The Cars

Candy‐O

First released1979

Candy-O, the second studio album by The Cars, was recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles during 1978 under the production of Roy Thomas Baker and The Cars themselves. The album was engineered primarily by Tom Allom, who brought sophisticated production techniques that enhanced the band's new wave and pop-rock sound. Baker's production approach emphasized polished synthesizers and layered vocals, moving away from the rawer quality of their debut while maintaining the band's distinctive electronic-driven rock aesthetic. The recording benefited from advances in studio technology of the late 1970s, particularly in synthesizer capabilities and multitrack recording techniques. Released in June 1979, Candy-O became a commercial success, reaching number five on the Billboard 200 and establishing The Cars as major commercial artists during the height of new wave's popularity.