Panorama (The Cars album) explained

Panorama
Type:studio
Artist:the Cars
Cover:The Cars - Panorama.jpg
Recorded:April–May 1980
Studio:
Genre:
Length:40:09
Label:Elektra
Producer:Roy Thomas Baker
Prev Title:Candy-O
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Shake It Up
Next Year: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

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

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

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Panorama.[4]

The Cars

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 19
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[6] 69

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)! scope="col"
Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] 55

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joiner, Mike . Gary . Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . The Cars . . Detroit . 203.
  2. Web site: Giles. Jeff. How The Cars Pushed Back With Their Third Album, 'Panorama'. Ultimate Classic Rock. August 15, 2015.
  3. Top Album Picks. Billboard. 92. 35. August 30, 1980. 84. 0006-2510. Google Books.
  4. Panorama . liner notes . . . 1980 . 5E-514.
  5. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . illustrated . St Ives, N.S.W. . Australian Chart Book . 1993 . 56 . 0-646-11917-6.
  6. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 . ja . Roppongi, Tokyo . . 2006 . 4-87131-077-9.
  7. Top 100 Albums . RPM . 34 . 6 . December 20, 1980 . 0315-5994 . Library and Archives Canada.