The Cars and Candy-O: best 1-2 punch ever?

[freedom's door]

Listening to those two albums recently reminded me how damn perfect they were (i actually like Candy-O slightly better), firing on all cylinders from start to finish. Sure, some of the keyboard sounds are a little dated, but has there ever been a better debut/followup combination than those two albums?

[Tripower455]

Great stuff and the soundtrack of my youth! Props to EE's guitar playing too!

[Dan S]

I saw them with Foreigner when the first album came out and I remember "lowriding" around with Candy-O blaring out of an 8-track in the back seat of my buddy's OLD mercury..............totally blown, of course.

[bunuel]

Strange that you bring this up...I was sorta thinking the same thing when I punched in Candy-O just two days ago. Frothy pop, but great frothy pop!

[Gretsch6136]

A better one-two punch? Let me think.....

Please Please Me and Beatles For Sale - The Beatles

[sweetpeeeeeee]

Zeppelin 1 & 2...


J.P.

[TNJ]

They are up there, to be sure.

I LOVE EE's playing...what an amazing lefty! (from an unamazing lefty playing righty :D )

He's the mirror image to Mike Campbell, IMO. (they both were/are such an indispensable part of the band's music and both such underrated players)



S.
j

[bjjp2]

Off the top of my head, I prefer:

Zeppelin I and II
Jimi Hendrix--Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love
Talking Heads--77, More Songs About Buildings and Food
Bob Dylan--Bob Dylan, The Freewheeling Bob Dylan
The Who--My Generation, A Quick One
Black Sabbath--Black Sabbath, Paranoid
Elvis Costello--My Aim Is True, This Year's Model
The Clash--The Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope
Pixies--Surfer Rosa, Doolittle
The Police--Outlandos D'Amour, Regatta De Blanc
Steely Dan--Can't Buy A Thrill, Countdown to Ecstacy
Van Halen--I and II
Allman Brothers--Allman Brothers Band, Idlewild South
The Band--Music from Big Pink, The Band

Oh yeah, and the Beatles.

[johnzias]

Elliot is an old friend. Besides being a master of the hook in The Cars, he is an fantastic Blues and Country guitar player.

[tone4days]

van halen's first two were happenin

but yeah, those two cars' albums were soundtrack to their respective summers back in the late 70s - great stuff

[furry]

great records, but I have to go with Rubber Soul -> Revolver.

Absolutely mind-boggling to produce those two in a row.

[trickness]

+ 1000. an absolutely amazing record with superb songs, playing and singing. Love Candy-O.

[dankayaker]

I Love the Cars ! Still one of the best concerts I've seen.

[bjjp2]

great records, but I have to go with Rubber Soul -> Revolver.

Absolutely mind-boggling to produce those two in a row.

He asked about debut/follow-ups.

[daddyo]

Those first 2 Cars albums were the soundtrack to my dismal teenage love life as a senior in high school.
Candy O, I need you . . .
Did I ever but no luck :D

[furry]

He asked about debut/follow-ups.

you're right, I stand corrected.

[Sweetfinger]

Nick Curran, "Fixin' Your Head" and "Nightlife Boogie"
Blue Cheer, "Vincebus Eruptum" and "Inside Outside"
um... Boston's first two?

[ShavenYak]

I LOVE EE's playing...what an amazing lefty!

He's the mirror image to Mike Campbell, IMO.

I see what you did there.

[ShavenYak]

Pixies--Surfer Rosa, Doolittle


Come On Pilgrim would actually have been the debut and Surfer Rosa the followup - or are we not counting EPs?

[cugel]

eliot easton's playing on those was as good as anything on radio in terms of solos that were great AND fit the song to a T. who was chikin pikin like that on top 40?? brilliant
the cars have stood the test of time.

[TrickinSid]

+1.
Candy-O......The Cars = some cool music.

[Atomic Punk]

As great as the first two are, I actually like the third, "Panorama" better.
Then again, I think all six albums (greatest hits/box sets don't count) they did are great.

[greggorypeccary]

Two great albums. I'll add another one - Pretenders & Pretenders II.

[daddyo]

Buckingham/Nicks era Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac
Rumours

[HelloKittyHawk!]

A better one-two punch? Let me think.....

Please Please Me and Beatles For Sale - The Beatles

You mean With the Beatles? Beatles For Sale was three years after their debut.

Agree on the first two Pretenders, and with the OP.

Powerful, airtight stuff!

[SmilingDave]

The first two from King's X floored me ...

Out of the Silent Planet
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska

Stellar singing, playing, and songwriting (and not a weak song in the bunch)!

[joseph]

Of interest, in all the bands listed above, there was no 'sophmore slump'.
If anything, the second albums were better than the first.

[Gretsch6136]

Thanks HelloKittyhawk.

I stand corrected. With the Beatles is the correct title for the second album. I had the right cover picture in my mind, but typed the wrong name!

Must be gettin' old.....

[fretfreak76]

Listening to those two albums recently reminded me how damn perfect they were (i actually like Candy-O slightly better), firing on all cylinders from start to finish. Sure, some of the keyboard sounds are a little dated, but has there ever been a better debut/followup combination than those two albums?It's funny i had to be turned on to the Cars by my sister in our Highschool day's as i was too immersed in VH,Rush,Jimi etc... Once i heard Elliot Eastons guitar playing i was sold!!! Ha,Ha.

[flume]

Candy O devastates still. In several tracks there's an element of menace and understated wickedness - particularly the title cut. Great writing and great playing by all concerned.