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The Cars - Heartbeat City (1984)

The Cars were an American rock band that emerged from the early punk scene in the late 1970s. Members of the band were guitarist Ric Ocasek, bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson. They hailed from Boston, Massachusetts and were signed to Elektra Records in 1977. The Cars were at the forefront in merging 1970s guitar-oriented rock with the new synth-oriented pop that was then becoming popular and which would flower in the early 1980s. Most of the singles included an Elliot Easton guitar solo, with the sound filled out by Greg Hawkes's synthesizers and the harmonies of Easton, Robinson, and Hawkes. Lead vocals were split, with Ric Ocasek taking about 60% and Benjamin Orr taking the remaining 40%. While Ocasek was the sole lyricist and main songwriter for the band, Orr would act as frontman in live appearances. (wikipedia)

In the early 1980s, the Cars were beginning to gain significant popularity. Their syntho-pop/new-wave sound and looks fit perfect with the trend of the early 1980s. By the time the Cars would release "Hearbeat City" in 1984, the timing couldn't have been better for a monster hit album. The syntho-pop/new-wave sound of the 80s was reaching its peak. The Cars had been knocking on the door for several years with albums such as "Candy-o", "Panorama", and "Shake it Up". 1984's "Heartbeat City" would not only bring commercial success to the group, but the group would really show their strongest work to date.

Up until 1981, the Cars would be produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Following 1981's "Shake It Up", the band went on a 3 year hiatus and would bring in a new producer - Robert John "Mutt" Lange (better known as Mr. Shania Twain). Baker had done a solid job with the Cars, but it would be Lange who would really show his strength that would put the Cars over the top. The Cars would now cross-over as full-fledged Superstars and in addition continue to maintain strong to their New Wave roots. Lange had been more known as Def Leppard's "Pyromania" producer and would prove he would have a lot of diversity as well (he would go on to produce artists such as Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, and Billy Ocean).

Despite Lange's presence, the Cars themselves deserve an enormous amount of credit. Top to bottom, this is one heck of an album. Lead singer and guitarist Ric Ocasek writes all ten songs (9 of the 10 are written by himself with the other co-written by Keyboardist Greg Hawkes). Ric Ocasek does the lion's share of the lead vocals, but bassist Benjamin Orr gets the opportunity to do lead vocals on three of the most interesting tracks on the collection. It's Orr's vocals on what is perhaps the album and group's signature song "Drive". This is the song that really showed the crossover as it hit big on the pop and adult contemporary charts. In this song, The Cars take their syntho-pop sound and basically take it down to a ballad level. While Orr's stirring vocals really make the song, Ocasek writes a masterpiece about someone fighting for a chance to keep a relationship going. The Cars have their more traditional sound on "Stranger Eyes". This song has more of a tech-rock sound. This was a song largely ignored by the radio, but still is a solid song. Orr takes lead vocals on this song, but sometimes it almost seems as if his voice is "fused" with Ocasek's even though Orr has a solo lead on this. Greg Hawkes on keyboards and David Robinson on drums are really going to play a key role on this song. The third Orr led "It's Not the Night" song has more of a haunting feel (it could have easily have been a Halloween song). Orr provides some great haunting lead vocals. Excellent background vocals and excellent guitar work by Ocasek and Elliot Easton on this track.

The Cars gained a lot of popularity through the very pop like hits "Magic" and "You Might Think" in which Ric Ocasek does lead vocals. These songs fit very well on the radio and are good songs, but Ocasek lends vocals to much stronger tracks. The first two tracks "Hello Again" and "Looking for Love" are prime examples of this. "Hello Again" is another techo-rock song. This did get radio airplay, but by the time it did - the album had already peaked. The keyboards take a strong lead on the intro to the song. There is some great keyboards on this song by Hawkes - especially during the chorus. The techo feel of the song really takes left stage after "you leave it all, to fade to blue" - a computer like sound is played, with some nice guitar work. The background vocals of "Hello" also compliment Ocasek's lead perfectly. The second track, "Looking for Love", should have got some more airplay - but didn't. This song has a great intro with some nice bass work by Orr, and Ocasek's spoken vocals of "Come on Lover, make the switch". Finally, the title cut of the album "Heartbeat City" deserves a lot of credit. Along with "Drive", this is another masterpiece on the album. It has a techno rock theme to it with a futurist "car and garage" sound at the beginning. The song overall seems to show how the Cars have taken their syntho pop roots and showed how they can stay true to them while maturing as a group. Sometimes this song is referred to as just "Jacki". Ocasek also provides some stirring vocals and Hawkes again comes alive on keyboards. The only weak song on this album is the song "Why Can't I Have You". I'm surprised that this was released as a single when there was so much more this colleciton offered.

A word on the music videos. This album produced some of the most imaginative and creative music videos of all time - including the award winning "You Might Think" that really made the Cars a pioneer in using technology in their videos. "Drive" is another classic with Paulina Porizkova (Ric's wife) playing the role of a woman going insane. There were other videos, but it is important to note that this album stands on its own and if there were no videos, this album should still be considered a classic.

Liner notes are outstanding with all lyrics included on this album as well as songwriting and instrument credits of the band.

Following "Heartbeat City", as the music landscape in the 80s changed to a more hard rock sound, the Cars would have trouble gaining commercial success on the follow-up album "Door to Door". This album however stands the test of time. (http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-City-Cars/dp/B000002H1T)

The Cars have always been known for their signature sound, thanks to the halfway-distorted guitars, awesome keyboard effects, and the vocalwork displayed between Ric Osaeck and Benjamin Orr! In the 70's, they were made famous by hits such as "Just What I Needed" and "You're All I've Got Tonight"! But, it wasn't taking them anywhere quick! Then, in the 80's the pop trend was shredding the disco era to shreds! "Shake It Up" in 1981 proved they could resemble those of the new pop sound, but, after it's success with the title song itself, they had to become one with the pop era to make it to the big time! And, with the help of producer Robert "John" Mutt Lange, they were able to do that! In, 1984, they released their best album ever to date... "Heartbeat City"!!! Half of the album was made up of 5 hit singles: the start-off track "Hello Again", the pop-rock frenzy "Magic", the humorous "You Might Think", the haunting ballad "Why Can't I Have You", and the mystical synth-ballad featuring the return of bassist Ben Orr's vocals...... "Drive"! The other 5 songs (including the title song itself) also kept the spirit of the alaum going! It's sad to say Ben Orr died from cancer in 2000 at the age of 53! And, lead singer Ric Osaeck is doing his own thing now, like he has been since the band's departure in 1989 after the low success of 1987's "Door To Door"! All that's left to say is that even though The Cars aren't together anymore (the 3 remaining members hired singer Todd Rundgren in 2005 and are now touring 2006 with 60-year-old Blondie), they will never be represented in any way like on Heartbeat City! In their aged 30's at the time, they knew they had to do something with their abilities before it was too late! "Heartbeat City" is The Cars!!! If you want an awesome album with pop, rock, and a touch of talent from 5 great musicians who put so much time into what would become their best work ever, get this album!!! It's shows you how much they were a team in every second... every song!!! A MILLION MORE STARS!!!

Submitted by bubblicious (San Francisco, CA, USA) (www.cduniverse.com)

Tracklist:

1. Hello Again

2. Looking For Love

3. Magic

4. Drive

5. Stranger Eyes

6. You Might Think

7. It's Not The Night

8. Why Can't I Have You

9. I Refuse

10. Heartbeat City

Total time: 38:35

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