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Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology

The Cars - Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology Audio CD

A fair review of the The Cars "Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Cars reviews here, or go back to the The Cars tabs.

Band: The Cars
Title: Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology
Rating:

Release Date: 1995-11-07
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Just What I Needed 2: My Best Friend's Girl 3: Good Times Roll 4: You're All I've Got Tonight 5: Don't Cha Stop 6: Moving in Stereo 7: Take Me Now [#] 8: Cool Fool [#] 9: Let's Go 10: Candy-O 11: Dangerous Type 12: Double Life 13: Got a Lot on My Head 14: It's All I Can Do 15: Night Spots [Early Version][#] 16: Slipaway [#] 17: That's It 18: Panorama 19: Gimme Some Slack 20: Don't Go to Pieces 21: Hello Again 22: Tonight She Comes 23: Touch and Go 24: Don't Tell Me No 25: Shake It Up 26: Since You're Gone 27: I'm Not the One 28: Cruiser 29: Little Black Egg [#] 30: Funtime [#] 31: You Might Think 32: Drive 33: Magic 34: Hello Again 35: Why Can't I Have You 36: Breakaway 37: Tonight She Comes 38: You Are the Girl 39: Strap Me In 40: Door to Door 41: Leave or Stay [1977 Demo Version][#] 42: Ta Ta Wayo Wayo [1977 Demo Version][#]

awesome!
the seller's price was also really affordable and the quality of the product was immaculate considering it as 98% good used. very awesome compilation, was very pleased with the album. i would definitely buy from this seller again.

Anthology???
My thought is that an Anthology was pretty much the complete works. I do not yet own this ANTHOLOGY, and probably won't. This pales in comparison to an anthology. The extras like b-sides and such are nice but give me all the recordings, (all tracks on the albums) and some extra's perhaps. . . That Would Be An Anthology For Me!!!.

The Cars' Best Compilation
The Cars is probably one of the most influential bands of the late 70's new wave movement. Released in 1995, this is the ultimate way of acquiring (almost) all the band's biggest hits plus a pile of underrated album cuts. All the band's six albums are represented and they are: the self-titled debut "The Cars" (1978), "Candy-O" (1979), "Panorama" (1980), "Shake It Up" (1981), "Heartbeat City" (1984), and "Door To Door" (1987). In addition to album songs, you also get quite a few rare demos and outtakes too! The line-up never changed throughout the years and it featured Rick Ocasek on rhythm guitar/vocals, Elliot Easton on lead guitar, Greg Hawkes on keyboards, Benjamin Orr on bass/vocals, and David Robinson on drums.

From their debut, one of the best is the first one "Just What I Needed", it may be their most popular song they ever did! It's a perfect example of the band's distinctive sound with Ocasek's trademark palm muted rhythm guitar playing, catchy melodies, memorable synth lines, steady drumming from Robinson, and Easton's melodic lead playing. Other favorites are "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Moving In Stereo". The second release "Candy-O" includes the radio hit "Let's Go", the title track, and one of the best is "Double Life"! The third record is the only one that didn't produce a major radio hit, but is one of their most underrated as evidenced by the title track, "Gimme Some Slack", and "Don't Tell Me No". Their fourth offering and last album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker includes another radio hit in "Since You're Gone" while there are some notable cuts from the last two albums like for example "You Might Think", "Magic", and "Door To Door".

Here are the eleven unreleased songs contained in this compilation:

Unissued Demos:
"Take Me Now"
"Cool Fool"
"Leave Or Stay"
"Ta Ta Wayo Wayo"
"Nightspots"
"Slipaway"
"The Little Black Egg"
"Funtime"

Non-Lp b-sides:
"That's It"
"Don't Go To Pieces"
"Breakaway"

Those unreleased cuts are all great! "Funtime" is a cover of the Stoogies classic, both "Leave Or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" were later reworked and included on their last album "Door To Door", while "Nightspots" is an early unfinished version of the song that ended up on their sophomore release "Candy-O". For me, the most memorable of these turned out to be the fast paced pop rock of "Slipaway"!

However, there's one slight flaw about this compilation, and that is the inexplicable omission of the popular radio hit "Bye Bye Love"! Still, that's not enough to bring down the rating! The bottom line is simple, if you like new wave, then you must add this greatest hits package to your collection or just go ahead and shell out the extra cash and get the six albums!
Thanks for taking the time to read!
Later. . . .

I Don't Mind You Coming Here - and Wasting All My Time.....
Where you ask? How bold. Well people, I'm back from that Valentine's Day bash they had in the States. It was some small plantation in Idaho someplace. I was invited by a fan and, hey, I figured I should go since my public persona has suffered since summer.

