It's All I Can Do
Encyclopedia
"It's All I Can Do" is a song by the American
rock
band The Cars
. It is the third track from their 1979 album Candy-O
. It was written by the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek
, and features the bassist, Benjamin Orr
, on vocals. It was released as a single on September 25, 1979 and it peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
album notes "'It's All I Can Do' was an affecting, straight-ahead piece of romantic pop, give or take a line like 'When I was crazy, I thought you were great.'"
The bass lines and the G minor guitar riffs have a major rock feel, but the song is softened down with Benjamin Orr
's vocals and Greg Hawkes
keyboard and synth lines.
, and included on the film's second soundtrack, titled Wedding Singer 2.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
. It is the third track from their 1979 album Candy-O
Candy-O
Candy-O is the second studio album by the American rock band The Cars, released in 1979.- Cover art :The album cover was painted by artist Alberto Vargas, known for his paintings of pin-up girls that appeared in Esquire and Playboy magazines in the 1940s and 1960s...
. It was written by the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
, and features the bassist, Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr was an American rock musician best known as the bassist and vocalist for the Boston based rock band, The Cars....
, on vocals. It was released as a single on September 25, 1979 and it peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Demo version
The demo version features a different vocal tone with more of an echo-related pitch, and the guitar solo is missing.Sound and genre debate
According to Brett Milano, writer of the Just What I Needed: The Cars AnthologyJust What I Needed: The Cars Anthology
Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology is a career compilation from the 80s New Wave rock group The Cars...
album notes "'It's All I Can Do' was an affecting, straight-ahead piece of romantic pop, give or take a line like 'When I was crazy, I thought you were great.'"
The bass lines and the G minor guitar riffs have a major rock feel, but the song is softened down with Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr was an American rock musician best known as the bassist and vocalist for the Boston based rock band, The Cars....
's vocals and Greg Hawkes
Greg Hawkes
Greg Hawkes is a musician best known as the keyboardist for the Rock band The Cars.Hawkes, a native of Fulton, Maryland, attended Atholton High School where he played in a band called Teeth. He then attended Berklee College of Music for two years, majoring in composition and flute...
keyboard and synth lines.
B-side
The B-side of "It's All I Can Do" is "Got a Lot on My Head", another track from Candy-O. In a review of Candy-O, Allmusic reviewer Greg Prato says the band "rocks out on 'Got a Lot on My Head' and 'Night Spots'".Personnel
- Benjamin OrrBenjamin OrrBenjamin Orr was an American rock musician best known as the bassist and vocalist for the Boston based rock band, The Cars....
: Lead vocals, Bass guitarist - Ric OcasekRic OcasekRic Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
: Rhythm guitarist - Elliot EastonElliot EastonElliot Easton plays lead guitar and sings backing vocals for The Cars. His guitar solos are integral part of the band's hit singles. He studied music at the Berklee College of Music...
: Lead guitarist - Greg HawkesGreg HawkesGreg Hawkes is a musician best known as the keyboardist for the Rock band The Cars.Hawkes, a native of Fulton, Maryland, attended Atholton High School where he played in a band called Teeth. He then attended Berklee College of Music for two years, majoring in composition and flute...
: Keyboard, synthesizer - David RobinsonDavid Robinson (musician)David Robinson is an American rock drummer. He has performed with many rock bands including The Modern Lovers, DMZ and The Cars.He attended Woburn Memorial High School....
: Drums
Other appearances
"It's All I Can Do" was featured in the 1998 film The Wedding SingerThe Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer is a 1998 romantic comedy film written by Tim Herlihy and directed by Frank Coraci. It stars Adam Sandler as a wedding singer in the 1980s and Drew Barrymore as a waitress with whom he falls in love....
, and included on the film's second soundtrack, titled Wedding Singer 2.