ROSE ROYCE - CAR WASH

Llançament: setembre de 1976

Llistes: Regne Unit: #9   Estats Units: #1 (1 setmana)

"Car Wash" de Rose Royce és una cançó icòna de l'era disco dels anys 1970, escrita i arranjada pel productor ex-Motown Norman Whitfield. Servint com a cançó principal de la pel·lícula "Car Wash" del 1976, el tema va marcar el debut de Rose Royce com a grup i es va convertir en el seu llançament més exitós. La cançó va encapçalar les llistes dels èxits Billboard Hot 100 i Hot Soul Singles dels Estats Units, consolidant el seu lloc com número u. A més, "Car Wash" va arribar al número tres a la llista National Disco Action Top 30 i va arribar al número nou a la UK Singles Chart al febrer de 1977.

La inspiració de Norman Whitfield per a "Car Wash" va sorgir en un moment inesperat mentre gaudia d'un àpat de Kentucky Fried Chicken i veia un partit de bàsquet. Va escriure la lletra de la cançó a la bossa que contenia el pollastre. Aquesta explosió espontània de creativitat va resultar en una cançó que complementava perfectament l'ambient de la pel·lícula "Car Wash", que es centrava en un ambient sobre un rentat d'automòbils amb ritmes funky. El talent de Whitfield per a crear clàssics de Motown es va traduir perfectament en l'energia enganxosa i contagiosa de "Car Wash", contribuint al seu èxit perdurable com a icona de l'era disco.

"Car Wash" captura l'essència de l'ambient alegre i despreocupat que es mostra en la comèdia cinematogràfica per a la qual va ser creada. Cantada per la vocalista principal de Rose Royce, Rose Norwalt (Gwen Dickey), la cançó retrata un negoci de rentat d'automòbils animat i relaxat, on divertir-se és part del treball.

A la llista Billboard Hot 100, "Car Wash" va restar al primer lloc durant una setmana al gener de 1977, desplaçant "I Wish" de Stevie Wonder i obrint pas a "Torn Between Two Lovers" de Mary MacGregor. L'àlbum de la banda sonora de Car Wash, totalment creat per Rose Royce i Norman Whitfield, va donar lloc a dos senzills més d'èxit: "I Wanna Get Next to You" i "I'm Going Down". La banda sonora va rebre reconeixement per la seva excel·lència en la indústria musical, guanyant el prestigiós premi Grammy al Millor Àlbum de Banda Sonora del 1977.

ROSE ROYCE - CAR WASH 

Released: September 1976

Charted:  UK: #9   US: #1 (1 week) 

"Car Wash" by Rose Royce is an iconic song from the 1970s disco era, written and arranged by the esteemed ex-Motown producer Norman Whitfield. Serving as the theme song for the 1976 film "Car Wash," the track marked Rose Royce's debut single and became their most successful release. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts, solidifying its place as a chart-topping hit. Additionally, "Car Wash" reached number three on the National Disco Action Top 30 chart and peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart in February 1977.

Norman Whitfield's inspiration for "Car Wash" struck in an unexpected moment while he was enjoying a meal of Kentucky Fried Chicken and watching a basketball game. He penned the lyrics for the song on the bag containing the chicken. This spontaneous burst of creativity resulted in a track that perfectly complemented the vibe of the movie "Car Wash," which centered around a funky car wash setting. Whitfield's knack for crafting Motown classics translated seamlessly into the catchy and infectious energy of "Car Wash," contributing to its enduring success as a disco-era hit.

"Car Wash" captured the essence of the upbeat and carefree atmosphere depicted in the comedy film it was created for. Sung by Rose Royce's lead singer Rose Norwalt (Gwen Dickey), the song portrays a lively and relaxed car washing business, where having fun is part of the job description.

The Car Wash soundtrack marked Rose Royce's debut album, and "Car Wash" served as their inaugural single. Its immense popularity propelled the album to great success, with "Car Wash" selling over 2 million copies and reaching number one on both the Billboard popular and R&B charts in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the song achieved top ten status.

On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Car Wash" claimed the number one spot for one week in January 1977, displacing Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" and making way for Mary MacGregor's "Torn Between Two Lovers." The Car Wash soundtrack album, entirely crafted by Rose Royce and Norman Whitfield, spawned two additional hit singles: "I Wanna Get Next to You" and "I'm Going Down." The Car Wash soundtrack received recognition for its excellence in the music industry, earning the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album in 1977.