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 on the Canadian RPM chart.

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]

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.^[2]

• 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