Cadillac Ranch (Bruce Springsteen song)
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"Cadillac Ranch" is a song written by
Music and lyrics
"Cadillac Ranch" is an exuberant, playful rocker with rockabilly influences.[7][8][9][10] According to music critic Dave Marsh, it "made dinosaurs dance."[11] It is highlighted by Clarence Clemons' saxophone solo.[5] Author June Skinner Sawyers called the song "pure rowdy fun" and listed it as one of Springsteen's ten funniest songs.[12] John Cruz of Sputnik Music called the song "just plain fun," noting its infectious beat.[13] However, the theme of the song is "the transitoriness of all existence" and the inevitability of death.[8][13][14] Marsh called the song "one of the smartest songs ever about the inevitability of death".[14] Marsh further noted that although the protagonist of "Cadillac Ranch" seems similar to the protagonists of earlier Springsteen records, in this song he appears naive and vulnerable rather than bold and innocent.[9]
The song's title comes from Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.[5][8] Cadillac Ranch is a sculpture showing ten Cadillac automobiles with their hoods buried in the ground.[5] Springsteen used Cadillac Ranch as a metaphor for his theme; that these once elite cars are now expendable.[8]
Burt Reynolds, Junior Johnson, and James Dean are namechecked in the song.[5][8][15]
Personnel
According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[16]
- Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitars
- Roy Bittan – piano, backing vocals
- Clarence Clemons – saxophone, backing vocals
- Danny Federici – organ
- Garry Tallent – bass
- Steven Van Zandt – guitars, vocal harmonies, backing vocals
- Max Weinberg – drums
Covers
Status Quo originally recorded the song for their 1983 album Back to Back, but the song was cut and was later released on the 1999 album Back to the Beginning.[18]
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band covered the song on their 1984 album Plain Dirt Fashion as well as the 1991 live album Live Two Five.[19][20]
In 1986, Savoy Records (in the UK), released a 12" single, by
Rick Trevino's version appears on the compilation albums NASCAR: Runnin' Wide Open (1995)[22] and Highway Fever: All Time Greatest Country Road Songs (2006).[23][24]
Daniel Johnston's song "Funeral Home" takes its melody from "Cadillac Ranch".[25]
In 2023, country music artist Brett Kissel released a cover of "Cadillac Ranch" on his album The Compass Project - South Album.[26]
References
- ^ "Great Rock Discography". p. 773.
- ^ "Bruce Springsteen: Cadillac Ranch". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ^ ISBN 0-7119-5304-X.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ISBN 978-0-275-98938-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-664-23169-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-440-10694-X.
- ISBN 978-0-415-96928-4.
- ISBN 1-56025-101-8.
- ISBN 0825634709.
- ^ a b Cruz, J. "Bruce Springsteen: The River". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-59691-282-3.
- ^ Springsteen, B. "Cadillac Ranch". brucespringsteen.net. Archived from the original on 2011-10-25. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ISBN 978-1-78472-649-2.
- ^ "Warren Zevon - Live in Passaic NJ, 1982 (The Full Concert)". YouTube. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ "Savoy Records: Blue Monday". Savoy.abel.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
- ^ "Nascar: Runnin Wide Open". Amazon. 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ "Highway Fever: All-Time Greatest Country Road Songs". Amazon. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ "'Devil's' details make musician documentary a worthy DVD". chicagotribune.com. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ Hollabaugh, Lorie (January 10, 2023). "Brett Kissel To Release Four-Part 'The Compass Project'". Music Row Magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
External links