It was the usual Valentine's Day Masquarade party. They had 6 cupids, 4 Romeos and 3 Juliets (I sense a potential problem there!), a couple of Snow Whites, a few Prince Charmings, a cirque du soleil troupe and owners of match-making web sites. I dyed my thermalite Seer's outfit red - but that as far as I would go for this junket. It was alot of fun, that is, until that Grumpy dwarf showed up and got into an arguement with Prince Charming over Snow White. The Police were called and they made the Sting. Then everything calmed down. Did you catch my funny play on words? Probably not. I have to explain everything these days. :(

Anyway - onwards to the selection. This remarkable Cars Anthology was playing on shuffle the whole time I was there. I was really taken with it and decided that it was my next review.

The Cars, as you may recall, rode the crest of New Wave from the late 70's into the 80's. They somehow caught on with so much bouncing around at the time; disco, punk, one hit wonders etc. etc. But, somehow, they were just what we needed and produced great pop hooks and ambience that were inventive but coherent. Not too far out and not too far in - they were just right for the times.

I still recall their own "fate knockin' at the door" with "Just What I Needed". Face it. Those knockin' notes and brief guitar chords introduce you into their world. And, what a world it was. Play on words, hints and suggestions - oh yeah. Now this was really something. From that point on they just ran with it and racked up many, many hits.

What they did here is take essential cuts from all their c. d. s, throw alot of demos and an outtake into the mix, and present you with a pretty good cross-section of Cars material. Decent, very decent. Of course, the omission of "Bye, Bye Love", to my mind, is almost unforgivable. But this is what you get when you are not in control. Had I been in contact at the time with my Universe superiors, I certainly would have rallyed for an adjustment. But, anyway. . . . . . . . . .

What is so striking about most of this music is the energy that comes across. And, it's never really down-hearted. Listen to the rockin' see-saw of "My Best Friend's Girl". She's still a turn-on no matter who she's with. No down and out here. And turn-ons - in alot of instances, is the name of the game. This comes across in the needy "You're All I've Got Tonight", "Don't Cha Stop", "Let's Go", "Candy-O" etc. This music conveys the excitement- the tease in alluring popcraft. No wonder they were so successful.

In reviewing music, I always look at the vocals to be a distictive mark. In this case, Ric Ocasek is quite unique. Is he a great singer? Polished? No. But, for the format here and the "sound" of the Cars, he is perfect. Not to say that Benjamin Orr did not have great songs as well. A different vibe though, if the fans out there know what I mean.

Every segment of the Cars career has something to recommend it. I particularly like the selections from their c. d. "Heartbeat City", mainly for the more polished production and the song "Drive". My belief is that they changed the oil to super-teflon at this point. But, that is just me. To my mind, alot of what's here is a selfish over-indulgence of fun and fits a space in time that, for me at least, was very special.

In closing, a very respectable 2 c. d. set of the Cars best material. It is a shame they couldn't have lasted longer. But, musical landscapes change so quickly in popular music. Plus, maintaining high quality is a daunting task at best. Just ask me. An illustrious Seer who always strives to give you his best. It takes alot. Money to fly to Idaho for a party - a brandy snifter by my side - and many political contributions to get to where I am today. Not to mention my personal sacrifice. (!).

Have fun people-that's what life is for-- salute! - Metamorpho ;)

.

Create Your Own Anthology
But for heaven's sake, on a 40 track anthology? Unacceptable!

Basically, there is no legitimate reason for the 1st album's "All Mixed Up" and "Bye Bye Love" to have not been included in this set. I can understand a 12-15 track "greatest hits" release including a preponderance of pop hits which are not TRULY the band's best recordings, and excluding some really good music that didn't get much airplay. Candy-O's "Since I Held You" and "You Can't Hold On," two of its best tracks, are also absent. Furthermore, to NOT sequence "Double Life" and "Candy-O" together (yes, along with their bridge "Shoo Be Do") is an idiotic effort, at best.

From the remaining albums (which went progressively downhill), the producers seem to have done a decent job of including the albums' best works (perhaps with the exception of them excluding "Misfit Kid," "Panorama," and "Victim of Love") with their sometimes difficult to stomach radio and video hits (e. g. "Shake it Up" -- I'd rather have ROOT CANAL than to ever have to listen to that song again!).

I've burned my own anthology from my Cars collection, and for those who want a better listening experience, I would strongly suggest you purchase (or, in the case of anything after Panorama, borrow) the individual albums and do the same.

You can see a complete list of all The Cars discography, or go back to the The Cars tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.