Pink Cadillac (album)
Encyclopedia
Pink Cadillac is the sixth album by American
folk
singer and songwriter John Prine
, released in 1979. It was produced by Knox Phillips and Jerry Phillips; they are the sons of Sam Phillips
, who produced two of the album's tracks ("Saigon" and "How Lucky").
's "Killing the Blues" and Arthur Gunter's "Baby Let's Play House," a song Elvis Presley did at Sun — Pink Cadillac was a good idea that went slightly awry in the execution. If Prine had had the songs as well as the studio, it would have been among his best." Music critic Robert Christgau
wrote "Prine has never rocked harder. But he's slurring his vocals like some toothless cartoon bluesman emulating an Elvis throwaway — related to the Sun sound, I guess, but perversely."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer and songwriter John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
, released in 1979. It was produced by Knox Phillips and Jerry Phillips; they are the sons of Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
, who produced two of the album's tracks ("Saigon" and "How Lucky").
Reception
Writing for Allmusic, critic William Ruhlman wrote of the album "Prine wrote only five of the ten songs... and even though the covers were of high caliber — notably Roly SalleyRowland Salley
Rowland Salley is an American musician, songwriter and artist, sometimes called Roly Salley. Salley is a bass guitarist and vocalist for Chris Isaak's band Silvertone...
's "Killing the Blues" and Arthur Gunter's "Baby Let's Play House," a song Elvis Presley did at Sun — Pink Cadillac was a good idea that went slightly awry in the execution. If Prine had had the songs as well as the studio, it would have been among his best." Music critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
wrote "Prine has never rocked harder. But he's slurring his vocals like some toothless cartoon bluesman emulating an Elvis throwaway — related to the Sun sound, I guess, but perversely."
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Prine; except where indicated.- "Chinatown" – 2:24
- "Automobile" – 4:23
- "Killing The Blues" (Roly SalleyRowland SalleyRowland Salley is an American musician, songwriter and artist, sometimes called Roly Salley. Salley is a bass guitarist and vocalist for Chris Isaak's band Silvertone...
) – 4:35 - "No Name Girl" (Jack ClementJack ClementJack Henderson Clement is an American singer, songwriter, and a record and film producer.Raised and educated in Memphis, Jack Clement was performing at an early age...
, Billy Lee RileyBilly Lee RileyBilly Lee Riley was an American rockabilly musician, singer, record producer and songwriter. His most memorable recordings included "Rock With Me Baby," and "Red Hot".-Biography:...
) – 3:31 - "Saigon" (Prine, John Burns) – 3:16
- "Cold War (This Cold War With You)" (Floyd Tillman) – 4:11
- "Baby Let's Play House" (Arthur Gunter) – 3:30
- "Down By The Side Of The Road" – 5:03
- "How Lucky" – 3:38
- "Ubangi Stomp" (Charles Underwood) – 2:41
Personnel
- John Prine – vocals, guitar
- Tom (Pickles) Piekarski – bass
- Billy Lee RileyBilly Lee RileyBilly Lee Riley was an American rockabilly musician, singer, record producer and songwriter. His most memorable recordings included "Rock With Me Baby," and "Red Hot".-Biography:...
– guitar, background vocals - Angie Varias – drums
- John Burns – guitar, background vocals
- Leo LeBlanc – guitar, steel guitar
- Howard LevyHoward LevyHoward Levy is a Grammy Award–winning, American harmonicist, pianist, composer, and producer....
– harmonica, keyboards, saxophone - Jerry Phillips – guitar
- Helen Duncan – background vocals
- Phyllis Duncan – background vocals
- Beverly White – background vocals
- Helen Bernard – background vocals
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Billboard Pop Albums | 152 |