Heartbeat City

Last updated

Heartbeat City
The Cars - Heartbeat City.jpg
Studio album by
the Cars
ReleasedMarch 13, 1984 (1984-03-13)
RecordedJuly 1983 – January 1984
Studio Battery (London)
Genre
Length38:41
Label Elektra
Producer
The Cars chronology
Shake It Up
(1981)		Heartbeat City
(1984)		 Greatest Hits
(1985)
Singles from Heartbeat City
  1. "You Might Think"
    Released: February 1984
  2. "Magic"
    Released: May 7, 1984
  3. "Drive"
    Released: July 23, 1984
  4. "Hello Again"
    Released: October 15, 1984
  5. "Why Can't I Have You"
    Released: January 7, 1985
  6. "Heartbeat City"
    Released: September 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
The Baltimore Sun Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Classic Rock 9/10 [4]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [6]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Under the Radar 8/10 [9]
The Village Voice B+ [10]

Heartbeat City is the fifth studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on March 13, 1984, by Elektra Records. This marks the band's first album not produced by long-time producer Roy Thomas Baker, instead opting to produce with Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Considered a "comeback" album for the Cars, Heartbeat City represented a return to the success of the band's self-titled debut album.

Contents

Music critic Robert Christgau noted that "the glossy approach the Cars invented has made this the best year for pure pop in damn near twenty years, and it's only fair that they should return so confidently to form." [10] Numerous tracks from the album received airplay on modern rock and AOR stations, with the singles "Drive" and "You Might Think" reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

Background and release

Heartbeat City spawned six singles. "Drive" and "You Might Think" reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at numbers three and seven, respectively. [11] A number of songs from the album gained significant radio and television exposure, notably "Drive", "You Might Think" and "Magic", which all received heavy rotation on MTV. The title track served as the album's sixth and final single outside North America.

The lead vocals on "Drive" were performed by bassist Benjamin Orr. The song's video was directed by actor Timothy Hutton and features Ric Ocasek arguing with a troubled young woman played by model Paulina Porizkova (whom Ocasek would later marry). "Hello Again" had a video directed by Andy Warhol, who also appeared onscreen. [12]

Despite not being released as a single, "It's Not the Night" reached number 31 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. [13] The song "Stranger Eyes" was used in the theatrical trailer of the 1986 film Top Gun , but never made it onto the soundtrack. "Looking for Love" was covered by Austrian singer Falco as "Munich Girls" on his 1985 album Falco 3 .

When the Cars performed at Live Aid, they played three songs from the album ("You Might Think", "Drive", and the album's title track), alongside the fan favorite "Just What I Needed".

The album was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. His commitment to the Cars' album meant that he told Def Leppard he could not work on their album Hysteria . However, due to delays in that album's recording, Lange was eventually able to produce it.

Artwork

The cover art (including an image of a 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 and an Alberto Vargas pin-up model [14] [15] ) is from a 1972 piece by Peter Phillips called Art-O-Matic Loop di Loop. [16]

Full cover spread Tchcf.jpg
Full cover spread

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek; track 7 co-written by Greg Hawkes

Side one
No.TitleVocalsLength
1."Hello Again"Ocasek3:47
2."Looking for Love"Ocasek3:52
3."Magic"Ocasek3:57
4."Drive" Benjamin Orr 3:55
5."Stranger Eyes"Orr4:26
Side two
No.TitleVocalsLength
6."You Might Think"Ocasek3:04
7."It's Not the Night"
  • Orr
  • Ocasek
3:49
8."Why Can't I Have You"Ocasek4:04
9."I Refuse"Ocasek3:16
10."Heartbeat City"Ocasek4:31
Total length:38:41
2018 expanded edition bonus tracks
No.TitleVocalsLength
11."Hello Again" (remix version)Ocasek5:57
12."Drive" (demo)Orr4:45
13."One More Time" (early version of "Why Can't I Have You")Ocasek3:59
14."Baby I Refuse" (early version of "I Refuse")Ocasek3:52
15."Jacki" (early version of "Heartbeat City")Ocasek4:16
16."Breakaway" (B-side of "Why Can't I Have You")Ocasek3:47
17."Tonight She Comes" (from Greatest Hits , 1985)Ocasek3:58
Total length:69:15

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Heartbeat City. [17]

The Cars

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Heartbeat City
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [36] Platinum15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [37] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [38] 4× Platinum4,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cars</span> American pop-rock band

The Cars were an American new wave 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.

