Customer Reviews

The Cars: Deluxe Edition

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

The Cars probably had more Top 40 hits than any other New Wave band for several reasons. Ric Ocasek wrote clever pop tunes that have aged well, and his voice gave the Cars a unique sound along with bassist Ben Orr, who could sing in any range or style. The combination of Elliot Easton's catchy guitar hooks, Greg Hawkes' keyboards (which veered into techno pop territory without being pretentious), and David Robinson's drumming style (that turned the beat around when you least expected it), made them stand out. Their demos prove they were a tight band with some occasionally weak harmonies, but to be successful, they needed a producer like Roy Thomas Baker to take them to the top.

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).

"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"?

The first Cars album was a blast of fresh air combining the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and Big Star, Badfinger into one mish mash of amazing sound. The band provided a unique mix of influences to create a coherent, stark sound for American new wave. Just as witty as Elvis Costello and full of as many hooks as the Beatles, this first album has aged extremely well. The glacial sound of the album acts as an ironic counterpoint to these tales of modern love.

Their first album ranks amoung the best albums of the 80's and the songwriting, although it got a little more detailed, never got any better than this. The out takes and demos are well worth the price of admission simply because they illuminate (much as the XTC outtakes do for their albums) the creative process (and sometimes roads not taken...).

Ric really needs to reform the band. His solo career, although interesting, shows a real lack of progression. It would be interesting to see the original members get back together and see what sort of heat (or cold) they generate together.

Now let's see something similiar done with the other two great albums (pick any of your favorites and insert them here).

The Cars debut album still sounds fresh and new despite the fact that it was released 22 years ago. The album cruises along like a Ferrari and it is a perfect combined of new wave sounds with pop tendencies. The hooks are plentiful from the chriping guitars on "Good Times Roll" to the pounding "Just What I Needed" to the frenzied "Don't Cha Stop" to the one-two punch of "Bye Bye Love" and the hypnotic "Moving In Stereo". The remastered package enhances the sounds to top shelf quality. The second disk of demos, outtakes and live tracks is a great bonus, but the meat is on the original release.

If you're content with an MP3 and hear enough Cars on the radio you don't need to get this CD. But, if you're a Cars fan and want to hear this album as if it's brand new again the deluxe edition is for you. I've been collecting remasters of many 60s, 70s, and 80s albums. The list of material that sounded better on vinyl than the CD is shrinking with remastering of some of them. While there's only so much that could be done with this one thanks to rather noisy master tapes this version does breathe new life into it. If you've liked what remastering has done for some others you're bound to enjoy The Cars, deluxe edition.

The Cars started with a bang, and this their debut cd, would remain their best for several years. The deluxe edition, just made it better. Disk one is the orginal disk, remastered, and does it sound good. All the songs sound as if it were recorded yesterday. And for the most part, their songs very seldom sound old or tired. "My Best Freinds Girlfriend" and "Just What I Needed" sound as catchy today, as they did 20 plus years ago. Rest of the songs hold their own, too. Very seldom do debuts sound this tight. Disk two has the orginal demos for this cd, and you can hear that the group, and their sound, are not made up from the producer. The group made their music. The unreleased songs are ok. Skip buying the orginal cd, and buy the 2 cd deluxe edition. Really is more music, for the buck.

Not only a copy of the Cars first album remastered but you can hear it again as a generous set of demos and live cuts. A wonderful look at a work in progress. This edition comes with a great CD booklet which details the making of and impact of this album. Only thing missing was the interior collage art.

The Cars hit a formula right from the very start. With Ric Ocasek generally taking the lead vocal, The Cars combined wonderfully wordsmithed lyrics with a solid rock beat to become one of the best New Wave groups. Some people have argued that The Cars, along with Devo and several other groups, created New Wave.

This album is a remarkable debut, with three of the songs released as singles and three others released as flipsides for a incredible 6 of 9 songs appearing as singles - something that few other groups have managed to achieve. The songs are: "Just What I Needed"/"I'm in Touch with Your World" (5/29/78), "Best Friend's Girl"/"Don't Cha Stop" (10/10/78), and "Good Times Roll"/"All Mixed Up" (2/27/79).

I've always had a great appreciation for The Cars' lyrics. They are typically artfully evocative and more intended to evoke emotion than to convey a concept directly. As an example, look at the opening lyrics of "All Mixed Up":

she shadows me in the mirror
she never leaves on the light
and some things that I say to her
they just don't seem to bite

When you read The Cars' (typically Ric Ocasek's) lyrics you feel surrealistic. Once you understand you are to picture images of feelings, or feel the feelings yourself, you gain an understanding of how the singer/songwriter is feeling. It helps that some lyrics are also playful or ironic, which makes some of this music fun.

This CD is probably not a must for your collection if you have the original version. However, the second CD with demo versions and previously unreleased tracks is a great addition to any fan's collection of Cars' music, particularly if you are a big fan.

The Cars insisted they are music performers and not an "act", preferring to be known for their music rather than their ability to look flashy or jump around on stage. Fortunately for us, the listeners, that desire translates into musical quality and sincerity. This music has a pop feel to it, but with enough of a hard edge that pushes it towards the boundary between pop and hard rock.

The musical style is somewhat dated, feeling like the late 70s music that it is, but it has aged to the point where it is now classic rock. This CD is very solid music for anyone a fan of The Cars, of late 70s or 80s music, or anyone looking for something a bit out of the mainstream that has a good solid rock beat.