Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Just What I Needed
2. My Best Friend's Girl
3. Good Times Roll
4. You're All I've Got Tonight
5. Don't Cha Stop
6. Moving in Stereo
7. Take Me Now [#]
8. Cool Fool [#]
9. Let's Go
10. Candy-O
11. Dangerous Type
12. Double Life
13. Got a Lot on My Head
14. It's All I Can Do
15. Night Spots [Early Version][#]
16. Slipaway [#]
17. That's It
18. Panorama
19. Gimme Some Slack
20. Don't Go to Pieces

Disc 2:

1. Touch and Go
2. Don't Tell Me No
3. Shake It Up
4. Since You're Gone
5. I'm Not the One
6. Cruiser
7. Little Black Egg [#]
8. Funtime [#]
9. You Might Think
10. Drive
11. Magic
12. Hello Again
13. Why Can't I Have You
14. Breakaway
15. Tonight She Comes
16. You Are the Girl
17. Strap Me In
18. Door to Door
19. Leave or Stay [1977 Demo Version][#]
20. Ta Ta Wayo Wayo [1977 Demo Version][#]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67052 in Music
• Released on: 1995-12-05
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Best of

From Amazon.com
Despite musical roots that branched from the Velvets to Steely Dan and the likes of then-new wave icons Roxy Music, the Cars never strayed far from the crucial, hook-conscious, three-minute pop song sensibility which made them one of the most successful and long-lived radio staples of the '70s and '80s. As well as being catchy, Ric Ocasek's best songs are also ironic--"Good Times Roll" and "Just What I Needed" both contain winking lyrical twists. With Ben Orr vocalizing the sweeter material, guitarist Elliott Easton's and keyboardist Greg Hawke's often-quirky musical embroidery, and drummer David Robinson's rhythmic propulsion and fashion sense, the Cars became the self-contained rock juggernaut--or, if you prefer, new wave arena band--documented on these two discs.

The hit singles and select album cuts stretch from their improbably rich debut through moodier efforts like "Panorama" and the vibrant, yet satisfying "Shake It Up" and "Heartbeat City." The CD is well seasoned by a cache of previously unreleased demos, B-sides, and outtakes. The earliest of these ('77 demos of "Take Me Now" and "Cool Fool") demonstrate that the band's sound was intact before they met their first multiplatinum producer, while later rarities (playful covers of Iggy's "Fun Time" and the Nightcrawlers' "Little Black Egg") underscore their eclectic, seemingly incongruous tastes. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Put this in and let the "Good Times Roll".
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.

exactly
what is there to say? 2 discs with forty perfect pop songs from a near-perfect group, packaged in a beautiful purple-sparkly sleeve. in addition to bringing you ALL the wonderful hits, this set does a fantastic job of showing how great the cars' standard album tracks were. hell, even the demos included here are fantastic. i think you'd be HARD pressed to find another band who could string together 40 songs as consistent and enjoyable as these. the cars were easily one of the greatest singles band of the 80s--if not THE greatest--and one of the best of all time. this set does as good a job as possible of capturing that.

4.5 stars - Their best retrospective to date
The Cars were one of the greatest classic rock/new wave bands of the late seventies and early eighties. Ric Ocasek, Ben Orr, and all the other guys knew how to rock and roll, so it's no surprise that the band has released more than one hits compilation over the years. This one, appropriately entitled Just What I Needed - The Cars Anthology, came second. Read on for my review of it.

PROS:
-If you're a casual fan of the band who thinks a one-disc compilation just wouldn't be enough of the band, or you're just seeking the best possible introduction to their music, this is a good place to start. Big hits like Just What I Needed, Good Times Roll, My Best Friend's Girl, Let's Go, and Shake It Up are all here for your listening pleasure.
-In addition to the hits, there are many underrated tunes present on this compilation. Like with any band, there is way more to the Cars than just their hits.
-The compilation contains some rare tracks that are unavailable outside this set, making it all the more appealing.

CONS:
-The price. Two disc compilations always cost more than their single-disc cousins, and this is no exception. I actually took off half a star for price alone - this is VERY pricey, even for a two-disc set.
-If you're just a casual fan, the single-disc Complete Greatest Hits compilation should be enough for you.

OVERALL:
Overall, I feel the Cars are a great band, and this is the greatest retrospective of their material out there today. Hits compilations often fail to capture the essence of the band they represent, but this is a huge exception. If you're a step up from a casual fan, but not quite a die-hard, this is the compilation you should buy.