<i>The Cars</i> (album) 1978 studio album by the Cars

The Cars is the debut studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on June 6, 1978, by Elektra Records. The album was managed by longtime producer Roy Thomas Baker, and spawned several hit singles, including "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Good Times Roll", as well as other radio and film hits such as "Bye Bye Love" and "Moving in Stereo". The Cars peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, and has been certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Hysteria</i> (Def Leppard album) 1987 studio album by Def Leppard

Hysteria is the fourth studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 3 August 1987 through Phonogram Records. It is Def Leppard's best-selling album to date, selling over 20 million copies worldwide, including 12 million in the US, and spawning seven hit singles. The album charted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Adrenalize</i> 1992 studio album by Def Leppard

Adrenalize is the fifth studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 31 March 1992 through Mercury Records. It is the first album by the band recorded without guitarist Steve Clark, who died in 1991, although most songs were written and partially demoed before his death, they were re-recorded solo by Phil Collen in 1991-1992. It is the only album recorded by Def Leppard as a four-member band. Spawning seven singles, four of them – "Let's Get Rocked", "Make Love Like a Man", "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad", and "Stand Up " – were major hits.

<i>The Woman in Me</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Shania Twain

The Woman in Me is the second studio album by Canadian country singer-songwriter Shania Twain and her first to be produced by long-time collaborator and then-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Released on February 7, 1995, it went on to become her biggest-selling recording at the time, selling 4 million copies by the end of the year, and was eventually certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA on December 1, 2000, for 12 million shipments throughout the United States. The album has sold an estimated 20 million copies worldwide. It was ranked number 8 on CMT's list of 40 Greatest Albums in Country Music in 2006. The album is credited with having influenced the sound of contemporary country music. Eight singles were released from the album for its promotion, including "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?", "Any Man of Mine", "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!" and "You Win My Love", with each accompanied by a music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ric Ocasek</span> American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer (1944–2019)

Richard Theodore Otcasek, known as Ric Ocasek, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the primary vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the American new wave band The Cars. In addition to his work with The Cars, Ocasek recorded seven solo albums, and his song "Emotion in Motion" was a top 20 hit in the United States in 1986.

<i>Candy-O</i> 1979 studio album by the Cars

Candy-O is the second studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on June 13, 1979, by Elektra Records.

<i>The Gray Race</i> 1996 studio album by Bad Religion

The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction.

<i>Door to Door</i> (album) 1987 studio album by the Cars

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.

<i>Panorama</i> (The Cars album) 1980 studio album by the Cars

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.

<i>Shake It Up</i> (The Cars album) 1981 studio album by the Cars

Shake It Up is the fourth studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on November 6, 1981, by Elektra Records. It was the last Cars record to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker. A much more pop-oriented album than its predecessor, its title track became the band's first Billboard top-10 single. Spin magazine included it on their "50 Best Albums of 1981" list. In 2021, Rhino Entertainment re-released the album on neon green vinyl.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (The Cars album) 1985 greatest hits album by the Cars

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock band the Cars, released on October 25, 1985, by Elektra Records. "Tonight She Comes", a previously unreleased song, and a remix of "I'm Not the One" were issued as singles to support the album. It was a commercial success, going six-times platinum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drive (The Cars song)</span> 1984 single by the Cars

"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.

