The Cars - Original Album Series (2009)

BOX SET MONTH (MAY, 2015)

I've already got a 2 disc greatest hits set and I've previously written that "The Cars were always a better singles band than an album band." So why would I buy this 5 disc set of full albums? This price tag called out to me and I simply couldn't resist the siren song:

Such a deal. This box set from Rhino Records contains The Cars' five studio albums from 1978-1984.

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THE CARS (1978)
9 tracks, 36 minutes

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #18
• CashBox: #19
• Rolling Stone: #13

A classic. I usually use this album's release date (June 6, 1978) as the birthdate of what we now call "'80s music." And for good reason, this was rock music, but not quite rock music. Or maybe I'd just never heard New Wave music before The Cars. There's something different about it. Regardless, Ric Ocasek can write a hooks and this album is full of them. There's also Ocasek's quirky voice singing sarcastic lyrics that would appeal to any teenager. A fantastic debut album with almost every song a winner. According to the liner notes of the aforementioned greatest hits set, guitarist Elliot Easton said, "We used to joke that the first album should be called The Cars Greatest Hits."

U.S. charted singles:	Pop
Just What I Needed	27
My Best Friend's Girl	35
Good Times Roll	41

In retrospect, it's hard to believe that the singles weren't bigger hits and that radio favorites Don't Cha Stop, You're All I've Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, and Moving In Stereo weren't released as singles. To be honest, I'm not that wild about Moving In Stereo, but now it's so closely tied to the infamous pool scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High that I give it a pass. Rolling Stone placed this album #353 in the latest incarnation (2020) of their "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list and at #16 in their list of "The 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time." I'm good with both those rankings (not that they asked me).

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CANDY-O (1979)
11 tracks, 37 minutes

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #3
• CashBox: #3
• Rolling Stone: #2

U.S. charted singles:	Pop
Let's Go	14
It's All I Can Do	41

Second verse, same as the first? Not quite, but not a sophomore slump, either. When you've got a classic debut album, that's hard to follow up. So while there are hooks and a fantastic opening track here, there's just not as many hooks available throughout. In their place, understandably, there's filler. But they stuck to their formula and, for the most part it works again. It's probably not fair to compare this album to the debut, but I can't help myself.

Side one (tracks 1-6) has the stronger tracks (the singles and the title track), but also the weakest tracks on the album (Since I Held You and Shoo Be Doo). Side two (tracks 7-11) is power popish and more consistent throughout, but the 5 tracks all blend together for me so, while I enjoy them and don't skip any, none stands out above the others although I sometimes hear the last song, Dangerous Type, on the local classic rock station. Recommendation: put the top down on the convertible, pop your collars, put on your Wayfarers, head out on the highway, and blast the first two Cars albums back-to-back. It turns out The Cars is the perfect name for this crew.

It goes without saying, but this band sure had some great album covers.

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PANORAMA (1980)
10 tracks, 41 minutes

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #5
• CashBox: #9
• Rolling Stone: #2

U.S. charted single:	Pop
Touch and Go	37

So here's the sophomore slump, one album late. Every artist has the right to venture out, grow, and try new things, but likewise, every fan has the right not to like it. The songwriting is denser and quirkier, while the hooks are fewer.

Rolling Stone review

I've been told that this is one of those albums that gets better with every listen; I'm not buying it. But it isn't all bad. I like Touch And Go, Gimme Some Slack, Misfit Kid, and Up And Down. For the rest, I can't muster much enthusiasm, particularly when compared to the rest of the band's œuvre.

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SHAKE IT UP (1981)
10 tracks, 36 minutes

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #9
• Billboard Rock: #2
• CashBox: #9
• Rolling Stone: #5

U.S. charted singles:	Pop	Rock	Dance
Shake It Up	4	2	14
Cruiser		37	14
Since You're Gone	41	24
Victim of Love		39

While I'll readily admit that the band's debut album is their best, this album is my favorite by the group; I wouldn't argue with the theory that I bought this box set mainly for this particular CD. Probably because it was the first Cars album I ever purchased (on cassette, back when I didn't buy many albums) and the title track is so dang good. The hooks are back and while the drum machines date this music now, it was new to these ears in 1981. Since all the hits were on side one, that side was listened to slightly more often than side two. So while there's a couple of filler tracks on side two, I still know all the words.

I've shared this story before, so forgive me as I self-plagiarize: Either Shake It Up or Since You're Gone was the first song I ever heard on a personal stereo. During my sophomore year in high school in the fall of 1981, I was in either science or health class and a friend named Mark had a Shake It Up cassette and a new Sony Walkman 2 (like the one below, which ran about $200 at the time; $500 today with inflation). I gave it a listen (during class, of course) and couldn't believe I was able to hear the music that loudly while the teacher couldn't hear a thing. My teenaged life was changed. I'll never forget those orange headphones.

