Brand New Cadillac is a 1989 cover version of a 1959 Vince Taylor rock song by The Purple Helmets. The latter were an off-shoot of British rock band The Stranglers (In the Shadows), featuring Jean-Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield and Paul Ellis. The cemetery-bound zombie promo video for ‘Brand New Cadillac’ is obviously horror-themed.
Previously, the song was superbly covered by The Clash on their seminal ‘London Calling’ album (1979).
Alas, by 1983, The Clash demonstrated why they imploded with uninspiring messy live performances such as this:
As previously mentioned, the original version was recorded by Vince Taylor (Shakin’ All Over) whose leathers ‘n’ lust stage act was seemingly adopted by Alvin Stardust.
Vince Taylor’s ‘Shakin’ All Over’ was famously covered by The Who on their legendary ‘Live at Leeds’ album (1970).
