Panorama (The Cars album)

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Panorama
Studio album by
the Cars
ReleasedAugust 15, 1980 (1980-08-15)
RecordedApril–May 1980
Studio
Genre
Length40:09
LabelElektra
ProducerRoy Thomas Baker
The Cars chronology
Candy-O
(1979) 		Panorama
(1980) 		Shake It Up
(1981)
Singles from Panorama
  1. "Touch and Go"
    Released: August 25, 1980
  2. "Don't Tell Me No"
    Released: November 10, 1980
  3. "Gimme Some Slack"
    Released: January 5, 1981

Panorama is the third studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on August 15, 1980, by Elektra Records. Like its predecessors, it was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released on Elektra Records.

Background[edit]

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.[2] Billboard 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.[3]

Panorama peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's lead single, "Touch and Go", reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Robert ChristgauB−[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]
Pitchfork8.0/10[7]
Rolling StoneNot rated[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Spin Alternative Record Guide2/10[10]

The Spin Alternative Record Guide deemed the album "a dry, monotonous Wire imitation."[10]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleVocalsLength
1."Panorama"Ocasek5:42
2."Touch and Go"Ocasek4:55
3."Gimme Some Slack"Ocasek3:32
4."Don't Tell Me No"Benjamin Orr4:00
5."Getting Through"Ocasek2:35
Side two
No.TitleVocalsLength
6."Misfit Kid"Ocasek4:30
7."Down Boys"Orr3:08
8."You Wear Those Eyes"
  • Orr
  • Ocasek
4:55
9."Running to You"Orr3:22
10."Up and Down"Ocasek3:31
2017 remastered reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength
11."Shooting For You" (previously unreleased) Orr4:04
12."Be My Baby" (early version of "Maybe Baby") Ocasek5:00
13."The Edge" (previously unreleased) Orr3:26
14."Don't Go to Pieces" (B-side of "Don't Tell Me No" and "Gimme Some Slack")
Orr4:04

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Panorama.[11]

The Cars[edit]

Technical[edit]

  • Roy Thomas Baker – production
  • Ian Taylor – engineering
  • John Weaver – engineering assistance
  • Jason Corsaro – engineering assistance
  • Thom Moore – production assistance

Artwork[edit]

  • David Robinson – cover design
  • Paul McAlpine – photography

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for Panorama
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Joiner, Mike (1998). "The Cars". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 203.
  2. ^ Giles, Jeff (August 15, 2015). "How The Cars Pushed Back With Their Third Album, 'Panorama'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  3. ^ "Top Album Picks". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 35. August 30, 1980. p. 84. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Sendra, Tim. "The Cars – Panorama". AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: The Cars". Robert Christgau.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). "Cars". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (August 17, 2017). "The Cars: Candy-O / Panorama". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ Tucker, Ken (October 16, 1980). "The Cars: Panorama". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007.
  9. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 113.
  10. ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 76, 77.
  11. ^ Panorama (liner notes). The Cars. Elektra Records. 1980. 5E-514.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 56. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0261a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  14. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  15. ^ "Charts.nz – The Cars – Panorama". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Cars Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 34, no. 6. December 20, 1980. ISSN 0315-5994 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "American album certifications – Cars – Panorama". Recording Industry Association of America. October 15, 1980. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
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