classic while keeping Steve Cash’s harmonica front and center. Fans on Facebook lit up over the re-release, with one post from December 2021 hyping the band’s 50th anniversary and sharing vintage photos of the recording sessions. The track’s raw, unpolished vibe stems from its roots in the band’s early days jamming at their Ruedi-Valley Ranch in Missouri, a spot where, as Dillon told Springfield Business Journal, they’d “get lost in the music” for hours, channeling the freewheeling energy of bands like the Grateful Dead.

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils kicked off in 1972 in Springfield, Missouri, born from a group of long-haired, music-obsessed friends who wanted to blend rock, country, bluegrass, and a touch of Ozarks soul. The core crew—John Dillon, Steve Cash, Randle Chowning, Larry Lee, Michael “Supe” Granda, and Buddy Brayfield—started jamming in local bars and basements, drawing from the region’s gospel and country sounds they heard on Springfield’s KWTO radio. According to Granda’s book It Shined, the band’s name came from a wild brainstorming session at a Kansas City “naming party,” where Dillon pitched “Cosmic Corn Cob & His Amazing Ozark Mountain Daredevils” before they trimmed it down. They scrapped earlier names like “Family Tree” after learning it was taken, rejecting “Burlap Socks” and “Buffalo Chips” for good measure. By October 1972, managers Paul Peterson and Stan Plesser, who also ran Kansas City’s Vanguard coffee house, took a chance on the band, booking them gigs and sending demos to labels.

Their big break came when A&M Records signed them, and their 1973 debut album, recorded in London with producer Glyn Johns, put them on the map. Hudson Gardens notes that the band’s “inventive” mix of styles set them apart in the country rock scene, with “If You Wanna Get To Heaven” becoming a Top 30 hit. Despite pressure from labels for more radio-friendly singles, the band stayed true to their jam-band roots, prioritizing live performances over commercial polish, as Dillon explained in a 2022 Springfield Business Journal interview. Over the decades, they’ve released over 20 albums and toured North America and Europe, building a loyal fanbase that still packs venues like the Landers Theatre in Springfield for their 50th anniversary shows in 2022.

You can keep up with The Ozark Mountain Daredevils on their Facebook, where they post tour updates, merch like tie-dyed anniversary tees, and tributes to late members like Steve Cash, who passed in 2019. Their Instagram is loaded with throwback photos and gig clips, while their X account shares fan shoutouts and news, like their Ozark Dry Gin venture with Missouri distributors. Fans connect on Facebook groups like the unofficial Ozark Mountain Daredevils Fan Club, swapping vinyl finds and concert stories. The band’s official website has tour dates, a discography, and a shop for picking up albums or that sweet gin.