Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
...buy the "Deluxe Edition!", July 21, 2001
By A Customer
CALLING ALL CARS FANS! This double CD could be the beginning of a new music trend. Not only has their 1978 debut album "The Cars" been remastered - and it sounds FANTASTIC - but a second CD has been added with all the songs in their original demo form (except for a live recording of "Good Times Roll") in their identical running order. The booklet included with the CD's explains that demos actually played a major part in their initial success. A radio station in Boston played their demo of "Just What I Needed" repeatedly .... They were signed to a recording contract and the rest is history. Who hasn't heard the hits "Good Times Roll," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Just What I Needed," "You're All I've Got Tonight" and my personal Cars favorite "Bye Bye Love?" ....This collection has them all in remastered original and demo forms. And to top it off, five previously unreleased Cars songs are also included in demo form. How nice it would be if this became a trend and is done with other great albums by The Cars and others. ...get the double - CD "The Cars Deluxe Edition." One of the best records of the 1970's is now better indeed!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deluxe Edition does The Cars' debut justice, January 16, 2007
THE BAND: Ric Ocasek (vocals, rhythm guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Benjamin Orr (R.I.P. vocals, bass), Greg Hawkes (keyboards, percussion, saxophone), David Robinson (drums & percussion).
THE DISC: Originally released in 1978 (one disc, nine tracks) and lasting just over 35 minutes. This digitally remastered "Deluxe Edition" released in 1999 includes a 2nd disc containing 56+ minutes of material. Disc-2 features one live track, eight demos (songs from this 1st album), and four unreleased demos. The cardboard package itself unfolds horizontally, then vertically. Included with the discs is an extensive 22-page booklet containing song titles/times, numerous band photos, all song lyrics from both discs, a 5-page intro (shortened from "The Cars Anthology", 1995), Billboard chart success, band members and original black & white photos/artwork. Recorded at Air Studios, London (Feb '78). Label - Elektra/Rhino.
COMMENTS: The Cars were never better than this debut album. Rock and pop with a synth/techno alternative flavor. Classic songs that sounded like nothing else at the time. The Cars were "New Wave" before there was New Wave (which hit in the early 80's). Nine songs - with only one question mark (filler?) in "I'm In Touch With Your World". The other eight tracks were gold (the album reached #18 on the Billboard Pop charts and has sold over 6 million units). Ric Ocasek's quirky voice teamed with bassist Ben Orr's smooth voice worked well together. Greg Hawke on keyboards made & pulled this band tighter. The hit songs that made it to major air-waves were "Let The Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed". But, check out tracks 6-9... "You're All I've Got Tonight", "Bye Bye Love", "Moving In Stereo" and "All Mixed Up" run together fluidly - these are awesome album tracks. Sure this band looked like a bunch of geeks, but man when they came together with their instruments, they really made some beautiful music. Looking at The Cars catalog of albums, in my opinion, only their sophomore album "Candy-O" (1979) came close to making the bold statement of their 1st album. The Cars' debut is ranked #282 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 500 all-time greatest albums. Disc-2 is good on first listen... the demos presented here are what got them their record deal in the 70's. The bonus/unreleased tracks are decent as well - but be prepared to -not- be blown away by them. As fun as the demos are to hear, the playing is pretty raw, some instruments are to loud and others too soft, and the demo "tape" itself is somewhat limited as far as highs (treble) and lows (bass) go. The unreleased tracks fall into the category as many other bands and their unreleased tracks... they're unreleased for a reason... they were not good enough to be released at the time, so into the vault they went. With that being said though, the long time fan should get a kick out of them over the first few listens (and then filed back in the vault). The Cars have several compilations - the best being their "Complete Greatest Hits" (2002) and the 2-disc set "Cars Anthology"... and both compilations feature 6 of the 9 tracks from their debut. Rhino did it correctly in leaving the originally album by itself on disc-1, and the bonus material on disc-2. The Car's debut is a classic disc and this "Deluxe Edition" does it justice (5 stars).
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rhino Drives Us Home Again!, October 27, 2003
"The Cars" was a classic debut and one of the first bands with a new wave association to actually make it big. Their blend of Roxy/Bowie ironic pop and AM radio hooks made "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed" sound like Top 40 classics from play one, and the rest of the album skirted experimental stuff like "Moving In Stereo" with the classic nervy album rock ready sounds of "Good Times Roll." But it took the remaster/reissue wizards at Rhino to bring out the best in an already classic record. Roy Thomas Baker's spare production is given a sharper focus in this remaster, and it makes what originally leapt from the speakers sound fresh as that first day you tore the shrink wrap from your twelve inch LP. It's really that much of a revelation.But even more of a reason to own this is disc two. I am rarely one for bonus features on CD's, but this stuff is great. Basically, a demo for demo (excluding "Good Times Roll" played live) version of the album in its running order, it's a stunning look at the work in progress. Frankly, "The Cars" pre-label signing didn't sound that different from "The Cars" except with a better recording budget and a touch less polish. For an album that still gets regular play on my stereo, that says a lot. If you love this album as much as I still do, pony up the extra couple of bucks and be prepared to be wowed, loud. Now how about deluxe versions of "Candy-O" and "Heartbeat City"?
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by The Cars 
