Just What I Needed The Cars Anthology Music Cd

Cars - Just What I Needed The Cars Anthology

See Larger Image

Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology      Artist : The Cars      List Price : $31.98 USD        Your Price : $22.99 USD      ProductGroup: Music      Release Date : 1995-11-07      Studio : Elektra / Wea      Label : Elektra / Wea      Avg. Customer Rating : (36 reviews)

Reviews Customer Reviews for Just What I Needed The Cars Anthology      The Cars' Best Compilation      Rating:      Released in 1995, this is the ultimate way of acquiring (almost) all the band's biggest hits plus a pile of underrated album cuts. The Cars is probably one of the most influential bands of the late 70's new wave movement. 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...     Customer Reviews for Just What I Needed The Cars Anthology Cd      I Don't Mind You Coming Here - and Wasting All My Time.....      Rating:      Well people, I'm back from that Valentine's Day bash they had in the States. Where you ask? How bold. 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 ;) Editorial Reviews for Just What I Needed The Cars Anthology Audio Cd      Amazon.com      Despite musical roots that branched from the Velvets to Steely Dan and the likes of then-new wave icons Roxy Music, the Cars never strayed far from the crucial, hook-conscious, three-minute pop song sensibility which made them one of the most successful and long-lived radio staples of the '70s and '80s. As well as being catchy, Ric Ocasek's best songs are also ironic--"Good Times Roll" and "Just What I Needed" both contain winking lyrical twists. With Ben Orr vocalizing the sweeter material, guitarist Elliott Easton's and keyboardist Greg Hawke's often-quirky musical embroidery, and drummer David Robinson's rhythmic propulsion and fashion sense, the Cars became the self-contained rock juggernaut--or, if you prefer, new wave arena band--documented on these two discs. The hit singles and select album cuts stretch from their improbably rich debut through moodier efforts like "Panorama" and the vibrant, yet satisfying "Shake It Up" and "Heartbeat City." The CD is well seasoned by a cache of previously unreleased demos, B-sides, and outtakes. The earliest of these ('77 demos of "Take Me Now" and "Cool Fool") demonstrate that the band's sound was intact before they met their first multiplatinum producer, while later rarities (playful covers of Iggy's "Fun Time" and the Nightcrawlers' "Little Black Egg") underscore their eclectic, seemingly incongruous tastes. --Jerry McCulley