| "Start the Car" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian CD cover | ||||
| Single by Jude Cole | ||||
| from the album Start the Car | ||||
| B-side | "A Place in the Line" | |||
| Written | 1991 [1] | |||
| Released | August 1992 | |||
| Length | 5:07 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Songwriter | Jude Cole | |||
| Producers |
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| Jude Cole singles chronology | ||||
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"Start the Car" is a song by the American guitarist and singer Jude Cole. It was released as the lead single from the album of the same name. It was written by Cole and produced by Cole alongside co-producer James Newton Howard.
It peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 6 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, and No. 24 in Canada. In October 1992, "Start the Car" appeared on Billboard ’s regional singles charts, reaching No. 8 on the top ten lists of Best Selling Singles in the West North Central region, No. 10 in the South Central region, and No. 3 in the East North Central region. [2] [3] In the Dallas market, the single was No. 11 on the Power Playlist of the city. [4]
Cole later explained that he wrote “Start the Car” in 1991 while immersed in classic 1970s soul artists such as Al Green, Marvin Gaye, the Staple Singers, and Roberta Flack. His initial concept was a groove-driven track in the style of Al Green. However, on his drive to the studio, he had Aerosmith’s Pump album playing at high volume, and the powerful transition between “Young Lust” and “F.I.N.E.*” made a strong impression on him. Arriving at James Newton Howard’s studio in the Palisades for pre-production, Howard suggested shifting the song toward a more rock-oriented approach. [1]
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [5] | 59 |
| Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [6] | 24 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [7] | 71 |
| US Album Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [8] [9] | 6 |