Start the Car (song)

"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 of Los Angeles for pre-production, Howard suggested shifting the song toward a more rock-oriented approach.^[1]

• Jude Cole – vocals, backing vocals, electric guitar, solo, mandolin
• James Newton Howard – keyboards
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar
• John Robinson – drums
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Michael Landau – additional guitar
• Gary Grant – horn
• Jerry Hey – horn
• Larry Williams – horn
• Daniel Higgins – horn
• Sass Jordan – backing vocals