The Cars is an American group formed in 1977 in Boston and composed of Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes and David Robinson.
Ocasek and Orr originally formed in 1972 a first group called "Milkwood". Ephemeral group that will release an album called "How's the weather" in 1973.
Then they form “Richard and the Rabbits”, an even more ephemeral group.
The eponymous debut album of "The Cars" was released in 1978 and was highly regarded. Followed a year later in 1979 by the album "Candy-O" which this time was quite a success thanks to the flagship single "Let’s go".
In 1980, the album "Panorama" was released, with a more experimental sound and which somewhat disconcerted early fans. The album will produce a single flagship single with "Touch and go".
This drift corrected in 1981 with the release of the album "Shake it up", much more commercial than its predecessor and from which their first Top10 single named after the album was extracted. Album which will contain another hit with "Since you’re gone".
The group took a break in 1982, Ocasek and Hawkes taking the opportunity to release solo albums.
The reunion took place in 1984, a golden year for the group which achieved consecration with the release of the album "Heartbeat city". Album which will produce an impressive number of hits including "You might think", "Hello again" and "Magic". But also and above all the marvel "Drive", an enormous title which is a real hit and raises them to the rank of planetary star.
A year later in 1985 the single “Tonight she comes” was released, a new success, a bit below the previous ones. New break in the wake where each produced solo.
The group will reform one last time in 1987 to produce the album "Door to door", album from which will be extracted their last big hit with "You are the girl". The group will eventually separate definitively in 1988.
Then reborn later but without succeeding in coming back in a consistent way in the race...
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
Just what I needed 1978
My best friend's girl 1978
Good times roll 1979
Let’s go 1979
It's all I can do 1979
Double life 1979
Touch and go 1980
Don't tell me now 1980
Gimme some slack 1981
Shake it up 1981
Cruiser 1981
Since you’re gone 1982
Victim of love 1982
Think it over 1982
You might think 1984
Magic 1984
Drive 1984
Hello again 1984
Why can’t I have you 1985
Heartbeat city 1985
Tonight she comes 1985
I’m not the one 1986
You are the girl 1987
Strap me in 1987
Coming up you 1988
Blue tip 2011
Sad song 2011
Soon 2011
Clips :
1978 ... a start with fanfare that allows them to obtain their first global hit. Cars are already rolling !
1978 ... the dynamic is launched and it is a surge of hits that is on the horizon. An obvious talent that will produce wonders !
1979 ... the rise in power is obvious and the style of the group asserts itself more and more as one of the best of the moment...
1979 ... a very 'late 70's sound. At that time, on the one hand, the Disco which devastates everything in its path. On the other, this typical rock sound !
1979...a euphoria that will calm down somewhat with this title, which has a limited success, to say the least. Too bad because it all went really well...
1979... this title will even manage to pass 'through'. Slight air hole or more worrying underlying trend ? The future will tell us...
1980 ... a perfectly mastered start to the decade which enabled them to consolidate their status as a flagship group. And again, the best is yet to come !
1980... the relapse behind will be violent to say the least with this new title which will also go under the radar. Definitely...
1981... ditto for this one. But as seen previously, they are able to rebound at any time and we must therefore wait for the rest to have a real trend...
1981 ... they sign here their biggest notorious hit since their debut. A mega hit that will surely not be the last, far from it !
1981...so there was no reason to worry as they say. With them there are very big highs and some very lows, we now know...
1982 ... a year 1982 which turned out to be more difficult to negotiate than expected. It doesn't matter, it's backing up to jump better !
1982...the year 1982 will be more a year of transition than anything else and unquestionably one of the least good vintages of the group...
1982...but given what's on the horizon, no need to worry about them. Because the group will simply achieve consecration, the real one, with what will follow...
1984 ... after a blank year 1983, the group reformed and produced no less than 4 mega hits in a single year. Phew !
1984 ... it climbs crescendo towards the summits of the Charts. There is only one rung left before the final consecration. Who comes right after !
1984 ... then comes the WONDER ! The title of the planetary consecration which brings the group definitively into the Pantheon of the leading groups of the decade. A sumptuous title which will remain as one of the most inspired of this end of the XXth century !
1984 ... a decidedly exceptional year which ended in the best possible way with this new top hit. Masters of the world !
1985 ... impossible to compete with such an incredible previous year. But the transition is quality, no wonder with such a talented group !
1985...the year 1985 will undeniably be a big notch below the year 1984 but it shows all the same that the group has lost none of its talent in any case...
1985 ... we set off again towards the summits of the Charts. Years go by and inspiration continues to work wonders. That's what we call talent, quite simply
1986 ... a new title of very high caliber which once again hits the mark. A habit with them !
1987 ... the last notorious hit. Of an incredible adventure which will have dedicated them like Greats, very Greats !
1987 ... the adventure is not quite over anyway. Certainly we are getting closer and closer to it but they still have things to say and especially to sing...
1988...the last hit. An adventure at the highest level which will have lasted 10 years and produced a number of titles of more than obvious quality. Hats off gentlemen !
2011... when we thought the story would end there, here they are back almost 23 years later, who would have believed it ?! Not many people, that's for sure...
2011... it is inevitably the grassroots fans who are delighted at the highest point of this return, which is unexpected to say the least. And who want even more necessarily...
2011... now it remains to be seen if they will have the courage to come back again afterwards. Only the future can answer this question...
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :