The Cars: Candy-O
1979
Elektra Records
Format I Own it on: Vinyl and Compact Disc
Track Listing: 1. Let's Go 2. Since I Held You 3. It's All I Can Do 4. Double Life 5. Shoo Be Doo 6. Candy-O 7. Nightspots 8. You Can't Hold on Too Long 9 Lust for Kicks 10. Got a Lot on My Head 11. Dangerous Type
Yay! I like candy! Here are pictures of some of my favorite candy...
Mr. Melons! That's what they used to call me High School! (Shed tear...)
Now that was a segue! Every time I see this record I have this compulsion to assume Benjamin Orr's mechanical baritone and sing "CANDY-OOO..." I've never not done it...
This is probably my personal favorite Cars album...Certainly the one I listen to the most..It helps that there are almost no overplayed radio hits, besides "Let's Go" but it's also the band's best song, so radio can play it all day for all I care...
This seems more legitimately "New Wave" than the debut...Greg Hawkes' keyboards are more prominent and the hooks more cold and robotic...They also seem okay with the fact that there was no way they could top the non-stop perfect pop hits on the debut so it feels a bit more insular and quirky...It has a lot of personality...
I'm partial to "It's All I Can Do"...Do they play that on the radio? I've never heard it, but tell me it wouldn't sound great coming out of the speakers of your 1978 Camaro as you're cruising around pulling a few tabs with your special lady...
A song I think should be held in higher regard is "Lust for Kicks," with a dinky organ sound so late-70's awesome that it reminds me of something off Elvis Costello's "This Year's Model." "Double Life" is another one I'm always pleased to hear...I'm crazy about the lovely backing vocals...Almost too poppy for commercial radio if that makes sense... Also be sure not to miss the driving, strobing title track...Sleek and Modern...Like I said, 1978 Camaro...
The other day when we were discussing Captain Beefheart's "Safe As Milk" I was all hopped up declaring 1967 as the greatest year for albums...But really, I hold 1979 in that same high esteem...Most of my all-time faves come from this year...Let's check out some of the other great records you would have found on the "New Releases" rack at your local record store, all shiny, shrink-wrapped and hot off the presses back in 1979...
The Clash: London Calling
Joe Jackson" Look Sharp!
Elvis Costello: Armed Forces
Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material
Cheap Trick: At Budokan
Roxy Music: Manifesto (Fuck you! I like this album...Especially the cover...)
Squeeze: Cool For Cats
The Fall: Live at the Witch Trials
Dave Edmunds: Repeat When Necessary
Nick Lowe: Labour of Lust
Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures
Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps
Devo: Duty Now For the Future
Talking Heads: Fear of Music
The Damned: Machine Gun Etiquette
Wire: 154
Gang of Four: Entertainment...
Dang, I gotta give this up...Looking at the complete list of 1979 releases there are about 30 others of roughly the same caliber as the ones listed above... ("One Step Beyond" by Madness, the first album by the Specials, "A Different Kind of Tension" by the Buzzcocks, ":Mirrors" by Blue Oyster Cult....the list goes on and on and on...) Screw 1967!! 1979 was hands down the greatest year for music ever!!! These are all records I play just about every Friday Night...
Hey!! Today is Friday Night! Let's check out "It's All I Can Do" by the Cars! Let's Beer!
They play It's All I Can Do on that radio station I've been telling you about. I just heard it the other day. I agree with you on Lets Go being their best song. It's always been my favorite. I love your mention of Wire here! Ex Lion Tamer is probably my favorite punk song ever!
ReplyDeleteYea, "Ex-Lion Tamer" is awesome...I think my favorite Wire songs are "Map Ref. 41°N 93°W" and "The 15th." I wish I could hear "All I Can Do" on the radio!
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