Candy-O

For the title track, see Candy-O (song).

Candy-O
Studio album by The Cars
Released	June 13, 1979 (1979-06-13)
Recorded	1979, Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock, New Wave, pop rock
Length	36:25
Label	Elektra
Producer	Roy Thomas Baker
The Cars chronology
The Cars (1978) Candy-O (1979) Panorama (1980)
Singles from Candy-O
"Let's Go" Released: June 12, 1979 (1979-06-12) "It's All I Can Do" Released: September 25, 1979 (1979-09-25) "Double Life" Released: December 11, 1979 (1979-12-11)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B+)[2]

Candy-O is the second studio album by the American rock band The Cars, released in 1979.

Cover art

The album cover was painted by artist Alberto Vargas, known for his paintings of pin-up girls that appeared in Esquire and Playboy magazines in the 1940s and 1960s. The idea to hire Vargas came from drummer David Robinson, the band's artistic director and a collector of pin-ups. The 83-year-old Vargas had retired several years earlier but was persuaded to take the assignment by his niece, who was a fan of The Cars. The painting, depicting a girl sprawled across the hood of a car, was based on a photo shoot directed by Robinson at a Ferrari dealership. The model, coincidentally named Candy, briefly dated Robinson afterward.^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Ric Ocasek.

Side one

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 Be Doo" – 1:36
6. "Candy-O" – 2:36

Side two

1. "Nightspots" – 3:15
2. "You Can't Hold on Too Long" – 2:46
3. "Lust for Kicks" – 3:52
4. "Got a Lot on My Head" – 2:59
5. "Dangerous Type" – 4:28

Personnel

• Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on side one, tracks 2, 4 and 5; side two, tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5
• Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Greg Hawkes – percussion, keyboards, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
• Benjamin Orr – bass guitar, lead vocals on side one, tracks 1, 3, and 6; side two, track 2
• David Robinson – drums, percussion

Production

• Arranged By The Cars
• Produced By Roy Thomas Baker
• Recorded & Engineered By Geoff Workman; assistant engineer: George Tutko
• Mastered By George Marino

Packaging personnel

• Jeff Albertson - photography
• Ron Coro, Johnny Lee - art direction and design
• David Robinson - cover concept
• Alberto Vargas - cover painting

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Peak Position
1979	Billboard 200	3
1979	RPM Canada	4
1984	Billboard 200	179

Singles

Year	Title	Chart	Peak Position
1979	"Let's Go"	Billboard Hot 100	14
1979	"It's All I Can Do"	Billboard Hot 100	41

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – U.S.	Gold	July 24, 1979
RIAA – U.S.	Platinum	August 6, 1979
RIAA – U.S.	Triple Platinum	April 5, 1995
RIAA – U.S.	4X Platinum	December 15, 2001

External links

• "Candy-O" at discogs

Notes

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Robert Christgau review
3. ^ Miles, Barry. Scott, Grant. Morgan, Johnny. The Greatest Album Covers of All Time (2005): 96