The Cars were an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1976 by Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, they released their self-titled debut album in 1978 which spawned several hit singles such as “Just What I Needed”, “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Good Times Roll”. Over the next five years they produced four more albums including Shake It Up (1981) and Heartbeat City (1984).
Their songs blended elements of new wave, pop, punk, hard rock and power pop to create a unique sound that resonated with audiences throughout the 1980s. The group disbanded in 1988 but continued to be popular on the radio thanks to classic hits like “Drive” and “You Might Think”.
The Cars were one of the most influential bands of the 1980s, and their music continues to be enjoyed by fans all over the world. Their timeless classics such as “Drive,” “Just What I Needed,” and “My Best Friend’s Girl” remain some of the most iconic songs from that era. With catchy hooks, memorable melodies, and signature synth-pop sounds, The Cars’ tunes are a true blast from the past that never fails to fill us with nostalgia.
How Many Top 10 Hits Did the Cars Have?
The Cars had a total of nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The first song to make it into the Top 10 was “Just What I Needed,” which peaked at No. 27 in 1978 and is still one of their most recognizable songs today. Three singles from their second album also made it into the Top 10: “Let’s Go,” “It’s All I Can Do,” and “Touch and Go.”
Their third album produced two more top-10 hits with “You Might Think” reaching No. 7 and “Magic” peaking at No. 4 in 1984 – both accompanied by epic music videos that MTV played heavily during its early days – helping to cement The Cars’ place as one of rock’s premier bands for years to come. Other top-10 singles include “Drive,” which reached number three on the charts; “Tonight She Comes,” which peaked at number six; and their last single before breaking up in 1988, “You Are The Girl,” which hit number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart before fading away from memory over time..
What Songs are on the Cars Greatest Hits Album?
The Cars Greatest Hits album is an essential collection of the band’s biggest and most memorable hits spanning their entire career. Containing 16 tracks, it includes classic songs such as “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Shake It Up,” and “You Might Think.” Other fan favorites like “Good Times Roll,” “Let’s Go,” “Drive,” and “Tonight She Comes” are also included on this fantastic compilation. In addition to these beloved classics from The Cars catalog, the album contains one brand new track called “Not Tonight.”
This great collection truly represents the best of The Cars in one package – a must-have for any fan of this iconic rock group!
Who were the Lead Singers of the Cars?
The Cars were a popular rock band that formed in 1976 and achieved success throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. The core lineup consisted of lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter Ric Ocasek; bassist Benjamin Orr; lead guitarist Elliot Easton; keyboardist Greg Hawkes; and drummer David Robinson. Ocasek was the frontman for the group, providing vocals on many of their biggest hits such as “Just What I Needed”, “My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Good Times Roll”, “Let’s Go”, and more.
Orr also provided vocals on some tracks like “Drive” which he co-wrote with Ocasek. While none of the other members sang any songs from The Cars albums or singles releases during their time together as a band, they all contributed to writing music alongside Ocasek and Orr for each album released between 1978–1987 before breaking up in 1988.
What Happened to the Lead Singer of the Cars?
The lead singer of the Cars, Ric Ocasek, passed away in September 2019 at the age of 75. He was found dead in his Manhattan apartment due to natural causes. Prior to this tragedy, Ocasek had been a prolific songwriter and vocalist for over four decades.
The Cars are widely considered one of the most influential rock bands of their era; they were pioneers on the new wave scene and their albums have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. Ocasek’s distinctive tenor vocals often provided a counterpoint to bassist Benjamin Orr’s baritone crooning on such classic songs as “Just What I Needed” and “My Best Friend’s Girl.” His influence can be heard in many hit songs from other acts like Weezer and No Doubt who covered some of The Cars’ biggest hits.
After leaving The Cars, he went on to produce records for artists such as Bad Brains, Guided By Voices, Nada Surf, Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers among others. Sadly we lost him too soon but his legacy will live on forever through his timeless music with The Cars that will continue to inspire generations for years to come.
Credit: ultimateclassicrock.com
The Cars Best Songs
The Cars have been widely praised for their songwriting and musicianship, with many of their songs becoming classics. Some of the group’s most memorable tunes include “Just What I Needed,” “Drive,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and the chart-topping single “You Might Think.” Other favorites from the band include hits like “Let’s Go”, “Good Times Roll”, “Tonight She Comes”, and “Shake It Up.”
The Cars remain one of the most beloved rock bands in history, thanks to their timeless music.
Cars Songs from the 80S
The 1980s were a great decade for music, particularly in the realm of cars songs. An iconic example is “Drivin’ My Life Away” by Eddie Rabbitt, which was released in 1980 and quickly became a classic. Other popular 80s car songs include “Cars” by Gary Numan (released in 1979), “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars (1978), and John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane” (1982).
Each song captures the spirit of cruising around town with friends or going on an adventure. All these tunes are sure to bring back memories of carefree days spent driving down country roads and singing along at the top of your lungs!
The Cars – Just What I Needed
The Cars were an American rock band formed in 1976 by Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr. They are best known for their power pop sound that combined elements of new wave, hard rock and punk with catchy hooks. Their debut album, The Cars (1978), featured the hit single “Just What I Needed” which became a big success on both sides of the Atlantic.
With its memorable guitar riff and infectious chorus, it remains one of the most popular songs from the 70s era.
The Cars – Tonight She Comes
The Cars released “Tonight She Comes” as the lead single off their 1986 album Heartbeat City. Written by Ric Ocasek, the song quickly became a classic on rock radio and reached number seven on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The track features a unique blend of synthesizers and guitars that build up to an infectious chorus with memorable lyrics like “She moves in mysterious ways tonight.”
The music video for “Tonight She Comes” is just as iconic as the song itself, featuring psychedelic visuals that reflect its dream-like sound.
80S Music Videos With Cars
The 80s saw the rise of flashy music videos featuring cars. From Wham’s “Freedom” to A-Ha’s “Take On Me,” iconic pop songs of the decade were often accompanied by visuals that involved glitzy sports cars, convertibles and motorcycles. Cars also featured prominently in classic rock videos from the time, such as Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome To The Jungle.”
These vivid automotive images remain some of the most memorable aspects of 80s music video culture.
The Cars Music Videos
The Cars were an iconic new wave band that rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During their heyday, they produced some of the most memorable music videos around, including “Just What I Needed” and “Drive”. Their videos often featured bright neon colors and quirky visuals that matched perfectly with their catchy tunes.
The group’s innovative take on music video production helped lead to a resurgence of popularity for music videos as a vital part of the overall musical experience.
The Cars – Drive
The Cars’ 1984 hit single “Drive” is one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s. Released as a single from their fourth studio album, Heartbeat City, it quickly reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped numerous other charts around the world. Written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Mutt Lange, the song features a simple yet powerful guitar riff that serves as its backbone throughout.
Lyrically, “Drive” speaks to themes of restlessness and wanderlust with lines such as “who’s gonna drive you home tonight?” It remains an enduring classic in rock music today.
The Cars – Moving in Stereo
The Cars were an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1976 by singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, bassist Benjamin Orr and drummer David Robinson, the Cars are best-known for their hit singles “Just What I Needed”, “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Good Times Roll”. Their debut album The Cars (1978) achieved chart success with its single “Moving In Stereo” becoming a popular staple of FM radio stations across America.
Conclusion
The Cars have left an indelible mark on the history of rock and roll. Their unique sound, combining elements of new wave and classic rock, created a style of music that was both innovative and accessible. Most importantly, their songs are still cherished by generations of fans across the world.
The Cars will always remain one of the most influential bands in musical history and will continue to be enjoyed for years to come.