<i>Complete Greatest Hits</i> (The Cars album) 2002 greatest hits album by the Cars

Complete Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock band the Cars, released on February 19, 2002, by Elektra Records and Rhino Records. It contains 20 singles and notable album tracks in chronological order of their original release. Sales of the album reignited following Ric Ocasek's death in September 15, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Might Think</span> 1984 single by the Cars

"You Might Think" is a song by American rock band The Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). The track was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Mutt Lange and the Cars, with Ocasek also providing the lead vocals.

The discography of the American rock band the Cars includes seven studio albums, eight compilation albums, four video albums and 26 singles. Originating in Boston in 1976, the band consisted of singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson. The Cars sold over 23 million albums in the United States and had 13 singles that reached the Top 40. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (The Cars song)</span> 1984 single by the Cars

"Magic" is a song by American rock band The Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on May 7, 1984, as the album's second single, reaching number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. The track was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and the Cars. Ocasek sang lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello Again (The Cars song)</span> 1984 single by the Cars

"Hello Again" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their album Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on October 15, 1984 as the album's fourth single. The song was the fourth top-20 entry from the album, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also reached number eight on the Hot Dance/Disco chart and number 22 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. Ric Ocasek sings lead vocals on the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight She Comes</span> 1985 single by the Cars

"Tonight She Comes" is a 1985 song by American rock band the Cars from their Greatest Hits album. It was released as a single in October 1985, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1986. The song reached number one on the Top Rock Tracks chart, where it stayed for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Can't I Have You</span> 1985 single by the Cars

"Why Can't I Have You" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on January 7, 1985, as the album's fifth single. Written by Ric Ocasek, the song is a lush ballad.

References

  1. ↑ Sendra, Tim. "Heartbeat City – The Cars". AllMusic . Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  2. ↑ Considine, J. D. (March 25, 1984). "'Heartbeat City' sounds almost too carefully polished to be a Cars album". The Baltimore Sun .
  3. ↑ Kot, Greg (August 4, 1991). "Tracking Ocasek's Voice On The Record". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ Elliott, Paul (May 2018). "The Cars: Reissues". Classic Rock . No. 248. p. 99.
  5. ↑ Blake, Mark (May 2018). "The Cars: Heartbeat City". Mojo . No. 294. p. 104.
  6. ↑ Soto, Alfred (March 31, 2018). "The Cars: Shake It Up / Heartbeat City". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  7. ↑ Shewey, Don (April 26, 1984). "The Cars: Heartbeat City". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  8. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "The Cars". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p.  141. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  9. ↑ Rushbury, Ian (April 19, 2018). "The Cars: Heartbeat City: Expanded Edition (Rhino)". Under the Radar . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (September 25, 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  12. ↑ "The Uncensored Andy Warhol-Directed Video for The Cars' Hit "Hello Again" (NSFW)". Open Culture. October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  14. ↑ Stack, Phil; Vargas, Alberto (January 1944). "Varga Calendar for 1944". Esquire.
  15. ↑ "FEB 1944 VARGA CALENDAR SEXY BLONDE PIN-UP GIRL PRINT". WorthPoint.
  16. ↑ "1972 The Cars "Heartbeat City" Album Cover". PeterPhillips.com. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ Heartbeat City (liner notes). The Cars. Elektra Records. 1984. 60296-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ Kent 1993, p. 56.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8605". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cars – Heartbeat City" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  21. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet . Vol. 1, no. 34. November 19, 1984. p. 16. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cars – Heartbeat City" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Charts.nz – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  27. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Rock Albums". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 29. July 21, 1984. p. 20. ISSN   0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  29. ↑ Kent 1993, p. 436.
  30. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of 1984". RPM. Vol. 41, no. 17. January 5, 1985. ISSN   0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  31. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1984". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Top Pop Albums of 1984". Billboard.biz. December 31, 1984. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  33. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 Albums of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. December 25, 1985. p. 14. ISSN   0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  34. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  36. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Recorded Music NZ. September 30, 1984. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  37. ↑ "British album certifications – Cars – Heartbeat City". British Phonographic Industry. September 25, 1985. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  38. ↑ "American album certifications – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Recording Industry Association of America. December 17, 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2019.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.