The song traces back to Schenkman’s grandfather’s large green Cadillac Eldorado, which now sits in an old barn in Vermont. For Schenkman, the car became more than a family relic. It became a link to his childhood, his family and the people who shaped his life.
The title itself has an unusual history. In 1995, Schenkman visited guitarist David Lindley in California and noticed a Cadillac Eldorado outside his home. He mentioned that his grandfather had a similar car, only his was avocado green. Lindley suggested he write a song about it. Thirty years later, Schenkman finally did.
That long wait gives the track an added sense of history. The Cadillac becomes a symbol of memory and the stories that stay attached to places, objects and family members long after the moment has passed. Schenkman has described writing the song as an experience that made him feel closer to his family.
Musically, the track was produced by Schenkman and Aaron Goldstein and recorded without a click track, allowing the performance to retain a direct, spontaneous rock and roll feel. Schenkman handles vocals and guitar, joined by Al Cross on drums, Stan Miczek on bass and Carleigh Aikens on backing vocals. Jono Manson also contributed lyrics to the bridge.
Avocado Eldorado arrives as the latest preview of Ten Smiles, Schenkman’s upcoming solo album. It follows Recipe and Hit On Me, giving the record another glimpse of the guitarist’s ability to connect rock songwriting with stories drawn from his own life.
Schenkman’s history stretches back to the Spin Doctors, the New York band he co-founded and helped shape through songs including Two Princes and Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong. Away from the group, he has worked with artists including Natalie Merchant, Phoebe Snow and Carly Simon, while his solo career began with the 2019 album Who Shot John?
With Avocado Eldorado, Schenkman looks back rather than forward, finding a song in an old car and the family memories surrounding it. What began as a passing conversation with David Lindley in 1995 has finally become part of the next chapter of his solo career.
