Let's Go (The Cars song)
Encyclopedia
"Let's Go" was the first single from The Cars
' album Candy-O
released in 1979. It was written by Ric Ocasek
and features lead vocals by Cars bassist Ben Orr. The single peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart in the U.S., but the song was an even bigger success elsewhere. In Canada, the track reached #5, and remains the Cars' highest ever charting single in that country. Similarly, in Australia "Let's Go" peaked at #6, and remains The Cars' highest charted hit in that country.
The song's signature hook, a series of claps followed by a shouted "Let's go!" is derived from the 1962 instrumental of the same name by The Routers
.
The song tells the story of a 17-year old girl and her budding interest in "the nightlife
". It is told from the perspective of a teenage boy who wishes to ask her out for a date. She refuses any and all of his advances.
In 1980, Alvin and the Chipmunks
covered the song for their comeback album Chipmunk Punk
. They would re-record their cover for their 1994 compilation album Here's Looking at Me!
.
In 1990, Isley Brother Ernie Isley
covered the song for the compilation album Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary.
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
' album Candy-O
Candy-O
Candy-O is the second studio album by the American rock band The Cars, released in 1979.- Cover art :The album cover was painted by artist Alberto Vargas, known for his paintings of pin-up girls that appeared in Esquire and Playboy magazines in the 1940s and 1960s...
released in 1979. It was written by Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
and features lead vocals by Cars bassist Ben Orr. The single peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart in the U.S., but the song was an even bigger success elsewhere. In Canada, the track reached #5, and remains the Cars' highest ever charting single in that country. Similarly, in Australia "Let's Go" peaked at #6, and remains The Cars' highest charted hit in that country.
The song's signature hook, a series of claps followed by a shouted "Let's go!" is derived from the 1962 instrumental of the same name by The Routers
The Routers
-Career:Formed in 1962 by Mike Gordon, the Routers recordings sometimes used session musicians in addition to the actual group with the exception of Gordon who played on most the sessions. The Routers first release in September 1962 was the guitar-driven instrumental "Let's Go ", which reached #19...
.
The song tells the story of a 17-year old girl and her budding interest in "the nightlife
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
". It is told from the perspective of a teenage boy who wishes to ask her out for a date. She refuses any and all of his advances.
In 1980, Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered the song for their comeback album Chipmunk Punk
Chipmunk Punk
Chipmunk Punk is a New Wave music album by The Chipmunks, as well as being the first album released by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., after he took over due to his father's passing. Despite the title of the CD, none of the songs listed were considered to be in the age of real punk rock music. It was...
. They would re-record their cover for their 1994 compilation album Here's Looking at Me!
Here's Looking at Me!
Here's Looking At Me! is a compilation music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was released on CD and cassette by Sony in 1994, and was one of two 35th anniversary compilation albums by The Chipmunks, despite being released 36 years after the group's debut...
.
In 1990, Isley Brother Ernie Isley
Ernie Isley
Ernest "Ernie" Isley is a member of the iconic American musical ensemble, The Isley Brothers.-Life and career:Ernie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his older brothers formed The Isley Brothers, first as a gospel group, then as a secular-singing group. In 1960 his family moved to Englewood and...
covered the song for the compilation album Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary.