Introduction and Short Summary of the Song
“Always Drive a Cadillac” is one of the lesser-known tracks recorded by The Everly Brothers, featured on their 1965 album Rock ’n Soul. Unlike their better-known ballads and teenage love anthems, this song leans into humor, satire, and social commentary. With its tongue-in-cheek lyrics and playful delivery, “Always Drive a Cadillac” pokes fun at the materialism and status symbols that dominated mid-20th-century America. It showcases Don and Phil Everly’s ability to diversify beyond harmony-driven romance songs, revealing a wit and irony that set them apart from many of their contemporaries.
Origins of the Song
By the mid-1960s, The Everly Brothers’ career was undergoing a shift. Their early dominance in the late 1950s and early 1960s had been challenged by the rise of the British Invasion, particularly groups like The Beatles, who openly cited the Everlys as a major influence. In this changing musical landscape, the brothers experimented with their sound and subject matter, producing songs that blended traditional rock and roll with elements of soul, satire, and social commentary.
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“Always Drive a Cadillac” came from this period of reinvention. It reflected both the duo’s awareness of changing cultural values and their playful willingness to poke fun at America’s obsession with wealth, cars, and appearances.
Why The Everly Brothers Released “Always Drive a Cadillac”
The song was released on Rock ’n Soul because it complemented the album’s blend of covers and fresh material with a lighthearted edge. While much of the Everlys’ earlier catalog had focused on romance, heartbreak, and teenage emotions, “Always Drive a Cadillac” offered something different: a satirical wink at consumer culture.
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By including it, the Everly Brothers showed they could adapt to shifting cultural tides. It gave their music a modern edge, aligning with the satirical and socially aware spirit of the 1960s while still maintaining their trademark vocal charm.
The Message Conveyed in the Song
At its core, “Always Drive a Cadillac” critiques the materialistic values of mid-century America, where status was often measured by what you drove, wore, or displayed. The Cadillac, as the quintessential symbol of success and wealth in the 1950s and 1960s, becomes the song’s central metaphor.
Key themes include:
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Materialism: The idea that owning a Cadillac equates to respect and success.
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Satire: The brothers use humor and irony to highlight how shallow status symbols can be.
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Social Commentary: The song reflects broader critiques of consumer culture emerging in the 1960s.
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Contrast with Authentic Values: Implicitly, the song suggests that genuine worth lies beyond possessions.
The playful tone keeps the critique light, but the message is clear: appearances can be deceiving, and social value based on material wealth is hollow.
The Recording and Musical Characteristics
Musically, “Always Drive a Cadillac” captures its satirical edge through a lively, upbeat arrangement.
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Vocals: Don and Phil Everly deliver the lyrics with humor and irony, their harmonies underscoring the playfulness.
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Instrumentation: Bright guitar lines, steady rhythm, and touches of rock-and-roll drive the track, giving it a buoyant feel.
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Mood: Light, fun, and tongue-in-cheek, with an undercurrent of critique.
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Style: A mix of rock and roll and pop with lyrical humor, fitting neatly into the Everlys’ mid-1960s sound.
The production emphasizes accessibility, ensuring the satire comes across in a catchy and entertaining package.
Cultural and Commercial Impact
Commercially, “Always Drive a Cadillac” was not a major single and did not achieve chart success. By 1965, The Everly Brothers were no longer at the peak of their popularity, as the British Invasion reshaped the pop landscape. However, the track added depth to Rock ’n Soul, helping to showcase the duo’s versatility and humor.
Culturally, the song resonated with listeners attuned to the growing critique of materialism in the 1960s. While not a protest song in the style of Bob Dylan, it carried a sly social commentary that aligned with the decade’s shifting values. For fans, it revealed a playful, satirical side of the Everlys that often went overlooked.
Legacy of “Always Drive a Cadillac”
Today, “Always Drive a Cadillac” is remembered as one of The Everly Brothers’ quirky deep cuts. It lacks the fame of songs like “All I Have to Do Is Dream” or “Bye Bye Love,” but it offers insight into their range as artists. It stands as an example of their willingness to experiment with subject matter, moving beyond teenage romance to explore broader cultural critiques.
For The Everly Brothers’ legacy, the track underscores their adaptability and their awareness of the cultural climate. They were not only innovators of harmony and romance ballads but also performers with wit, humor, and a subtle satirical touch.
More broadly, “Always Drive a Cadillac” reflects the tension of its era. It captures America’s simultaneous celebration of consumerism and the beginning of cultural critiques against it. By lampooning the Cadillac as a symbol of shallow success, the song fits into a broader tradition of mid-century satire that still feels relevant today.
Nearly sixty years after its release, “Always Drive a Cadillac” remains a charming reminder that even legends of harmony like The Everly Brothers could step into humor and satire, delivering cultural commentary wrapped in catchy, playful music.