Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids - Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids (1973)

Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids, now known as Flash Cadillac, are an American retro rock ‘n’ roll band. In the late ’60s, Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids hit the club scene and shook up the psychedelic status quo with a dose of old-style rock & roll. Clad in black leather jackets with their hair greased back in ducktails, they performed punchy ’50s rock classics at a time when ten-minute guitar solos were de rigueur. They are best known for their portrayal of the group Herbie and the Heartbeats in the film American Graffiti, to which they contributed three songs: cover versions of “At the Hop” and “Louie, Louie”, and the original composition “She’s So Fine”. The band began in 1969 in Boulder, Colorado at the University of Colorado with Kris Moe as the keyboardist, Linn Phillips guitar, Warren Knight on bass, Harold Fielden on drums and Mick “Flash” Manresa as front man and guitar. The band got its name, “Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids” from Hughey Plumley who spent most of his time in the back of a Boulder bar, The Sink, and who entertained himself by creating names for bands. After honing their chops on the fraternity party circuit, the group left Boulder and relocated to Los Angeles in 1971. Two years later, they got their big break when they were cast as the prom band in American Graffiti, a gig that also entailed their inclusion in the movie’s hit soundtrack. A major-label record contract followed, and the band issued a series of pleasant ’50s and ’60s revival music albums that encompassed both cover versions and original compositions. The best of these is the surf-themed Sons of the Beach, issued in 1976. The band toured extensively as an opening act for many of the top bands of the ’70s, including Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath. They also appeared on the TV show Happy Days (in an episode written especially for them, no less) and were featured in the film Apocalypse Now. After their career cooled, Flash Cadillac continued to appear on the summer fair circuit and managed to secure gigs doing classic rock songs with symphony pops orchestras. The band also maintained the ongoing job of producing and performing music for the syndicated oldies radio show Supergold.

Track listing

01.  “Muleskinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)   (J. Rodgers)  - 2:30
02.  “Reputation”   (K. Fowley, S. O’Reilly)  - 2:07
03.  “Crying In The Rain”   (C. King, H. Greenfield)  - 2:15
04.  “Teenage Eyes”   (K. Moe)  - 3:08
05.  “Betty Lou”   (K. Moe)  - 2:04
06.  “Pipeline”   (B. Spickard, B. Carman)  - 2:52
07.  “She’s So Fine”   (K. M. Phillips)  - 2:36
08.  “Tell Him No”   (T. M. Pritchett)  - 2:26
09.  “Nothin’ For Me”   (S. McFadin)  - 1:51
10.  “You Gotta Rock”   (G. Robinson, J. Masino)  - 2:14
11.  “Endless Sleep”   (D. Nance, J. Reynolds)  - 3:45
12.  “Up On The Mountain”   (N. Montague, E. G. Abner Jr.)  - 2:25

Credits
Kris Moe – keyboardist
Linn Phillips – guitar
Warren Knight – bass
Harold Fielden – drums
Mick “Flash” Manresa – guitar

Notes
Genre: Rock & Roll
Length:  30:13
Label: Epic Records

© 1973