Dangerous Type

Last updated
"Dangerous Type"
Song by The Cars
from the album Candy-O
ReleasedJune 13, 1979
Recorded1979 at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles
Genre New wave, hard rock
Length4:28
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Ric Ocasek
Producer(s) Roy Thomas Baker
Candy-O track listing
11 tracks
Side one
  1. "Let's Go"
  2. "Since I Held You"
  3. "It's All I Can Do"
  4. "Double Life"
  5. "Shoo Be Doo"
  6. "Candy-O"
Side two
  1. "Night Spots"
  2. "You Can't Hold on Too Long"
  3. "Lust for Kicks"
  4. "Got a Lot on My Head"
  5. "Dangerous Type"

"Dangerous Type" is a 1979 song by the Cars from their second studio album, Candy-O. It was written by Ric Ocasek.

Contents

Background

The core guitar riff that "Dangerous Type" is centered on resembles the T. Rex song, "Bang a Gong". [1] [2] The song features Ric Ocasek on lead vocals. AllMusic critic Tom Maginnis compared the song to "All Mixed Up", a track on The Cars' self-titled debut album, as they both were the final track on their respective albums, with both tracks "vamping on an upsweep of grand chord changes as the group's entire sonic palette eventually fills the tape to capacity for the big finish." [1]

Although "Dangerous Type" never was released as a single, the song has since become a fan favorite. It has appeared on numerous compilation albums, among them Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology and Complete Greatest Hits .

Reception

"Dangerous Type" has received positive reception from music critics. AllMusic critic Greg Prato said it was one of the "plenty of other standouts [besides "Let's Go" on Candy-O that] can be found" and cited the track as a highlight from Candy-O. [2] Tom Maginnis said, "'Dangerous Type' is the Cars' idea of a musical epic", and went on to say, "After the impossibly infectious leadoff single 'Let's Go,' 'Dangerous Type' would become the album's second-biggest hit." [1] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the Cars' 9th greatest song, praising the way "the sound of the drums, bass, keyboards, and guitar all blend together so nicely without losing their distinctive sounds." [3] In the Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology liner notes, Brett Milano said, "'Let's Go' and 'Dangerous Type' [stood] out as the best of [Ric] Ocasek's enigmatic-woman songs." [4]

Covers

Personnel

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Maginnis, Tom. "Dangerous Type". allmusic.com.
  2. 1 2 Prato, Greg. "Candy-O". allmusic.com.
  3. Kachejian, Brian (February 2024). "Top 10 Cars Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  4. Milano, Brett. Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology. Rhino.