The Cars (album)
Encyclopedia
The Cars is the self-titled debut album by the American rock
band The Cars
released in 1978. With the popular tracks "Just What I Needed
" and "My Best Friend's Girl
" getting heavy airplay on AOR
radio stations, the album sold one million copies by the end of the year and steadily climbed the charts, peaking at #18 on the Billboard 200
in March 1979. The album was ranked #4 on Billboard's Top Pop Albums of 1979 year-end chart. The Cars remained on the album chart for 139 weeks with four more tracks: "Good Times Roll
," "You're All I've Got Tonight," "Bye Bye Love
" and "Moving in Stereo," which all became radio favorites.
Allmusic reviewer Greg Prato describes the album as "a genuine rock masterpiece", and that "all nine tracks are new wave
/rock
classics". Rolling Stone
magazine ranked the album #279 in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
.
, a Russian-born model, journalist, and musician who died in 2003.
" was used as the theme for Phoebe Cates
' famous pool scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
. "You're All I've Got Tonight" was covered by The Smashing Pumpkins
and released on their The Aeroplane Flies High
box set. The Cars, in its entirety, was released as downloadable content for the music video game
Rock Band on May 27, 2008. The album was re-issued as a deluxe edition on April 20, 1999, containing demos of the entire album alongside five previously unreleased demos.
(Copyright
Lido Music), except where noted.
Singles
Notes:
line through box = did not chart
empty box = not released
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...
released in 1978. With the popular tracks "Just What I Needed
Just What I Needed
-Cover versions:*Big Daddy - Big Daddy*Caleigh Peters – Sky High soundtrack*Sister Hazel – Lift*Poison – Poison'd*Bang Tango – Untied and live!*The Insyderz – Fight Of My Life and Paradise CD Single*Replicants – Replicants...
" and "My Best Friend's Girl
My Best Friend's Girl (song)
"My Best Friend's Girl" is a song by American rock band The Cars from their 1978 self-titled debut album on Elektra Records. Written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the song was released as the album's second single. It peaked at number 35 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart, and reached...
" getting heavy airplay on AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
radio stations, the album sold one million copies by the end of the year and steadily climbed the charts, peaking at #18 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in March 1979. The album was ranked #4 on Billboard's Top Pop Albums of 1979 year-end chart. The Cars remained on the album chart for 139 weeks with four more tracks: "Good Times Roll
Good Times Roll
"Good Times Roll" is a song by American rock band The Cars. It is the first track from their 1978 debut album The Cars, produced by Roy Thomas Baker...
," "You're All I've Got Tonight," "Bye Bye Love
Bye Bye Love (The Cars song)
"Bye Bye Love" is a song by the American Boston-based rock band The Cars. The song appears on the band's eponymous debut album. It was written by band leader Ric Ocasek and sung by bassist Benjamin Orr...
" and "Moving in Stereo," which all became radio favorites.
Allmusic reviewer Greg Prato describes the album as "a genuine rock masterpiece", and that "all nine tracks are new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
/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...
classics". Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine ranked the album #279 in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Cover art
The cover model is Natalya MedvedevaNatalya Medvedeva
Natalya Medvedeva was a Russian poet, writer, musician, and member of Tribunal rock band.-Career:...
, a Russian-born model, journalist, and musician who died in 2003.
Trivia
An instrumental version of "Moving in StereoMoving in Stereo
"Moving in Stereo" is a song originally recorded by the American rock band The Cars, featuring lead vocals by Benjamin Orr. It appeared on their self-titled debut album released in 1978...
" was used as the theme for Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates is an American film actress, model, and entrepreneur known for her roles in several teen films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins.-Early life:...
' famous pool scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
. "You're All I've Got Tonight" was covered by The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
and released on their The Aeroplane Flies High
The Aeroplane Flies High
The Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the...
box set. The Cars, in its entirety, was released as downloadable content for the music video game
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
Rock Band on May 27, 2008. The album was re-issued as a deluxe edition on April 20, 1999, containing demos of the entire album alongside five previously unreleased demos.
Track listing
All songs written by Ric OcasekRic 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....
(Copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
Lido Music), except where noted.
Side one
- "Good Times RollGood Times Roll"Good Times Roll" is a song by American rock band The Cars. It is the first track from their 1978 debut album The Cars, produced by Roy Thomas Baker...
" – 3:44 - "My Best Friend's GirlMy Best Friend's Girl (song)"My Best Friend's Girl" is a song by American rock band The Cars from their 1978 self-titled debut album on Elektra Records. Written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the song was released as the album's second single. It peaked at number 35 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart, and reached...
