| "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] 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]". [2] 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." [3] [4] [5] 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] Billboard chose it as a "recommended" pick. [6]
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."
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.
Door to Door is the sixth studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on August 25, 1987, by Elektra Records. The album was produced by frontman Ric Ocasek, with additional production by keyboardist Greg Hawkes. Three singles were released from the album, though only "You Are the Girl" reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 17. Door to Door became the Cars' lowest-charting studio album, peaking at number 26 on the Billboard 200, and within a year of its release the band would break up.
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.
The New Cars were a band formed in 2005 by two of the original members of the 1970s/1980s new wave band the Cars. The band was composed of original Cars members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes, along with vocalist/guitarist Todd Rundgren, bassist/vocalist Kasim Sulton, and drummer Prairie Prince. The band performed the Cars' songs, some new material, and selections from Rundgren's career.
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.
Shake It Up & Other Hits is a budget compilation album of the Cars' songs, released by Rhino Records in 2001.
This Side of Paradise is the second solo studio album released by Ric Ocasek, lead singer and songwriter of the Cars. It was released in 1986 by Geffen Records. Though it was a solo album, other members of the Cars played significant roles. Greg Hawkes plays keyboards and bass throughout the album, and also co-wrote "Hello Darkness". Benjamin Orr is on backing vocals for three songs. Along with Hawkes and Orr, the track "True to You" also features Elliot Easton on guitar. Both production and drumming were by Chris Hughes. Hughes had been the recent producer of Tears for Fears most popular two albums. Steve Stevens from Billy Idol's band plays guitar on over half of the album.
"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.
"Dangerous Type" is a 1979 song by the Cars from their second studio album, Candy-O. It was written by Ric Ocasek.
"You're All I've Got Tonight" is a song by the American rock band the Cars, from their debut album, The Cars. Like "Bye Bye Love" and "Moving in Stereo", two other songs from the album, it continues to receive airplay on classic rock stations today despite never having been released as a single.
"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.
The Cars North American Tour Spring 2011 is a set of eleven concerts in the United States and Canada featuring the newly reunited American band The Cars. Announced in April 2011 prior to the release of the band's album Move Like This, the concerts feature material from Move Like This and from the band's 1970s and 1980s albums.
"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.
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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| Singles |
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| Other songs | |
| Concert tours | |
| Related articles | |
| The New Cars | |
