In 1959, Vince Taylor recorded a rockabilly B-side. In 1979, The Clash made it into a punk masterpiece

Vince Taylor’s 1959 rockabilly song ‘Brand New Cadillac’ began as the B-side to ‘Pledgin’ My Love’, a single that failed to gain traction in Britain. Two decades later, The Clash recorded it for *London Calling*, turning the little-known track into one of the album’s best-known songs.

Taylor, born Brian Holden in Middlesex, had spent part of his childhood in the United States and returned to Britain with experience of its 1950s rock scene. His band, the Playboys, found a cult following in parts of mainland Europe, but their Parlophone singles did not chart and the label ended their contract. The Clash kept much of the original arrangement, adding more distortion and angst, and their version became better known than Taylor’s.