"Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology" by THE CARS – Forty-Tracks from 1978 to 1987 LPs on Elektra Records Plus Some Non-LP B-sides, Demos and Unreleased Material. Band featured Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, David Robinson and Producer Ray Thomas Baker (November 1995 UK Elektra Traditions/Rhino 2CD 40-Track Compilation in a Jewel-Case with Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Let The Good Times Roll…"

The Cars arrived just when the 1978 Music Scene needed them. Unashamedly steeped in US Pop, Rock and New Wave shininess - right from the off, they had hooky Petty-type riffs, knowing lyrics and fabulous Radio-friendly Production values courtesy of Roy Thomas Baker. "The Cars" self-titled debut felt so cleverly cool - like Queen had mated with Eurythmics via The Motels and Talking Heads. 

I can still remember the impact of that fantastic-looking debut album in 1978 - just when Punk was threatening to disappear up its own aggro-addled arse. Dancers dug them - Alternative Rockers liked the gutsy riffage of tunes like "Good Times Roll" and "You're All I Got Tonight" and Radio just couldn't enough of wildly popular hits like "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed". We were indeed Moving In Stereo. Which brings me to 'The Cars Anthology'.

Although CD2 of this frighteningly good twofer drops two tracks I adore by The Cars - "Heartbeat City" from the album of the same name and "A Dream Away" from the hugely underrated fourth platter "Shake It Up" – the Remastered Audio is stonking - there's a half-decent smattering of unreleased sides for die-hards who have been starved on something new for years and a slew of those hard-to-find-on-digital US 45-single side versions instead of the more commonly available LP cuts. 

Th UK variant loses comes in a rather boring double-jewel case and I say this because the US one has a sort of glitter and glam card slipcase – like a Disco Ball which is worth seeking out. Both the British/European version (reviewed below) and the US variant are available cheaply these days (2024) – so collector's choice. Who's gonna drive you home tonight - well this one is my loyal best friend – to the glam gear sticks and smooth synth fenders…

UK released January 1996 (November 1995 in the USA in a Glitter Card Slipcase, UK issue in 2CD Jewel-Case Only) – "Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology" by THE CARS on Elektra Traditions/Rhino 0349-73506-2 (Barcode 603497350629) is a 2CD 40-Track Compilation of Remasters covering 1978 to 1987 (including LP tracks, 45-Single Edits, Non-LP B-sides, Demos and Unreleased) and plays out as follows: 

CD1 (69:24 minutes):
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 – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Demo
8. Cool Fool – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Demo
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 (Early Version) – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Outtake
16. Slipaway – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Demo
17. That's It
18. Panorama
19. Gimme Some Slack
20. Don't Go To Pieces
NOTES ON CD1:
Track 1 is a US 45-Single Version (Their Debut 45), May 1978 on Elektra E-45491 (Charted No.27)
Track 2 is a US 45-Single Version, October 1978 on Elektra E-45537 (No.35)
Track 3 is a US 45-Single Version, February 1979 on Elektra E-46014 (No.41)
Tracks 4, 5 and 6 are from the debut album "The Cars", released June 1978 in the USA on Elektra 6E-135 (peaked US LP charts at No. 18) – Tracks 1 to 3 are also on the LP in Album Version form
Tracks 7, 8 and 15 and 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Track 15 is an unissued outtake Early Version of "Nightspots" from "The Cars" 1978 sessions – later version included on the 1979 "Candy-O" album
Track 9 is a US 45-single Version, June 1979 on Elektra E-46063, A-side (No.14) – see also Track 17 for Non-LP B-side
Track 10 is a US 45-single Version, December 1979 on Elektra E-46580, A-side (see also Track 12 for B-side)
Track 12 is a US 45-single Version, December 1979 on Elektra E-46580, Non-LP B-side of "Candy-O" (see also Track 10 for A-side)
Tracks 11 is from their second studio album "Candy-O", released June 1969 in the USA on Elektra 5E-507
Track 13 is a US 45-single version, September 1979 on Elektra E-46546, A-side – for Non-LP B-side see Track 14
Track 14 is a US 45-single version, September 1979 on Elektra E-46546, Non-LP B-side of "Got A Lot On My MInd" – for A-side see Track 13
Track 17 is a US 45-single Version, June 1979 on Elektra E-46063, Non-LP B-side of "Let's Go" (see Track 9 for A-side)
Track 18 is from their third studio album "Panorama", released August 1980 in the USA on Elektra 5E-514
Track 19 is a US 45-single Version, January 1981 on Elektra E-47101, A-side – for Non-LP B-side see Track 20
Track 20 is a US 45-single Version, January 1981 on Elektra E-47101, Non-LP B-side of "Gimme Some Slack"

