car wash

Rose Royce cleaned up with their first single, driving their blaxploitation comedy soundtrack up the charts as well. Norman Whitfield wrote and produced 'Car Wash' for the movie of the same name. He took the job of recording the soundtrack to promote the disco funk band that he had just signed to his own label; but had trouble with the main theme until inspiration hit during a basketball game. He quickly wrote the lyrics on a Kentucky Fried Chicken wrapper. The soundtrack to 'Car Wash' was a double album and Rose Royce's debut. The title track and leadoff single sold two million copies and went to number one on the Billboard pop and R&B charts. The handclap intro to 'Car Wash' has been sampled numerous times.

















Woo
You might not ever get rich
But let me tell ya it's better that diggin' a ditch.
There ain't no tellin' who ya might meet. .
A movie star or may be even an Indian Chief.
(Workin' at the) car wash.
Workin' at the car wash yeah !
Come on and sing it with me car wash.
Get with the feelin' y'all car wash yeah.
Come summer the work gets kind a hard
This ain't no place to be if ya planned on being a star.
Let me tell you it's always cool
And the boss don't mind sometimes if ya act a fool.
At the car wash
Talkin' about the car wash yeah!
Come on and sing it for me car wash.
Car wash yeah!
(Work and work) Well those cars never seem to stop comin'.
(Work and work) Keep those rags and machines hummin'
(Work and work) my fingers to the bone
(Work) at five I can't wait 'til it's time to go home
Hey
get your car washed today.
Fill up and you don't have to pay.
Come on and give us a play.
Get a wash right away.
Car wash talkin' about the car wash yeah!
Woo car wash
Those cars never seems to stop comin'
Well
I say
Keep those rags and machines hummin'









'Car Wash' was directed by Michael Schultz from a screenplay by Joel Schumacher, starring Franklyn Ajaye, Bill Duke, George Carlin, Irwin Corey, Ivan Dixon, Antonio Fargas, Jack Kehoe, Clarence Muse, Lorraine Gary, The Pointer Sisters and Richard Pryor.






full soundtrack:



Side one
1. "Car Wash" Norman Whitfield 5:06
2. "6 O'Clock DJ (Let's Rock)" Norman Whitfield 1:09
3. "I Wanna Get Next to You" Norman Whitfield 3:57
4. "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" Norman Whitfield 3:25
5. "Zig Zag" Rose Royce 2:30
Side two 
6. "You're on My Mind" Lequeint Jobe, Henry Garner 3:27
7. "Mid Day DJ Theme" Norman Whitfield 1:43
8. "Born to Love You" Rose Royce 3:06
9. "Daddy Rich" Norman Whitfield 3:12
10. "Richard Pryor Dialogue" Norman Whitfield 5:21
Side three 
11. "You Gotta Believe" (Vocals by The Pointer Sisters) Norman Whitfield 2:51
12. "I'm Going Down" Norman Whitfield 3:37
13. "Yo Yo" Rose Royce 4:16
14. "Sunrise" Norman Whitfield 10:48
Side four 
15. "Righteous Rhythm" Norman Whitfield 2:30
16. "Water" Norman Whitfield 3:31
17. "Crying" Norman Whitfield 2:57
18. "Doin' What Comes Naturally" Norman Whitfield 3:09

19. "Keep on Keepin' On" Norman Whitfield 6:39