As Lightning McQueen heads to the big screen alongside his new tech-savvy trainer Cruz Ramirez, Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” fuels two soundtrack releases—both available from Walt Disney Records on June 16 as the film opens in theaters nationwide. The Cars 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, features eight tracks—including original songs by Dan Auerbach and ZZ Ward, four covers by various artists, and two instrumental tracks from Brad Paisley. The Cars 3 Original Score Composed and Conducted by Randy Newman reunites the “Cars” franchise with the Oscar®-winning composer. Both soundtracks are available for pre-order tomorrow, May 19, 2017.
“Lightning McQueen is on the journey of a lifetime—traveling cross-country, revisiting the past and looking into his own heart and soul to answer some big questions,” said “Cars 3” director Brian Fee. “Just like the music in the first two ‘Cars’ movies, the songs and score in this film really help support the story we are telling.”
CARS 3 ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
The Cars 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features “Run That Race,” an original song written and performed by nine-time Grammy® winner Dan Auerbach that can be heard as the movie opens. “The song is about never giving up and always trying your best,” said Auerbach, who met with filmmakers prior to penning the song. “They showed me the storyboards and ran through the plot. I was able to read some of the dialogue and from there I had enough to piece together a story in my mind for the song.”
Auerbach will release Waiting on a Song, his second solo album, on June 2 via his new label, Easy Eye Sound.
The soundtrack also features “Ride,” an original end-credit song performed by Hollywood Records artist ZZ Ward, featuring musician Gary Clark Jr. Written by Ward, Evan Bogart and Dave Bassett, the song was released by Walt Disney Records as a digital single on April 14. It was performed live by Ward April 17 on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Ward’s sophomore album, The Storm, will be released June 30.
The soundtrack also features four cover songs, including two bonus tracks.*
- “Kings Highway,” originally released in 1991 by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, makes a comeback courtesy of 23-year-old British singer-songwriter James Bay.
- Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit “Glory Days” gets a modern-day makeover by Grammy®-nominated performer Andra Day, who voices Sweet Tea in the film—a performer in the Cotter Pin with a hairstyle reminiscent of Day’s signature look.
- *The Beatles’ classic 1965 song “Drive My Car” is back on the road, compliments of Hollywood Records artist Jorge Blanco.
- *”Freeway of Love,” made famous in 1985 by Aretha Franklin, is performed for the soundtrack by actress Lea DeLaria, who also provides the voice of Miss Fritter, a school bus-turned-demolition-derby-queen in “Cars 3.”
Three-time Grammy®-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer Brad Paisley, who has 24 No. 1 singles under his belt, was called on to create two instrumental tracks that are featured on the Cars 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. “Truckaroo” and “Thunder Hollow Breakdown” accompany the film’s action-packed Crazy 8 demolition derby sequence that puts Lightning and Cruz in the midst of total chaos. “Brad Paisley was part of both ‘Cars’ and ‘Cars 2,'” said Tom MacDougall, executive vice president of music at Disney. “We knew he could have some fun with a demolition derby, and he just killed it. His down-home country tracks really add to the scene’s action and humor.”
From Walt Disney Records, the Cars 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available June 16 and can be pre-ordered digitally HERE and via Amazon HERE.
CARS 3 ORIGINAL SCORE SOUNDTRACK
Newman, who was behind the Oscar®-winning music in Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” and “Monsters, Inc.,” composed the score for the first “Cars” movie and penned the Oscar®-nominated song “Our Town.” For “Cars 3,” Newman created a score that reflects the heart and high-octane action of the film—21 tracks are included on the soundtrack. “Randy has a real connection to the ‘Cars’ world,” says MacDougall. “His ability to capture the feeling of this film, its characters, locations and the Americana theme throughout is extraordinary—the music is so naturally fluid and inspired. It really feels like Randy is coming home with this score.”
Newman used a 110-piece orchestra to record the score. The Cars 3 Original Score Composed and Conducted by Randy Newman is available June 16 from Walt Disney Records and can be pre-ordered HERE.