CD2 (69:24 minutes):
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 (1977 Demo Version)
20. Ta Ta Wayo Wayo (1977 Demo Version)
NOTES ON CD2:
Track 1 is the Full-Length Album Version of "Touch And Go" from their third studio album "Panorama", released August 1980 in the USA on Elektra 5E-514; an edited Single Mix was issued August 1980 on Elektra E-47039 but is not included here
Track 2 is a US 45-single Version, November 1980 on Elektra E-47080, A-side
Track 3 is a US 45-single Version, November 1981 on Elektra E-47250, A-side (No.4)
Track 4 is a US 45-single Version, March 1982 on Elektra E-47433, A-side (No.41)
Track 5 is the original version from their fourth studio album "Shake It Up", released November 1981 in the USA on Elektra 5E-567; a remixed version of the song was issued on the "Cars Greatst Hits" LP and released January 1986 in the USA as a 45-single on Elektra 7-69569 (that version not included here)
Track 6 is a US 45-single version, November 1981 on Elektra 47250, A-side
Tracks 7 and 8 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Demos recorded early 1981
Track 9 is a US 45-single version, March 1984 on Elektra 7-69744, A-side
Track 10 is a US 45-single version, July 1984 on Elektra 7-69706, A-side
Track 11 is a US 45-single version, May 1984 on Elektra 7-69724, A-side
Track 12 is a US 45-single version, October 1984 on Elektra 7-69681, A-side
Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of a US 45-single issued January 1985 on Elektra 7-69657 – the B-side (Track 14) is Non-LP
Album Versions of Tracks 9, 10, 11 12 and 13 are on their fifth studio album "Heartbeat City", March 1984 US LP on Elektra 60296 (No.3)
Track 15 is a US 45-single version, October 1985 on Elektra 7-69589, A-side
Track 16 is a US 45-single version, August 1987 on Elektra 7-69446, A-side
Track 17 is a US 45-single version, October 1987 on Elektra 7-69427, A-side
Track 18 is from their sixth and final album "Door To Door", August 1987 US LP on Elektra 60747
Tracks 19 and 20 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Demos, later versions of both tracks. Included on the "Door To Door" 
Only US Copies Had A Glossy Card Slipcase and Fat Jewel Cases
"Made In England/Nice 'N' Greasy plus Bonus Tracks"

BRETT MILANO does the new liner notes that includes interviews with principals like singer and Rhythm Guitarist Ric Ocasek, Bassist and Vocalist Benjamin Orr, Guitarist Elliot Easton as well as a surprising number of band and individual photos (Greg Hawkes by his keyboard banks) from the archives - their first European Tour etc. The last few pages give credits – picture the albums – original vinyl catalogue numbers – all the usual. It's thorough and in-depth. 

The BILL INGLOT Remasters punch like a mule - you would expect "Don't Cha Stop", "Let's Go" or "Drive" to float out of your speakers with the precision with which they were recorded - but listening to the superb outtake "Take Me Now" on CD1 and you realise to your shock that this in-yer-face Pop Gem could easily have been on the B-side of one of the debut's 45s. It sounds amazing, feels good too - and the also-unreleased "Cool Fool" is another audio winner (perhaps considered to be too Punky for their Pop-Rock debut). Fans would be hoping that the "Candy-O" tracks like the slinky "Dangerous Type" with its hard guitar solo and the echoed vocals of "Double Life" are given more muscle - and they are (drums a-whacking) - although you might have to give them more welly on the volume control (can I touch you, yes I can). 

And all will enjoy the three Non-LP B-sides - tracks like "It's All I Can Do" (cancel my flight that's going nowhere). The grunge groove inherent in the "Nightspots" version presented here is probably why the band felt it wasn't ready for an album at this point - not 'Cars' enough (if that makes sense). The unissued demo of "Slipaway" kicks strong enough, but it lacks the polish of the final. Another Non-LP flip comes in the form of "That's It" - but it feels very much like a cut that's second tier. Better are the Remasters for The Cure-sounding "Panorama" and the manic guitars/drums of the failed single "Gimme Some Slack" feel like the band is somehow losing its way and needs a new direction (and better tunes).  

I absolutely loved the "Shake It Up" album which I felt was a major return to Cars form - represented here by four goodies - cream being "I'm Not The One" and "Since You're Gone". Their big album "Heartbeat City" is represented by five tracks - albeit in their 'single' form - but God damn - do they sound good. The whole album sang for me - gatefold sleeve for the first time - hits a plenty - "Heartbeat City" felt like their "Rumours" or "Tango In The Night". It peaked at No. 3 (as did the less-deserving second album "Candy-O") and hit just when MTV was making stars out of everyone with even half a tune to flog. "You Might Think" and "Magic" are so 80ts Pop-Rock, but it's "Drive" that hammered home their greatness.

The years went past - a "Greatest Hits" with some new mixes and a new song "Tonight She Comes" filled something of a gap in October 1985 - but the last studio album "Door To Door" from October 1987 seemed like an afterthought and really didn't make the splash it should have. Ocasek and Orr went on to solo careers, but they will (like Lou Gramm and Foreigner) be forever linked to their principal band. 

"Just What I Needed..." is a cool reminder of why Boston's The Cars charted so many singles and clocked up two No. 3 US albums while two of the others were Top Ten. Enjoy...