| "Don't Tell Me No" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Cars | ||||
| from the album Panorama | ||||
| B-side | "Don't Go to Pieces" | |||
| Released | November 10, 1980 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ric Ocasek | |||
| Producer(s) | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
| The Cars singles chronology | ||||
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| Panorama track listing | ||||
10 tracks
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"Don't Tell Me No" is a song by the American New wave band, the Cars. The song, written by Ric Ocasek, appeared on the band's third studio album, Panorama .
Classic Rock History critic Emily Fagan described the lyrics as a "series of declarations" such as "It’s my party, you can come" and "It’s my life, have a half." [1] To Fagan, the song is about personal freedom and rejecting conformity, and the line "Don’t tell me no" which is repeated throughout the song "is more than a catchy hook; it’s a powerful statement of independence." [1] Fresno Bee critic Don Mayhew regarded the song's theme as "being with the 'in' crowd versus being left out; rejection as oppposed to...acceptance." [2] Fagan described the music as combining the new wave sound of the Cars' earlier albums with a "more experimental, almost avant-garde approach." [1]
"Don't Tell Me No" was recorded in April and May of 1980 with Roy Thomas Baker producer. [1] Benjamin Orr sings lead vocals and plays bass guitar, Ocasek plays rhythm guitar, Elliot Easton plays lead guitar, Greg Hawkes plays synthesizer and David Robinson plays drums. [1]
"Don't Tell Me No" first saw release on the Panorama album in August 1980, but in November of that same year, the song was released as the follow-up single to the marginally successful "Touch and Go" single in America. However, unlike its predecessor, it failed to chart at all in said country.
AllMusic critic Greg Prato noted the track as an album highlight from Panorama, and went on to call it "strong, just not as well known as some of the other material [on the album]". [3] Classic Rock History critic Emily Fagan rated it as the Cars 8th best song sung by Orr, saying that it "captures Benjamin Orr at his most assertive and nuanced, delivering a performance that combines melodic appeal with a defiant edge." [1] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it as the 10th best Benjamin Orr Cars song, praising the "forceful Benjamin Orr vocal riding on top of a slightly dark groove" and saying that the "electronic drums, which often add a dated element to records from this era, actually decorate this one nicely." [4] Swanson also stated that although "Don't Tell Me No" "never really cuts loose or breaks the tension, it holds your ears nonetheless." [4]
Though Benjamin Orr sings lead vocals on "Don't Tell Me No," Record World said that "A steamroller rhythm section has its own way here while steaming guitars and Ric Ocasek's trademark vocal detachment ride high." [5] [6] [4] Billboard chose it as a "recommended" pick. [7] Los Angeles Times critic Steve Pond praised the "insinuating hook." [8] Muncie Star reviewer Kim Terverbaugh said that "David Robinson's drums perfectly punctuate 'Don't Tell Me No' with its multi-textured vocals." [9] Saginaw News critic Nancy Kuharevicz felt that in the song, Ocasek "plays the petulant adolescent, alternately pleading with and demanding of the girl of his dreams, without much apparent effect." [10] Kuharevicz also felt that with the "sneering vocal", the singer seems to thumb his nose at the group's fans. [10]
The song's B-side titled "Don't Go to Pieces", which was also the B-side to "Gimme Some Slack", includes rare backing vocals from lead guitarist Elliot Easton and keyboardist Greg Hawkes singing "You can make the switch, you can have your wish", followed by the band joining and singing the chorus "don't go to pieces, b-b-b-baby."
Swanson rated it as the 8th best Benjamin Orr Cars song, calling it "the best, yet least known, Cars song" and praising the "catchy guitar riff" and Orr's bass guitar part. [4]
The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes (keyboards), and David Robinson (drums). Ocasek and Orr shared lead vocals, and Ocasek was the band's principal songwriter and leader.
Benjamin Orr was an American musician. He was best known as the bassist, co-lead vocalist, and co-founder of the band the Cars. He sang lead vocals on several of their hits, including "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go", "Moving in Stereo", and "Drive". He also had a moderate solo hit with "Stay the Night".
Panorama is the third studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on August 15, 1980, by Elektra Records. Like its predecessors, it was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released on Elektra Records.
"Just What I Needed" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their self-titled debut album (1978). The song, which first achieved radio success as a demo, took inspiration from the Ohio Express and the Velvet Underground. The song is sung by bass player Benjamin Orr and was written by Ric Ocasek.
"Drive" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on July 23, 1984, as the album's third single. Written by Ric Ocasek, the track was sung by bassist Benjamin Orr and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange with the band. Upon its release, "Drive" became the Cars' highest-charting single in most territories. In the United States, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart. It reached number five in the United Kingdom, number four in West Germany, number six in Canada and number three in Ireland.
"Moving in Stereo" is a song by the American rock band The Cars. It appeared on their first album, The Cars, released in 1978. It was co-written by Ric Ocasek and the band's keyboard player Greg Hawkes, and sung by bassist Benjamin Orr.
"Let's Go" is a song by American rock band the Cars, written by Ric Ocasek for the band's second studio album, Candy-O (1979). A new wave rock song, the song's hook was inspired by the Routers. The song's vocals are performed by bassist Benjamin Orr.
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.
"Good Times Roll" is a song by American rock band the Cars released as the first track from their 1978 debut album The Cars. Written by Ric Ocasek as a sarcastic comment on rock's idea of good times, the song features layered harmonies courtesy of producer Roy Thomas Baker.
"All Mixed Up" is a song by the Cars and the final track on their 1978 self-titled debut album. It was written by bandleader Ric Ocasek.
"Bye Bye Love" is a song by the American Boston-based rock band The Cars. The song appears on the band's 1978 debut album The Cars. It was written by bandleader Ric Ocasek and sung by bassist Benjamin Orr. The song was featured in the 2011 science-fiction film Super 8.
"Dangerous Type" is a 1979 song by the Cars from their second studio album, Candy-O. It was written by Ric Ocasek.
"It's All I Can Do" is a song by the American rock band the Cars. It is the third track from their 1979 album Candy-O. It was written by the band's leader and songwriter Ric Ocasek, and features bassist Benjamin Orr on vocals.
"Candy-O" is a song by the American rock band the Cars, the title track of their 1979 album Candy-O. Written by Ric Ocasek, the song was not based on a real person. The song features a prominent guitar solo by Elliot Easton and lead vocals by bassist Benjamin Orr.
"Gimme Some Slack" is a song by the American rock band the Cars from the album Panorama. The song was written by bandleader Ric Ocasek.
"I'm in Touch with Your World" is a song by the American rock band The Cars, from their debut album, The Cars. It was written by Ric Ocasek.
"Touch and Go" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their 1980 album Panorama. The song was written and sung by bandleader Ric Ocasek.
"Think It Over" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fourth studio album, Shake It Up (1981). It was written by Ric Ocasek.
"Panorama" is a 1980 song by the Cars from their third studio album, Panorama. It was written by Ric Ocasek. Despite not being released as a single, the song has since become "a cult favorite".
The Cars Unlocked: The Live Performances is a 2006 live album and video of American new wave band the Cars released by Warner Music in 2006. The album has received mixed reviews due to the mixed quality of the source material.
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| Related articles | |
| The New Cars | |