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HEARTBEAT CITY (1984)
10 tracks, 39 minutes

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #3
• Billboard Rock: #1
• CashBox: #5
• Rolling Stone: #2

U.S. charted singles:	Pop	Rock	Dance	AC
You Might Think	7	1	14
Magic	12	1
Drive	3	3		1
Hello Again	20	22	8
It's Not The Night		31
Why Can't I Have You	33	11		38

I wasn't a fan of You Might Think, this album's lead single (not a fan of its stalker video, either). So I didn't buy this album but I did dub a friend's copy later in the spring of 1984. I loved Hello Again and Magic and would just listen to those two tracks over and over; they're still two of my favorite Cars songs. Admittedly, I never gave this album much of a chance and I think it's because of all the slower tracks (and yes, I usually skip Drive and Why Can't I Have You <yawn>). I normally like producer Mutt Lange's work, but don't think he was a good fit for this group. In addition to Drive and Hello Again, I like Looking For Love and the title track. I'm obviously in the minority with my opinions because this was the group's best album in terms of charting positions.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Move Like This (2011)
Anthology: Just What I Needed (1995)

The Cars - Anthology: Just What I Needed (1995)

From guitarist Elliot Easton:

The Cars would have that one record in a punk rocker's collection that was just a little right of center. And it might be that one record for mainstream fans who thought they were being really punky. We managed to span those two audiences.

That's the perfect description of the band, isn't it? I've always maintained that eighties music really began in 1978 with the release of The Cars' self-titled first album and ended sometime around 1988 (I can't in good conscience consider Paula Abdul an eighties artist.) I was surprised to discover that the group never had a #1 single or album in their career - the single Drive was a #3 single in 1984 and the albums Candy-O and Heartbeat City both reached #3. As a side note, how awesome is the album cover of Candy-O??

The Cars were always more of a singles band than an album band, so I went with this 2 CD package instead of purchasing their entire early catalog. Since this is a Rhino Records joint, the liner notes are awesome. We're treated to a 27-page booklet crammed with rare photos, band's bio, song overview and an essay from Boston music writer Brett Milano. There's 2½ hours of music here, which could be a chore, but more than half of the 40 tracks are good stuff so it's not bad at all. I might have purchased the single CD greatest hits package instead, but I had to have a recording of Hello Again.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: The songs from the debut album, Candy-O, Panorama, and Shake It Up are all good. I really fell in love with the band with Shake It Up, which I owned on cassette (and wore that thing out). They began to lose me with Heartbeat City and I never even bought Door To Door. I also think Drive is one of the most over-rated songs of the '80s - I've never cared much for it. My favorite Cars song is either Shake It Up or Magic, but everything here from 1984 and before is good, with the exception of the eleven "rare and unreleased tracks" which were unreleased for good reason. Besides, as I've written many times, I don't buy greatest hits compilations to discover new music.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Either Shake It Up or Since You're Gone was the first song I ever heard on a personal stereo. During my sophomore year in high school in the fall of 1981, I was in either science or health class and a friend named Mark had a Shake It Up cassette and a new Sony Walkman 2 (like the one below, which ran about $200 at the time; $500 today with inflation). I gave it a listen (during class, of course) and couldn't believe I was able to hear the music that loudly while the teacher couldn't hear a thing. My teenaged life was changed. I'll never forget those orange headphones.

As I graduated high school in 1984, I had two favorite songs: The Reflex by Duran Duran and Hello Again by The Cars. I would put my cassette of Heartbeat City in the stereo of my Ford Maverick, listen to the first three songs, rewind and do it all over again.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Move Like This (2011)

The Cars - Move Like This (2011)

Highly anticipated (by me at least). In 2011, The Cars give us some of the best music of 1984. Absolutely no attempt has been made to update their sound. The Cars obviously know their audience is 40-somethings like me. The band isn't trying to win over new fans. We still get keyboard sounds that sound like they're from a Commodore 64, slashing rhythm guitar from Elliot Easton, and uptight vocals from Ric Ocasek. It's a typical Cars album: 38 minutes long, some great songs, a few good ones and a couple of really bad ones. Rolling Stone gave it 3 1/2 stars; that's about right. The Cars were always a better singles band than an album band. I'm glad the band got back together. This CD is enough to let me forgive the band for that silliness with Todd Rundgren.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #7 (May 28, 2011)

Tracks: The great songs are Blue Tip, Keep On Knocking, Sad Song, Free and Hits Me. The good songs are Too Late, Drag On Forever, and It's Only. Songs to skip include Soon and Take Another Look.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Since I've only had this CD for a week I know I should simply say "none," but the voice of Ric Ocasek instantly takes me back to high school in the BC. I feel like I should be listening to this on a cassette in the Markmobile on my way to work the drive-thru at Burger King.