The Cars (album)

Infobox Album
Name = The Cars
Type = studio
Artist = The Cars


Released = start date|1978|6|6
Recorded = AIR Studios, London, start date|1978|2
Genre = Rock, New Wave
Length = 35:40
Label = Elektra
Producer = Roy Thomas Baker
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wifoxqw5ldke link]
* Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=the+cars link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thecars/albums/album/223500/rid/6067822/ link] |
Last album =
This album = "The Cars" (1978)
Next album = "Candy-O" (1979)

"The Cars" is the debut album by the Boston-based American new wave band The Cars, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music). RS500|282

The cover model is Natalya Medvedeva, a Russian born model, journalist, and musician who died in 2003.

"Moving in Stereo" was used as the theme for Phoebe Cates' famous pool scene in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".

"The Cars", in its entirety, was released as downloadable content for the music video game "Rock Band". The album was also 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 Ocasek except where noted. The Cars. "The Cars" (Elektra Records, 1978).]
# "Good Times Roll" – 3:44
# "My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:44
# "Just What I Needed" – 3:44
# "I'm in Touch with Your World" – 3:31
# "Don't Cha Stop" – 3:01
# "You're All I've Got Tonight" – 4:13
# "Bye Bye Love" – 4:14
# "Moving in Stereo" (Greg Hawkes, Ocasek) – 4:41
# "All Mixed Up" – 4:14"Track listing note:" On the original LP album release, side one was comprised of tracks 1-5; side two of tracks 6-9.

Disc 2 (Deluxe Edition)

# "Good Times Roll (live) – 3:39
# "My Best Friend's Girl" (demo) – 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

*Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
*Greg Hawkes – keyboards, percussion, saxophone, backing vocals
*Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on Disc One: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6; Disc Two: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14
*Benjamin Orr – bass, lead vocals on Disc One: 3, 7, 8, 9; Disc Two: 3, 4, 7, 12, 13
*David Robinson – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Charts

Album

Cover versions

*"You're All I've Got Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins on their box set "The Aeroplane Flies High".
*"All Mixed Up" by Red House Painters on their album "Songs for a Blue Guitar".
*"Just What I Needed" by Replicants, a self titled one-off cover album, which features Paul D'Amour formerly of Tool.
*"Just What I Needed" by Sister Hazel, on their album "Lift."
*Nirvana covered "My Best Friend's Girl" at their final show in Germany on March 1st, 1994.
*Powerman 5000 featured a cover of "Good Times Roll" on their album "Tonight the Stars Revolt!".
*Alkaline Trio featured "Bye Bye Love" on a limited edition vinyl split-LP with The Blue Meanies.
*Steel Pole Bath Tub did unusual covers of "Just What I Needed," "Good Times Roll," and "My Best Friend's Girl" on their final album "Unlistenable". They called the songs "What I Need," "The Good Times Rule," and "My Best Friend's a Girl," respectively.
*Fu Manchu covered "Moving In Stereo" on their album, We Must Obey.
*The Commons covered "Moving In Stereo" for the High School Reunion - A Tribute To Those Great 80's Films! compilation.

Notes