Search - Cars :: The Cars: Deluxe Edition

...buy the "Deluxe Edition!"

07/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"CALLING ALL CARS FANS! This double CD could be the beginning of a new music trend. Not only has their 1978 debut album "The Cars" been remastered - and it sounds FANTASTIC - but a second CD has been added with all the songs in their original demo form (except for a live recording of "Good Times Roll") in their identical running order. The booklet included with the CD's explains that demos actually played a major part in their initial success. A radio station in Boston played their demo of "Just What I Needed" repeatedly .... They were signed to a recording contract and the rest is history. Who hasn't heard the hits "Good Times Roll," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Just What I Needed," "You're All I've Got Tonight" and my personal Cars favorite "Bye Bye Love?" ....This collection has them all in remastered original and demo forms. And to top it off, five previously unreleased Cars songs are also included in demo form. How nice it would be if this became a trend and is done with other great albums by The Cars and others. ...get the double - CD "The Cars Deluxe Edition." One of the best records of the 1970's is now better indeed!"

Rhino Drives Us Home Again!

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 10/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Cars" was a classic debut and one of the first bands with a new wave association to actually make it big. Their blend of Roxy/Bowie ironic pop and AM radio hooks made "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed" sound like Top 40 classics from play one, and the rest of the album skirted experimental stuff like "Moving In Stereo" with the classic nervy album rock ready sounds of "Good Times Roll." But it took the remaster/reissue wizards at Rhino to bring out the best in an already classic record. Roy Thomas Baker's spare production is given a sharper focus in this remaster, and it makes what originally leapt from the speakers sound fresh as that first day you tore the shrink wrap from your twelve inch LP. It's really that much of a revelation.But even more of a reason to own this is disc two. I am rarely one for bonus features on CD's, but this stuff is great. Basically, a demo for demo (excluding "Good Times Roll" played live) version of the album in its running order, it's a stunning look at the work in progress. Frankly, "The Cars" pre-label signing didn't sound that different from "The Cars" except with a better recording budget and a touch less polish. For an album that still gets regular play on my stereo, that says a lot. If you love this album as much as I still do, pony up the extra couple of bucks and be prepared to be wowed, loud. Now how about deluxe versions of "Candy-O" and "Heartbeat City"?"

Their best just got better...

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 05/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first Cars album was a blast of fresh air combining the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and Big Star, Badfinger into one mish mash of amazing sound. The band provided a unique mix of influences to create a coherent, stark sound for American new wave. Just as witty as Elvis Costello and full of as many hooks as the Beatles, this first album has aged extremely well. The glacial sound of the album acts as an ironic counterpoint to these tales of modern love.Their first album ranks amoung the best albums of the 80's and the songwriting, although it got a little more detailed, never got any better than this. The out takes and demos are well worth the price of admission simply because they illuminate (much as the XTC outtakes do for their albums) the creative process (and sometimes roads not taken...).Ric really needs to reform the band. His solo career, although interesting, shows a real lack of progression. It would be interesting to see the original members get back together and see what sort of heat (or cold) they generate together.Now let's see something similiar done with the other two great albums (pick any of your favorites and insert them here)."