"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. The song peaked at No. 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 6 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and No. 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.
Background 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 of Los Angeles for pre-production, Howard suggested shifting the song toward a more rock-oriented approach.
Reception Billboard described "Start the Car," the title track from Jude Cole's 1992 album of the same name, as a chugging, horn-framed rocker fueled by an instantly catchy chorus and strong guitar/rhythm interplay, predicting that with his 1990 album A View from 3rd Street having quietly produced one delicious pop/rock single after another, this cut held promise of catapulting him beyond his previous top 40 success and straight into the top 10.
Personnel Jude Cole – vocals, backing vocals, guitar, mandolin Bill Payne – piano Marc Greene – Hammond organ Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar John Robinson – drums Lenny Castro – percussion Gary Grant – horns Jerry Hey – horns Larry Williams – horns Daniel Higgins – horns Sass Jordan – female vocals
Charts Chart (1992)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)59US Billboard Hot 10071US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)6
Travis Tritt version
In 1998, American country music singer Travis Tritt covered "Start the Car" for his album No More Looking over My Shoulder. His version was the album's third single, charting for ten weeks on Billboard Hot Country Songs and peaking at number 52, making it Tritt's first single to peak below the top 40 there.
Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly called Tritt's cover a "gritty blues version" and considered it an example of Tritt's Southern rock influence.
Chart (1999)PeakpositionCanadian RPM Country Tracks90
References