Hank C. Burnette - "Cadillac"

The tune "(Brand New) Cadillac" is probably most associated with British (come American, come French, come...you name it!) rock and roll singer Vince Taylor.
As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.
Trivia...
Born Brian Maurice Holden, on July 14th, 1939, Taylor spent his early life in Isleworth, Middlesex. When he was seven years old, the Holdens emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey where his father took work in a coal mine. Around 1955, his sister, Sheila, married Joe Barbera, of Hanna-Barbera. As a result of the marriage, the family moved to California, where Taylor attended Hollywood High School. At age 18, impressed by the music of Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley, Taylor began to sing, mostly at amateur gigs. Barbera, his brother-in-law, became his manager. When Barbera went to London on business he asked Taylor to join him. In London, Taylor went to a coffee bar on Old Compton Street in Soho, The 2I's Coffee Bar, where Tommy Steele was playing. There he met drummer Tony Meehan (later of The Shadows) and bass player Tex Makins . They formed a band called The Playboys. Whilst looking at a packet of Pall Mall cigarettes he noticed the phrase, 'In hoc signo vinces' thus giving rise to his new stage name of Vince Taylor.
His first singles for Parlophone, "I Like Love" and "Right Behind You Baby", were released in 1958, followed several months later by "Pledgin' My Love" b/w "Brand New Cadillac" (the latter track featuring guitarist Joe Moretti, who later featured on "Shakin' All Over" with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates). Parlophone was not satisfied with the immediate results and severed the recording contract. Taylor moved to Palette Records and recorded "I'll Be Your Hero" b/w "Jet Black Machine", which was released on 19 August 1960.
On 23 April 1960 ABC-TV screened the first edition of their new weekly rock and roll TV show, Wham! The first show featured Taylor with Dickie Pride, Billy Fury, Joe Brown, Jess Conrad, Little Tony, and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.
However, his unpredictable personality, although dynamic on stage, caused several arguments within the band, and The Playboys fired Taylor and changed their name to 'The Bobbie Clarke Noise'. The 'Noise' was contracted to play at the Olympia in Paris in July 1961. The top of the bill was Wee Willie Harris.
Despite his sacking Taylor remained friendly with the band and he asked if he could come to Paris too. Here he dressed up for the sound check in his trade mark black leather stage gear, and added a chain around his neck with a Joan of Arc medallion, which he had bought on arrival at Calais. One version of the story says he gave such an extraordinary performance at the sound check, that the organizers decided to put Taylor at the top of the bill for both shows. As a result of his performance at those two shows, Eddie Barclay signed him to a six-year record deal on the Barclay label.
During his career, Taylor wrote and recorded many songs, among them his hit in Europe, "Brand New Cadillac", which has been covered by many other artists, aka The Renegades (a U.K. Band that made it big in Finland), The Hep Stars (possibly the biggest selling band here in Sweden during the ´60's, that included Benny Andersson on keyboards whom later became one of the founding members of ABBA), The Shamrocks, etc.
During his last years, Taylor lived in Switzerland and worked as an airplane mechanic. He said it was the happiest time of his life.
Taylor died in August 1991, from cancer, at the age of 52. He was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland.
My own instru interpretation of this rather simple tune took place in 1997 and was recorded in my apartment on a simple Vestax 6-track cassette machine, using a Charvel axe through a Sessionmaster JD-10 preamp for all guitar layers and a manual triggered Alesis drum unit, that's all! The result...pretty heavy I'd say, without being too 'braggy'! Enjoy...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• hotrock109
• hank c. burnette
• rock'n roll
• rockabilly
• guitar instrus
• sweden
• roots music
• up-tempo

[4fulsealteam]

I drive a Caddy so cool video 4 sure! From: Rockin Robin Rox.

[Magryd3344]

Great version Sven-Åke! And thanks a lot for your fabulous presentation of this song. I didn´t know it was that many groups and singers who´d recorded this classic. I most of all associate this song with the HepStars...but of course you know I´m Swedish....lol!

Maggan

[shelbydresselfanclub]

Wow! Great job. I should have listened to this when I first got up. This is like coffee-- get's you going. :) Love it! ~~Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Team Shelby Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ~~

[HerrX11]

YEAH!!! Best version ever.

Ska du inte släppa en ny skiva snart :) skulle se bra ut i hyllan och dessutom så supportar man ju dig :)

Mvh/Nicke

[jtls8]

Excellent!!!