[1] Just What I Needed (Ocasek) - 3:44
[2] Since You're Gone (Ocasek) - 3:30
[3] You Might Think (Ocasek) - 3:04
[4] Good Times Roll (Ocasek) - 3:44
[5] Touch and Go (Ocasek) - 4:55
[6] Drive (Ocasek) - 3:55
[7] Tonight She Comes (Ocasek) - 3:52
[8] My Best Friend's Girl (Ocasek) - 3:40
[9] Heartbeat City (Ocasek) - 4:31
[10] Let's Go (Ocasek) - 3:32
[11] I'm Not the One (Ocasek) - 4:07
[12] Magic (Ocasek) - 3:57
[13] Shake It Up (Ocasek) - 3:35
The Cars were responsible for some of rock's most recognizable radio
hits by the mid '80s, so when the band took an extended break after
their successful tour for Heartbeat City, 1985's Greatest Hits
(Elektra) was assembled. Mixed in with the familiar selections was a
brand new track, the playful "Tonight She Comes" (which became a Top
Ten hit), as well as a remix of the overlooked "Shake It Up" ballad,
"I'm Not the One." And while most of the expected hits are represented
("Just What I Needed, " "Let's Go, " "Drive, " "Shake It Up, " etc.),
some of the selections prove questionable - why was the title track
from Heartbeat City (an unsuccessful single) included instead of the
1984 Top 20 hit, "Hello Again"? Other missing radio staples include
"You're All I've Got Tonight, " "It's All I Can Do" and the title track
from Candy-O, which would have made the collection definitive (all are
included on the more extensive Just What I Needed: Cars Anthology from
1995). But for the casual fan, Greatest Hits will do the trick.
Greg Prato, All-Music Guide
Ihre Mischung aus New-Wave-Experimenten und traditionellem Rock
bescherte den Cars in den späten Siebzigern und frühen
Achtzigern beinahe allgegenwärtige Radio-Präsenz. Ric Ocasek
fing mit seiner oft sprunghaften, ambivalenten und gleichzeitig
wunderbar poppigen Musik den Zeitgeist für jene Leute ein, denen
die Talking Heads nicht viel bedeuteten. Greatest Hits startet mit
einer der zeitlos großartigen Singles, "Just What I Needed", und
schlängelt sich dann durch die Singles der sieben folgenden Jahre,
inklusive des damals brandneuen "Tonight She Comes". Greatest Hits ist
eine, sagen wir mal, gutgeölte Spaßmaschine.
Rickey Wright, Amazon.de
Mit schnittigen Pop-Songs und polierten Arrangements bremsten die Cars
in der 80er Jahre die Konkurrenz aus. Dieser Silberdiskus mit
Stücken wie Drive und You Might Think ist PS-Pop à la carte.
The Cars' blend of New Wave experimentation and trad-rock values made
for nearly ubiquitous radio presence in the late '70s and early '80s.
Often jumpily ambivalent and marvelously pop-wise in the same moment,
Ric Ocasek captured the zeitgeist for people to whom even Talking Heads
didn't matter much. Kicking off with one of the all-time great singles,
"Just What I Needed," then winding its way through seven more years of
singles including the then-brand new "Tonight She Comes," Greatest Hits
is one, um, well-oiled pleasure machine.