Written and first recorded (as a demo) by Bruce Springsteen (1982)
Released as non-album B-side by Bruce Springsteen (US Rock #27 1984).
Other hit version by Natalie Cole (US #5/R&B #9/UK #5/NZ #4/GER #5/SUI #2 1988).
From the wiki: “Bruce Springsteen originally wrote ‘Pink Cadillac’ as ‘Love Is a Dangerous Thing’ in December 1981 with lyrics distinct from the eventual ‘Pink Cadillac’ and first recorded by Springsteen as a solo acoustic demo in early January 1982 during the sessions for the Nebraska album. The automobile imagery was inspired by Elvis Presley’s 1954 rendition of ‘Baby Let’s Play House’ in which Presley replaced the original lyric ‘You may get religion’ with ‘You may have a pink Cadillac’, a reference to the custom-painted Cadillac which was then Presley’s touring vehicle.
“‘Pink Cadillac’ would not be formally recorded by Springsteen until the sessions for his Born in the U.S.A. album in the spring of 1983. At the end of one session, when most of the crew had left the studio, Springsteen impulsively cut a basic track of him singing ‘Pink Cadillac’ to his guitar accompaniment. This basic track was completed with the E Street Band the following morning. Although not included on the completed Born in the U.S.A. album, being bumped from the tracklist in favor of ‘I’m Goin’ Down’, ‘Pink Cadillac’ would be released in 1984 as the B-side to the album’s lead single, ‘Dancing in the Dark’.
“Natalie Cole recorded ‘Pink Cadillac’ at the suggestion of producer Dennis Lambert. The recording was intended for an album release on the Modern label; that project was canceled and Cole’s ‘Pink Cadillac’, along with another Lambert production, ‘I Live For Your Love’, were picked up by EMI-Manhattan Records to appear on Cole’s 1987 album Everlasting. ‘Pink Cadillac’ was released as that album’s third single in March 1988, returning Cole to the Top Ten for the first time since 1978.”
Bruce Springsteen, “Pink Cadillac” B-side single (1984):
Natalie Cole, “Pink Cadillac” (1988):