Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology
| Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology | ||||
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| Compilation album by The Cars | ||||
| Released | 7 November 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1977–1987 | |||
| Genre | New wave, pop rock, rock | |||
| Length | 2:31:54 | |||
| Label | Rhino | |||
| Producer | The Cars, Roy Thomas Baker, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Mike Shipley, Ric Ocasek | |||
| The Cars chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology is a two-disc, career-spanning compilation album of songs by the new wave rock group The Cars. It features most of the band's singles, as well as many album tracks, B-sides and unreleased tunes.
Background
Whereas the 1985 Greatest Hits record contained the band's most popular hit singles, Just What I Needed includes an album's worth of rarities and unreleased tracks, in addition to deeper album tracks and the requisite hits.
"I'm Not the One" is the original album version from 1980, while the rendition on Greatest Hits was a 1986 remix. Greatest Hits also includes "Heartbeat City," which is not included on Just What I Needed.
Rare and unreleased tracks
B-sides
The following three songs were B-sides that had never previously been issued on CD:
- "That's It" (previously issued as the B-side of 1979's 'Let's Go')
- "Don't Go to Pieces" (previously issued as the B-side of 1981's 'Gimme Some Slack')
- "Breakaway" (previously released as the B-side of 1985's 'Why Can't I Have You')
Demos
1977
The following 4 tracks were recorded as demos in 1977. "Leave or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" were eventually re-recorded for the band's 1987 album Door To Door; the other 2 tracks were never re-recorded. All 4 tracks were previously unreleased recordings.
- "Take Me Now"
- "Cool Fool"
- "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" (demo)
- "Leave or Stay" (demo)
1978
The following previously unreleased track is an unfinished outtake from the band's first album, featuring only Ocasek & Hawkes. It was eventually re-recorded for 1979's Candy-O.
- "Night Spots" (early version)
1979
The previously unreleased "Slipaway" was recorded as a 24-track demo by The Cars between their first and second albums. Rather than record a finished studio version, The Cars gave the song to Ian Lloyd, who issued his version later in 1979.
- "Slipaway"
Previously unissued cover songs
The following two tracks, both cover versions, were initially made as backing tracks for Bebe Buell to record vocals over for her 1981 EP Covers Girl. These versions feature lead vocals by Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr, and are previously unissued.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ric Ocasek, except where noted.
| Disc one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
| 1. | "Just What I Needed" | The Cars | 3:43 |
| 2. | "My Best Friend's Girl" | The Cars | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Good Times Roll" | The Cars | 3:44 |
| 4. | "You're All I've Got Tonight" | The Cars | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Don't Cha Stop" | The Cars | 3:01 |
| 6. | "Moving in Stereo" (Greg Hawkes, Ocasek) | The Cars | 3:54 |
| 7. | "Take Me Now" | previously unreleased | 4:01 |
| 8. | "Cool Fool" (Elliot Easton, Ocasek) | previously unreleased | 2:42 |
| 9. | "Let's Go" | Candy-O | 3:33 |
| 10. | "Candy-O" | Candy-O | 2:36 |
| 11. | "Dangerous Type" | Candy-O | 4:28 |
| 12. | "Double Life" | Candy-O | 4:14 |
| 13. | "Got a Lot on My Head" | Candy-O | 2:59 |
| 14. | "It's All I Can Do" | Candy-O | 3:44 |
| 15. | "Night Spots" (Original demo version) | Candy-O | 3:09 |
| 16. | "Slipaway" | previously unreleased | 3:43 |
| 17. | "That's It" | B-side to "Let's Go" | 3:24 |
| 18. | "Panorama" | Panorama | 5:42 |
| 19. | "Gimme Some Slack" | Panorama | 3:32 |
| 20. | "Don't Go to Pieces" (Hawkes, Ocasek) | B-side to "Don't Tell Me No" and "Gimme Some Slack" | 4:03 |
| Disc two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
| 21. | "Touch and Go" | Panorama | 4:55 |
| 22. | "Don't Tell Me No" | Panorama | 4:00 |
| 23. | "Shake It Up" | Shake It Up | 3:32 |
| 24. | "Since You're Gone" | Shake It Up | 3:30 |
| 25. | "I'm Not the One" | Shake It Up | 4:12 |
| 26. | "Cruiser" | Shake It Up | 4:54 |
| 27. | "The Little Black Egg" (Michael Stone) | previously unreleased | 2:54 |
| 28. | "Funtime" (David Bowie, Iggy Pop) | previously unreleased | 3:10 |
| 29. | "You Might Think" | Heartbeat City | 3:04 |
| 30. | "Drive" | Heartbeat City | 3:55 |
| 31. | "Magic" | Heartbeat City | 3:57 |
| 32. | "Hello Again" | Heartbeat City | 3:47 |
| 33. | "Why Can't I Have You" | Heartbeat City | 4:04 |
| 34. | "Breakaway" | B-side to "Why Can't I Have You" | 3:47 |
| 35. | "Tonight She Comes" | Greatest Hits | 3:52 |
| 36. | "You Are the Girl" | Door To Door | 3:52 |
| 37. | "Strap Me In" | Door to Door | 4:22 |
| 38. | "Door to Door" | Door to Door | 4:22 |
| 39. | "Leave or Stay" (1977 demo version) | Door to Door | 4:22 |
| 40. | "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" (1977 demo version) | Door to Door | 4:22 |
Personnel
- Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Greg Hawkes – keyboards, backing vocals
- Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on Disc One tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19; Disc Two tracks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
- Benjamin Orr – bass guitar, lead vocals on Disc One tracks: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 20; Disc Two tracks: 2, 6, 8, 10
- David Robinson – drums, percussion
Notes
References
- Prato, Greg. "The Cars: Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology". allmusic. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
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