The Cars discography

Last updated

The Cars discography
Studio albums7
Compilation albums8
Singles26
Video albums4
Music videos20
Box sets3

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, [1] the band consisted of singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson. [2] [3] 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. [4]

Contents

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Certifications [5] [6] [7]
(sales threshold)
US
[8]
AUS
[9] [10]
CAN
[11]
GER
[12]
JPN
[13]
NL
[14]
NZ
[15]
SWE
[16]
SWI
[17]
UK
[18]
The Cars 183550529
  • US: 6× Platinum
  • AUS: 2× Platinum [19]
  • UK: Silver
  • MC: 2× Platinum
Candy-O
  • Release date: June 2, 1979
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
374630
  • US: 4× Platinum
Panorama
  • Release date: August 15, 1980
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
519106914
  • US: Platinum
  • MC: Platinum
Shake It Up
  • Release date: November 6, 1981
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
92074012
  • US: 2× Platinum
  • MC: Platinum
Heartbeat City
  • Release date: March 13, 1984
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC, 8-track
31551522411262025
  • US: 4× Platinum
  • UK: Gold
Door to Door
  • Release date: August 25, 1987
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC, 8-track
262619573210292072
  • US: Gold
Move Like This 722
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications [5] [6]
(sales threshold)
US
[8]
AUS
[9] [10]
CAN
[11]
JPN
[13]
NZ
[15]
UK
[18]
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: October 18, 1985
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC, 8-track
1232172227
  • AUS: 4× Platinum [20]
  • US: 6× Platinum
  • UK: Gold
Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology
  • Release date: November 7, 1995
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: 2xCD, 2xMC
Shake It Up & Other Hits
  • Release date: June 19, 2001
  • Label: Elektra/Rhino
  • Formats: CD
Complete Greatest Hits
  • Release date: February 19, 2002
  • Label: Elektra/Rhino
  • Formats: CD, MC
32655510
The Essentials
Classic Tracks
  • Release date: November 2008
  • Label: Elektra/Rhino
  • Formats: CD
  • Limited release
Greatest Hits & More
  • Release date: 2008
  • Label: Timeless Media Group
  • Formats: CD
Moving in Stereo: The Best of The Cars
  • Release date: 6 May 2016
  • Label: Rhino
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Box sets

TitleAlbum details
Original Album Series
  • Release date: 1 March 2010
  • Label: Rhino
  • Formats: 5xCD
Studio Album Collection: 1978–1987
  • Release date: March 16, 2014
  • Label: Elektra/Rhino
  • Formats: digital download
The Elektra Years 1978–1987
  • Release date: March 11, 2016
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: 6xCD, 6xLP, digital download

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertifications [6]
(sales threshold)
Album
US
[21]
US Rock
[22]
AUS
[9] [10]
CAN
[23]
FRA
[24]
GER
[25]
NL
[14]
NZ
[15]
SWE
[16]
UK
[18]
"Just What I Needed"197827963543817 The Cars
"My Best Friend's Girl"356755403
"Good Times Roll"197941745
"Let's Go"14654051 Candy-O
"It's All I Can Do"4117
"Double Life"
"Touch and Go"1980376216242 Panorama
"Don't Tell Me No"
"Gimme Some Slack"1981
"Shake It Up"42107104826 Shake It Up
"Cruiser"37
"Since You're Gone"198241241037
"Victim of Love"39
"Think It Over"
"You Might Think"19847124849272088 Heartbeat City
"Magic"12196141050
"Drive"3310694125154 [nb 1]
  • BPI: Gold
"Hello Again"2022524242712
"Why Can't I Have You"1985331190
"Heartbeat City"7578
"Tonight She Comes"7116362079 Greatest Hits
"I'm Not the One (remix)"198632297582 Greatest Hits (Shake It Up)
"You Are the Girl"1987172693330 Door to Door
"Strap Me In"854
"Coming Up You"198874
"Sad Song"201133 Move Like This
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Videos

Video albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
[26]
UK
[27] [28]
Heartbeat City1016
Live 1984–198528
The Cars Live
The Cars Unlocked: The Live Performances
  • Release date: October 17, 2006
  • Label: Docurama, Warner Music Vision
  • Formats: DVD+CD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Music videos

TitleAlbum
"Just What I Needed"The Cars
"My Best Friend's Girl"
"Let's Go"Candy-O
"Double Life"
"Dangerous Type"
"Panorama"Panorama
"Touch and Go"
"Shake It Up"Shake It Up
"Since You're Gone"
"You Might Think"Heartbeat City
"Magic"
"Drive"
"Hello Again"
"Why Can't I Have You"
"Tonight She Comes"Greatest Hits
"You Are The Girl"Door to Door
"Strap Me In"
"Blue Tip"Move Like This
"Sad Song"
"Free"

Notes

  1. "Drive" originally peaked at #5 in the UK in 1984, but re-entered the chart in 1985 after being used for documentary footage during Live Aid, this time reaching #4.[ citation needed ]

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