" – 3:44 - "Just What I NeededJust What I Needed-Cover versions:*Big Daddy - Big Daddy*Caleigh Peters – Sky High soundtrack*Sister Hazel – Lift*Poison – Poison'd*Bang Tango – Untied and live!*The Insyderz – Fight Of My Life and Paradise CD Single*Replicants – Replicants...
" – 3:44 - "I'm in Touch with Your World" – 3:31
- "Don't Cha Stop" – 3:01
Side two
- "You're All I've Got TonightYou're All I've Got Tonight"You're All I've Got Tonight" is a song by the American rock band the Cars, from their debut album, The Cars. Like "Bye Bye Love" and "Moving in Stereo", two other songs from the album, it continues to receive airplay on classic rock stations today despite never having been released as a...
" – 4:13 - "Bye Bye LoveBye Bye Love (The Cars song)"Bye Bye Love" is a song by the American Boston-based rock band The Cars. The song appears on the band's eponymous debut album. It was written by band leader Ric Ocasek and sung by bassist Benjamin Orr...
" – 4:14 - "Moving in StereoMoving in Stereo"Moving in Stereo" is a song originally recorded by the American rock band The Cars, featuring lead vocals by Benjamin Orr. It appeared on their self-titled debut album released in 1978...
" (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...
, Ocasek; Copyright Lido Music & Oversnare Music) – 4:41 - "All Mixed Up" – 4:14
CD reissue bonus tracks (deluxe edition)
- "Good Times Roll" (liveRecorded live trackA recorded live track is a song or audio sequence recorded from live performances .Live song tracks typically have concert hall noise . Though often less precise than practiced, studio recordings, live recordings may offer a more exciting feel...
) – 3:39 - "My Best Friend's Girl" (demoDemo (music)A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
) – 3:52 - "Just What I Needed" (demo) – 3:27
- "I'm in Touch With Your World" (demo) – 3:28
- "Don't Cha Stop" (demo) – 3:19
- "You're All I've Got Tonight" (demo) – 4:05
- "Bye Bye Love" (demo) – 4:07
- "Moving in Stereo" (Hawkes, Ocasek) (demo) – 5:02
- "All Mixed Up" (demo) – 4:50
- "They Won't See You" (demo) – 3:56
- "Take What You Want" (demo) – 6:04
- "Wake Me Up" (demo) – 3:52
- "You Just Can't Push Me" (demo) – 3:27
- "Hotel Queenie" (demo) – 3:08
Personnel
- 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 guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, lead vocals on side one, tracks 1, 2, 4 and 5, side two, track 1; bonus CD tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 - 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 guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - 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...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, backing vocals - Benjamin OrrBenjamin OrrBenjamin Orr was an American rock musician best known as the bassist and vocalist for the Boston based rock band, The Cars....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocals on side one, track 3, side two, tracks 2, 3 and 4; bonus CD tracks 3, 7, 12 and 13 - 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....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, electronic percussion, backing vocals
Production
- Arranged By The Cars
- Produced By Roy Thomas BakerRoy Thomas BakerRoy Thomas Baker is a multiple award-winning Anglo-American music producer, songwriter, arranger and Recording Academy Governor, who has produced Platinum and Gold certified pop and rock records from the 1970s to the present.- Career :Baker began his career at Decca Records in England at the age...
- Recorded & Engineered By Geoff Workman; second engineer: Nigel Walker
- Mastered By George Marino
Chart performance
Album| Title | Released | Peak Chart Position, Weeks On Chart | |||
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
AU Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
||
| The Cars | June, 1978 | 18 139 | 29 15 | 35 42 | 5 85 |
Singles
| Title | Released | Peak Chart Position, Weeks On Chart | ||||
| US 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... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
AU Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
NL Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
||
| "Just What I Needed" | May, 1978 | 27 17 | 17 10 | 96 1 | 38 2 | - |
| "My Best Friend's Girl" | October, 1978 | 35 15 | 3 10 | 67 10 | - | 40 4 |
| "Good Times Roll" | March, 1979 | 41 10 |
Notes:
line through box = did not chart
empty box = not released
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – U.S. | Gold | October 16, 1978 |
| RIAA – U.S. | Platinum | December 27, 1978 |
| CRIA – Canada | Platinum | June 1, 1979 |
| CRIA – Canada | Double Platinum | June 1, 1979 |
| RIAA – U.S. | 6x Platinum | April 5, 1995 |