[.ca] Cars

Amazon.com essential recording:
American art-rock was often stilted and lacking in humor until the New Wave arrived. Liberated by the influence of the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and punk-era fellow travelers like Blondie and Suicide, the Cars methodically linked hookiness (enough to produce three hit singles and several other FM favorites from this debut album) and at least one raised eyebrow. The result still plays as a rock & roll classic. And if charm wasn't their aim, the fact is, it's undeniable. --Rickey Wright

The Cars' classic debut:
Boston based rockers The Cars released their self-titled debut in June of 1978. The Cars was formed by rhythm guitarist/vocalist Ric Ocasek and bass player/vocalist Benjamin Orr. Prior to the formation of The Cars, Orr and Ocasek were in a popular Boston act called Cap'n Swing, along with lead guitarist and Berkeley School of Music grad Elliot Easton. They broke up in 1975 and the trio joined forces with former Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson and keyboardist Greg Hawkes in 1976. For a year they did well gigging around New England and their demo of Just What I Needed became a hugely requested song on a local Boston rock station. As a result, Elektra Records signed the band and the label pulled out the artillery and had Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker produce this incredible debut and was recorded in London. When this album came out, it was a smash and 26 years later, a masterpiece. The album's first three tracks were all hit singles. Good Times Roll is a great opening song on this album with a killer guitar riff and what not. My Best Friend's Girl is another great song and I think of this song from the 1979 Matt Dillon film debut Over the Edge where he told a cop off as the policeman was arresting one of his friends. The song is great too with a guitar solo reminiscent to The Beatles' I Will in tone. The song that follows Just What I Needed was America's intro to the band and was Orr's vocal debut on a Cars track(Ben and Ric would split the vocals evenly). The track is still a staple of rock radio. This track too appeared in Over the Edge. I'm In Touch With Your World and Dont'cha Stop are also great songs with classic Ric vocals(Ric sang most of the first half except as noted). Those tracks ended the first half wanting more. You're All I've Got Tonight kicks the second half off in a grand way and is a killer rocker(the only vocal from Ric in the second half as Ben did the rest). Bye Bye Love is a great rocker as well and a rock radio staple as is most of this album. The classic Moving in Stereo is one of the band's best pieces of music and the song is forever etched in our brains as that image of Phoebe Cates in the red swimsuit coming out of the pool in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The closing All Mixed Up is a great song as well and a great way to close this album. This album fittingly got the success it deserved and not only new wave fans bought this album but hard rock fans did as well and sold millions and peaked in the Top 20. This version of the album was remastered in 1998 and Rhino then upped the anty by issuing a deluxe edition in 1999. Highly recommended!

Superb debut from The Cars:
Boston based rockers The Cars released their self-titled debut in June of 1978. The Cars was formed by rhythm guitarist/vocalist Ric Ocasek and bass player/vocalist Benjamin Orr. Prior to the formation of The Cars, Orr and Ocasek were in a popular Boston act called Cap'n Swing, along with lead guitarist and Berkeley School of Music grad Elliot Easton. They broke up in 1975 and the trio joined forces with former Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson and keyboardist Greg Hawkes in 1976. For a year they did well gigging around New England and their demo of Just What I Needed became a hugely requested song on a local Boston rock station. As a result, Elektra Records signed the band and the label pulled out the artillery and had Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker produce this incredible debut and was recorded in London. When this album came out, it was a smash and 26 years later, a masterpiece. The album's first three tracks were all hit singles. Good Times Roll is a great opening song on this album with a killer guitar riff and what not. My Best Friend's Girl is another great song and I think of this song from the 1979 Matt Dillon film debut Over the Edge where he told a cop off as the policeman was arresting one of his friends. The song is great too with a guitar solo reminiscent to The Beatles' I Will in tone. The song that follows Just What I Needed was America's intro to the band and was Orr's vocal debut on a Cars track(Ben and Ric would split the vocals evenly). The track is still a staple of rock radio. This track too appeared in Over the Edge. I'm In Touch With Your World and Dont'cha Stop are also great songs with classic Ric vocals(Ric sang most of the first half except as noted). Those tracks ended the first half wanting more. You're All I've Got Tonight kicks the second half off in a grand way and is a killer rocker(the only vocal from Ric in the second half as Ben did the rest). Bye Bye Love is a great rocker as well and a rock radio staple as is most of this album. The classic Moving in Stereo is one of the band's best pieces of music and the song is forever etched in our brains as that image of Phoebe Cates in the red swimsuit coming out of the pool in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The closing All Mixed Up is a great song as well and a great way to close this album. This album fittingly got the success it deserved and not only new wave fans bought this album but hard rock fans did as well and sold millions and peaked in the Top 20. This version of the album was remastered in 1998 and Rhino then upped the anty by issuing a deluxe edition in 1999. Highly recommended!

Safe new wave, but a killer album all the same:
One of the few albums from my high school years that I can listen to without attaching any hideous memories to, The Cars debut album started the band off on a string of great albums that to this day I more often than not play all the way through. Until Shake It Up's all too normal pop sheen, The Cars may well have been the band that were my personal pick for most consistently great albums back to back to back. There truly isn't a song on here that I consider less than great, and it amazes me that it took me this long to think about writing a review on the group. Twenty-five years later I still consider this a great album, but something about the slickness allows the album to leave your musical palate almost as soon as you're finished listening to it. Unlike most albums that I rate this highly, I don't find myself walking around whistling tunes from it after a long listen. While this might strike some as a sign that I'm really not all that into the album, I think it's what's allowed me to listen to this album without getting tired of it after all these years.

Great Album!:
Many bands have a long time to perfect the songs for their first album resulting in a solid debut. This may be the case for The Cars (although Candy-O is great too). This album contains classic songs like Just What I Needed, You're All I've Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, and Moving In Stereo. It's a crime that this band never got the credit they deserved. They created catchy, sometimes quirky, rock songs with a good balance between rockin guitar and cool keyboards. Elliot Easton's guitar playing is superb as he always plays for the song and not just to show-off. The vocal phrasing of Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr (rest in peace) is excellent (even if I didn't always understand the lyrics). A classic album that must never be forgotten!

A MASTERPIECE:
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ROCK ALBUMS FROM RICK OCASEK AND HIS BOYS .THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST OF DEBUTS FEATURING TERRIFIC SONGS LIKE JUST WHAT IN NEEDED,MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL AND MOREVERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.A MUST HAVE.

• Good Times Roll
• My Best Friend's Girl
• Just What I Needed
• I'm in Touch With Your World
• Don't Cha Stop
• You're All I've Got Tonight
• Bye Bye Love
• Moving in Stereo
• All Mixed Up