The Cars: Anthology: Just What I Needed

The Cars: Anthology: Just What I Needed

1995

Elektra Records

Format I Own it on: Compact Disc

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. Nightspots  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. The 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  20. Ta Ta Wayo Wayo


A big, fat double Cd in one of those thick ass old jewel cases...Before they learned how to make them slimmer...

This thing is actually pretty in-depth...Definitely missing a few key tracks that I would have put on here,  but this is probably all the Cars most people would need.  It gives an almost even overview of all their albums and in addition to the hits, it also includes album cuts and 12 unreleased and rare tracks that aren't included on their studio albums...I already went over most of this, so I'm just going to cover the stuff I haven't talked about yet...



From the band's 1977 demo, there's the early soft rock ballad "Take Me Now" and the rocker "Cool Fool."  I can see why they didn't pursue "Take Me Now," but I think with a little work "Cool Fool" could have sounded fine on their debut...It doesn't quite beat you over the head with its hooks like the other songs form their first album did, but I think the easygoing hard pop would have made a nice sleeper track...

We also get an early version of "Nightspots" a  song we all know from "Candy-O" but the version included here is an outtake from their first album...It's hard to believe this was recorded at the same time as "My Best Friend's Girl" or "Just What I Needed." It's a lot darker and ominous than anything on that record...I think it was a good call saving it for "Candy-O." It's weird not hearing keyboards on song, since it's the song's most recognizable feature...So empty...

"That's It" was the B-side from the "Let's Go" single. I like this song, it's nice, catchy 60's style pop.

"Slip Away" was a "Candy-O" outtake that was given to Ian Lloyd who released it as a single in
1979...This is the Ian Lloyd version...

 ..and this is the Cars take...

Hard to believe they gave this away. Out of all the unreleased songs on here, this is probably the highlight. Blends in with all the other hits nicely...

"Don't Go to Pieces" was the b-side of "Don't Tell Me No" single. Pretty catchy b-side with great melodic guitar playing juxtaposed with a choppy riff...Can't really picture it on "Panorama" (too bright and poppy) but it's a good b-side...

 "Little Black Egg" and "Funtime" are cover songs. Ric and Ben's vocals were removed and the backing tracks were used for Bebe Buell's "Covers Girl" ep. They sound really comfortable with "Little Black Egg," which is odd, because the original is such a druggy 60's garage rock song, yet it suits their style... The "Funtime"  cover gives the track a more sleek 80's dance rock backing than the Iggy Pop's thudding horror-show original...This song has always reminded me of  the "Monster Mash" for some reason...Maybe it's the Dracula reference...Iggy comes out on top as the more interesting vocalist, but Benjamin Orr does a pretty decent job actually...

"Breakaway" was the b-side to the "Why Can't I Have You" single. Nothing too outstanding, but it is a solid "Heartbeat City" outtake. I would have gladly traded "It's Not the Night" for this...Might have livened up side two of that album a bit...



"Tonight She Comes" was originally released on "The Cars Greatest Hits" album that was came out in 1985. Not actually a "rare" track per se, since the greatest hits album is still available everywhere, but it never appeared on any of their studio albums. I can remember hearing this on the radio growing up but not so much anymore...Alright song, you kind of get the feeling they're edging into adult contemporary though...

"Leave and Stay" and "Tata Wayo Wayo" are 1977 demos, but they're placed at the end to help represent "Door to Door," since the songs were re-recorded for that album...This is a good call...The "Leave or Stay" smokes the "Door to Door" version, but as far as "Tata Wayo Wayo" goes I actually really like the "Door to Door" version...Don't see why it often gets singled out as a low-point...

So there ya go...Even though others have been released before and since, no other Cars compilation even comes close to topping this one...Listening to it gives you a greater appreciation of the band and almost everything in the two-and-a-half hour running time is great...

...So let's check out "Cruiser" by the Cars...Cruise Away...