The Cars “The Cars” released 40 years ago today, June 6th, 1978. The Cars’ debut album was a huge success, peaking at #18 on the US charts and still considered a rock classic, included on many best-of-all-time lists. The Cars spawned three hit singles (which can still be heard spinning on classic rock radio stations today): “Good Times Roll” (#41 in the US), “My Best Friend’s Girl” (#35 US, #3 UK) and “Just What I Needed” (#27 US, #17 UK). Being a primarily 80′s new wave fan, I’ve never considered – or understood – The Cars to be a new wave band, though rock critics always put them in that category. To me, they’ve always been classic or mainstream rock: good, rocking, but not new wave in my definition. I’m thinking Duran Duran, New Order, Depeche Mode, i.e. very British, very synth-heavy and very image-orientated. Ric Ocasek and the rest of The Cars just didn’t fit into this. However, upon listening to The Cars I’m starting to get it. While the guitar and rhythm section is pretty straightforward – and great – rock-n-roll, the use of new keyboard technology (for its time) and the cool, detached delivery of Ocasek’s and Benjamin Orr’s vocals makes the new wave inclusion believable. Besides the three hit singles, I also really like the swirling “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” (I’m actually really surprised this wasn’t a single since I know I still hear it when I flip to a classic rock station), “Bye Bye Love” and “Moving in Stereo.” Allmusic says about The Cars, “The Cars’ 1978 self-titled debut, issued on the Elektra label, is a genuine rock masterpiece. The band jokingly referred to the album as their ‘true greatest-hits album,’ but it’s no exaggeration – all nine tracks are new wave/rock classics, still in rotation on rock radio. Whereas most bands of the late ‘70s embraced either punk/new wave or hard rock, the Cars were one of the first bands to do the unthinkable – merge the two styles together. Add to it bandleader/songwriter Ric Ocasek’s supreme pop sensibilities, and you had an album that appealed to new wavers, rockers, and Top 40 fans… With flawless performances, songwriting, and production (courtesy of Queen alumni Roy Thomas Baker), the Cars’ debut remains one of rock’s all-time classics.”