Panorama (The Cars album)
Panorama is the third studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released in 1980. Like its predecessors, it was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released on Elektra Records. Though it lacked any enduring hit singles, it peaked at #5 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
Panorama | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 15, 1980 | |||
Recorded | April – May 1980 | |||
Studio | The Power Station (New York, NY); Cherokee Studios (Los Angeles, CA). | |||
Genre | New wave, art rock, pop rock | |||
Length | 40:09 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
The Cars chronology | ||||
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Singles from Panorama | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[2] |
Robert Christgau | B−[3] |
Rolling Stone | (not rated)[4] |
Background
The record marked a change from the upbeat pop rock and hard rock of the group's previous albums, representing a more aggressive and experimental sound.[5] Billboard Magazine said that while Panorama retained the Cars' minimalist approach from their debut album, it sounded sufficiently different to avoid having the group sound like a caricature of itself.[6] It was not as commercially successful as the Cars' previous or subsequent albums (until 1987's Door to Door). However, it did hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.[7]
As a single off the album, the song "Touch and Go" peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek.
No. | Title | Vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Panorama" | Ocasek | 5:42 |
2. | "Touch and Go" | Ocasek | 4:55 |
3. | "Gimme Some Slack" | Ocasek | 3:32 |
4. | "Don't Tell Me No" | Benjamin Orr | 4:00 |
5. | "Getting Through" | Ocasek | 2:35 |
No. | Title | Vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Misfit Kid" | Ocasek | 4:30 |
7. | "Down Boys" | Orr | 3:08 |
8. | "You Wear Those Eyes" | Orr/Ocasek | 4:55 |
9. | "Running to You" | Orr | 3:22 |
10. | "Up and Down" | Ocasek | 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
11. | "Shooting For You" (previously unreleased) | Orr | 4:04 | |
12. | "Be My Baby" (early version of "Maybe Baby") | Ocasek | 5:00 | |
13. | "The Edge" (previously unreleased) | Orr | 3:26 | |
14. | "Don't Go to Pieces" (B-side of "Don't Tell Me No" and "Gimme Some Slack") | Ocasek, Greg Hawkes | Orr | 4:04 |
Personnel
The Cars
- Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Greg Hawkes – keyboards, saxophone, backing vocals
- Benjamin Orr – bass guitar, lead vocals
- David Robinson – drums, percussion
Production
- Roy Thomas Baker – producer
- Thom Moore – production assistant
- Ian Taylor – engineer
- John Weaver – assistant engineer
- Jason Corsaro – assistant engineer
- Paul McAlpine – photography
- David Robinson – cover design
- Elliot Roberts – management
- Steve Berkowitz – management
Charts
Album
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[8] | 5 |
Single
Year | Title | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | "Touch and Go" | Billboard Pop Singles[9] | 37 |
Notes
- AllMusic Review
- "The Cars: Panorama". Pitchfork Media.
- "Robert Christgau: CG: the cars". Robert Christgau.
- "link". rollingstone.com.
- https://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-cars-panorama/
- "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. August 30, 1980. p. 84. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/r3401
- "The Cars Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- "The Cars Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- "American certifications – Cars – Panorama". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 19, 2019.