Rockin' down the highway: #9 "Brand New Cadillac" Vince Taylor & His Playboys (1959)

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I was going to go with the 1979 cover by the Clash until hearing the terrific original by Vince Taylor and his Playboys. Taylor was British who came to the US as a teenager when his sister married Joe Barbera of Hanna-Barbera fame. He attended Hollywood High School where he fell under the spell of Elvis, Gene Vincent and rockabilly. Back in the UK, Vince Taylor and his Playboys enjoyed some success in the late 50s and early 60s especially in Scandanavia and even Japan. Nothing in the US. Drugs and alcohol ruined Taylor’s career and he died at 52 of lung cancer. Taylor could be called godfather of British rockabilly and considered influential. The Clash recorded “Brand New Cadillac” for their “London Calling” album as tribute to what they said was Britain’s first rock and roll record. Van Morrison often sang it in concert. David Bowie said Taylor was an inspiration for his Ziggy Stardust character. Golden Earring wrote and recorded “Just Like Vince Taylor.” “Brand New Cadillac” was just a single B side written by Taylor and is superb rockabilly with a surf rock touch.