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 and produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had previously worked with Queen. The album featured the band's signature new wave and power pop sound, with engineer Mack's work helping to capture the polished, radio-friendly production style that defined the era. Baker's production emphasized tight, hook-driven songwriting and layered synthesizers alongside the band's guitars, contributing to the album's commercial success as it reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The recording process benefited from advances in multi-track recording technology available at the time, allowing for detailed arrangements and vocal harmonies. Candy-O was released in June 1978 and spawned several hit singles including "Double Life" and "Shake It Up," solidifying The Cars' position as one of the leading new wave bands of the late 1970s.