Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology is a two-disc, career-spanning compilation album of songs by the American new wave rock band the Cars. It features most of the band's singles, as well as many album tracks, non-album B-sides and unreleased songs.
Background Just What I Needed contains the original album version of "I'm Not the One" from 1981's Shake It Up, while the rendition on their 1985 Greatest Hits collection was a new remix. "Heartbeat City" is the only song on Greatest Hits that does not appear on this album.
Whereas their Greatest Hits contained the band's most popular hit singles, Just What I Needed includes deeper album tracks, demos, B-sides and unreleased tracks, along with the requisite hits.
Upon its release, Elliot Easton announced that an expanded collection of rarities would be released in the spring, but it has yet to materialize.
Rare and unreleased tracks "Leave or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" were recorded as demos in 1977. "Leave or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" were eventually re-recorded for the band's 1987 album Door to Door. "Take Me Now" and "Cool Fool" are also 1977 demos that were never re-recorded.
The early version of "Night Spots" from 1978 is an unfinished outtake from the band's first album, featuring only Ric Ocasek and Greg Hawkes. It was eventually re-recorded for 1979's Candy-O.
The previously unreleased "Slipaway" was recorded as a 24-track demo by The Cars between their first and second albums in 1979. Rather than record a finished studio version, the Cars gave the song to Ian Lloyd, who issued his version later in 1979.
"That's It" (B-side of 1979's "Let's Go"), "Don't Go to Pieces" (B-side of 1980's "Don't Tell Me No" & 1981's "Gimme Some Slack") and "Breakaway" (B-side of 1985's "Why Can't I Have You") are non-album single B-sides that appear on CD for the first time in this collection.
Previously unreleased cover songs Demo covers of The Nightcrawlers' "The Little Black Egg" & Iggy Pop's "Funtime" were initially made as backing tracks for Bebe Buell to record vocals over for her 1981 EP Covers Girl. These versions feature lead vocals by Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, respectively, and were previously unreleased.
Track listing Source:
Personnel Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals Greg Hawkes – keyboard, backing vocals Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on disc one tracks: 2–5, 11–13, 15, 16, 18, 19; disc two tracks: 1, 3–5, 7, 9, 11–20 Benjamin Orr – bass guitar, lead vocals on disc one tracks: 1, 6–10, 14, 17, 20; disc two tracks: 2, 6, 8, 10 David Robinson – drums, percussion
References