Customer Reviews

Just What I Needed: Anthology

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This blows the previous greatest hits away. Not only does it have all those songs, it contains many other hits, key album tracks and worthy bonus tracks. Most of the Cars' individual CDs are good to great (especially the debut); if you don't have any of them, this one will do a great job filling in for those. For once, the bonus tracks on the CD actually add greatly to the collection, instead of mking you hit the Skip button. To top it off, great packaging and liner notes are included. Looks like Rhino knows how to do compilations right - they don't skimp on the Cars. A very worthy (and colorful) addition for your collection.

Never mind the great bonus tracks. A serious fan needs this set ANYWAY -- damn it.

I take The Cars pretty seriously -- as a band, thank you, not a necro-retro fashion/video concern. In my reviews for "Heartbeat City" and "Shake It Up", I point out that these discs are in dire need of remastering. (I just can't have CDs that are quieter and weaker than an old cassette -- can you?) Fortunately, the best of those 4th and 5th albums are decently mastered here. (Though I must add, the cold digital truth has killed my love of "Cruiser".)

Also, audiophiles may note the superior stereo separation in the earlier tracks (the Deluxe version of first album, remastered for the 2nd time, is equal to this compilation.) Stereo separation is a key part of the Cars sound. Certain instruments, effects, and vocals SIMPLY DO NOT OCCUR in both channels. Or, they weren't meant to. (Hearing the first track on this set, "Good Times Roll", was a revelation to me. The starting balance is determinedly lopsided.)

I don't see the point of reviewing the actual artistic content. The Cars were a huge success; they have many fans. For whatever irksome, idiotic reason, they are not being properly re-marketed. Their biggest-selling album languishes in its initial CD mastering. Today's teens have barely heard of them (while they listen to music which derives notably FROM them.)

I mean, for cryin' out loud, they've released and re-released virtually every cough and fart Lou Reed or Brian Wilson ever made, haven't they? (I'm a fan of both, so relax.)

As a casual Cars fan in the 70's and 80's who had never owned a Cars album, I thought I would pick up their greatest hits. Luckily, I ran across this anthology while thumbing through their Amazon listings. I assumed I would recognize a few songs, with the rest being filler. What a great surprise as I listened to both disks all the way through. I was just blown away by the great songs I knew(but hadn't heard in so long) and the ones I had never heard(probably 20 of these) which were almost all fantastic tunes. 40 Cars tunes that stretch on for well over 2 hours! I am still thanking my lucky stars that I didn't buy The Cars Greatest Hits which I believe only had 11 songs on it. If it costs more than you want to spend, find it used somewhere, but don't pass it up if you are looking for some great Cars music!

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" (one of the best choruses ever?). 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...

At almost 2 and a half hours running time, this "Cars" is fully loaded and chock full of extras. Unless you're a completest, you are probably just as well suited with "The Complete Greatest Hits." But if you already have all the discs, then those aforementioned bonus tracks are worth it.

The Cars' debut popped out fully realized, already loaded with hit singles. The demo session songs here from that period ("Cool Fool" and "Take me Now") would certainly have sounded in place on the debut. It's also curious how "Leave Or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" probably would not have. (Also that they eventually ended up on the Cars' weakest album!) The really cool cuts are the b-sides like "Don't Go To Pieces" and "Little Black Egg," and "Slipaway," which was a radio hit for Ian Lloyd (The Stories, "Brother Louie").

But it's the bulk of the singles that make this a great driving set. From "Just What I Needed" to "You Are The Girl," these were songs made to pump adrenaline and smiles. No big message, in fact, some of the lyrics would be hard to decipher even under the best circumstances! But that's not the point. The stylistic arch irony and sugary hooks made The Cars' a sound that was often imitated but never duplicated. Having two vocalists that were just distinct enough to carry leads alone but still flow seamlessly (the late Ben Orr sang The Cars' biggest hit, "Drive") was also a plus.

So I reiterate that The Cars were one of the class acts of the 80's. How much you need "Just What I Needed" depends on your desire and budget. For me, I needed it all.

When the Cars burst onto the scene in 1978 it was with an energy rarely seen in the increasingly stuffy and stagnant rock scene. The Cars embodied the then-emerging punk ethos of modern rock; edgy, dark, mysterious and somewhat retro with oblique lyrics about nothing and seemingly anything. They were on a par with other strong groups emerging at the time like Blondie, the Ramones, the Clash, and others that broke the traditional rock mold of groups like Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones. The group had an amazing decade long run with 13 Top 40 hits and six best-selling albums. Listen to any classic rock station today and you'll likely hear a Cars song before too long. But the Cars defied easy classification drawing fans of rock, new wave, and punk, even becoming popular with MTV.

