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Released: June 13, 1979

Rating: 3.785 (average of 12 ratings)

Genre: rock > new wave

Quotable: “Candy-O proved that the Cars were not one-hit wonders, like so many other bands from the same era.” – Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Album Tracks:

  1. Let’s Go [3:33]
  2. Since I Held You [3:16]
  3. It’s All I Can Do [3:44]
  4. Double Life [4:14]
  5. Shoo Bee Doo [1:36]
  6. Candy-O [2:36]
  7. Nightspots [3:15]
  8. You Can’t Hold on Too Long [2:46]
  9. Lust for Kicks [3:52]
  10. Got a Lot on My Head [2:59]
  11. Dangerous Type [4:28]

All songs written by Ric Ocasek.

Total Running Time: 36:25

Sales (in millions):

sales in U.S. only 4.0
sales in U.K. only - estimated --
sales in all of Europe as determined by IFPI – click here to go to their site. --
sales worldwide - estimated 4.0

Peak:

peak on U.S. Billboard album chart 3
peak on U.K. album chart 30

Singles/Hit Songs:

  • Let’s Go (6/12/79) #14 US, #51 UK
  • It’s All I Can Do (9/25/79) #41 US
  • Double Life (12/11/79) --

Awards:

--

Candy-O
The Cars
Review:
“Since the Cars had created a perfect album with their 1978 self-titled debut, it would be nearly impossible to top it. Instead of laboring long and hard over a follow-up like many ‘70s bands did after a huge commercial success, the band cranked out their sophomore effort, Candy-O, almost exactly one year later from the first LP. And while the album was not as stellar as its predecessor was, it did contain several classics, resulting in another smash album that solidified the band’s standing as one of the most promising new bands of the late ‘70s.” GP “Candy-O proved that the Cars were not one-hit wonders, like so many other bands from the same era.” GP

“The first single, the Top 20 anthem Let’s Go, proves to be the best track, but plenty of other standouts can be found as well. The title track remains one of the band’s best rockers, while the gentle It’s All I Can Do also deserved to be a hit. The band pays tribute to T. Rex on Dangerous Type (the main guitar riff resembles ‘Bang a Gong’), rocks out on Got a Lot on My Head and Night Spots, shows their softer side on Since I Held You, and embraces modern pop on Double Life and Lust for Kicks.” GP

Review Sources:

Related DMDB Link(s):

previous album: The Cars (1978) next album: Panorama (1980)

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Last updated March 23, 2011.