"Just What I Needed" pulls in all their Top 40 hits and fan favorite tracks from their albums such as "You're All I've Got Tonight," "Moving In Stereo," "Touch and Go," and previously unreleased tracks such as their take on the Iggy Pop gem "Funtime." If you're a hardcore Cars fan who already has all of their six previous releases on CD then this is probably worth it for the previously unreleased tracks and demos and it's nice to have most of their best known tracks on two CDs. This compilation is perhaps the best out there and neatly sums up the Cars career including a really nice booklet covering their career. While they didn't last long their influence on other bands still reverberates today. When they reformed in 2006 adding Todd Rundgren to replace lead singer Ric Ocasek (who declined) and bassist/singer Ben Orr (who had died) it was something of a pale imitation of the first version of the Cars.

But be warned...this import version adds nothing that wasn't already on the USA release...there's no difference beteween the two. If this is cheaper than the USA release then go for it, otherwise beware!

This 2-CD set is a fantastic compilation of one of the hottest bands of the 80s. First and foremost, it contains their greatest hits. In addition, it also has some previously unreleased songs and a few tunes only released as B-sides to other singles. For instance, "Breakaway" was a great tune in its own right but it was the 45rpm B-side to a song from Heartbeat City (I believe the A-side was "You Might Think"). "Little Black Egg" would have fit sylistically on either THE CARS or CANDY-O albums and is now one of my favorite CARS songs of all time. "Tonight She Comes" was the single which debuted on the Greatest Hits CD and rightfully shows up again here. There are a couple of songs, "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" and "Leave or Stay", that are included as earlier demo versions which, in my opinion, aren't quite as good. The only MAJOR negative I have for this CD is the earlier demo version of "Nightspots" which sounds nothing like the album version. I would have gladly paid more for a third CD in this anthology which included more of my favorites such as "Jackie" aka "Heartbeat City", "Bye, Bye Love", "All Mixed Up", "Misfit Kid", "A Dream Away", "Think It Over" and "Coming Up You" and the album version of "Nightspots" but I guess we all have our favorites. Pick this up instead of their Greatest Hits CD.

The only thing I can really say is that I totally agree with another reviewer, Nate regarding the inconsistent mastering and especially the song selection for a 40 song Anthology Compilation- leaving out "All Mixed Up" "Bye Bye Love", "Since I Held You", etc. The Cars were an incredible band. They were like Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revivial- they got in, did their thing, and then got out. I really respect that- in addition to being in the 1980's decade that helped provide an inspiration for other artists to follow and definitely provide a much needed alternative to DISCO.- They need to do the Band and their fans a real comprehensive -full proper remastered catalogue. -Either individual CD's or even better, especially if there is good material in the can- a Box Set that would include all the CD's and any alternates, demos, unreleased, and ESPECIALLY -a LIVE CD to be included-That definitely is available as in their 1st LP days they had a great soundboard radio broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour. And I must say, as a true collector have purchased some nice Boots as Record Conventions- so the stuff is there
Thanks for reading this review
Billy Boy

Very simply: either you want just what you hear on the radio, or you want more. If you just want the hits, there are compilations titled that way which will better suit your needs, and you can get one of those; no problem.

If you want more, here it is: tracks for every album 1978-87, and even a bit before that. Maybe you don't want to hear a demo of "Nightspots" before the band developed it, but the more serious fans do, and Rhino counted on them buying this too.

Of course, the truly serious fan will get all the albums, but this release still offers them plenty of B-sides and rarities, Truth to tell: I hesitated a long time on getting this release, but now I'm delighted that I did. The albums I didn't care much for turn out to have a few good songs after all, and the rarities are all worth hearing.

The best judge is you, as to how much Cars you need: hits, everything, or somewhere in between. This is in between. For me, that proved perfect (along with the first album in the deluxe edition, and the second album).

Most casual fans would probably be happy with "The Complete Greatest Hits", but for those fanatics with a long way to "Drive", this is a must. Whether you call The Cars classic rock, new wave, or pop, this is 40 tracks of excellent tunes from the 70's and 80's, also in chronological order I might add. There's too many great tracks to mention, but this includes everything essential from their awesome debut, right through to the "Heartbeat City" songs, and everything good inbetween. It also ends with 5 tracks from the under-rated "Door To Door" album, which I always liked. The only thing as cool as the music might be the sparkley purple cover. Very cool. Now at 40 tracks, how did they leave out "Bye Bye Love" and the song "Heartbeat City"? Minus one star.