MoeFOHs Album Of The Week... Week #52

[MoeFOH]

MoeFOH's Album of the Week 🎶

Same as the movie thread, each week we're going to spotlight an album... be it a classic, new release, hidden gem, or outright turd... and open it for discussion: i.e. post up your favourite tracks, clips, lyrics, experiences if you saw live, etc... or dive deeper and give us a critique on why you think it's great, overrated, or a complete train wreck... And finally score it for us...  

All contributors go into a monthly prize draw for a 3-cigar sampler! 

PM me with suggestions if there's an album you want to nominate for next week's discussion. 

 

Week #52: The Cars

The Cars is the debut studio album by American rock band the Cars, released on June 6, 1978, by Elektra Records. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the album spawned the singles "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Good Times Roll". It peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Background:
Formed in Boston in 1976, the Cars consisted of Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, David Robinson, and Greg Hawkes, all of whom had been in and out of multiple bands throughout the 1970s. After becoming a club staple, the band recorded a number of demos in early 1977. Some of these songs later appeared in finished form on The Cars, such as "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl", while others were saved for a later release, such as "Leave or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" (both of which later saw release on their 1987 album Door to Door). The demos for "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" were often played on Boston radio by DJ Maxanne Sartori, giving the band frequent airplay.

Both Arista and Elektra attempted to sign the band, but in the end, Elektra was chosen, due to its lack of new wave acts, allowing the band to stand out more than they would have had they signed with the new wave-heavy Arista. Robinson said of the choice, "Here they had the Eagles and Jackson Browne, and along comes this crazy Boston band who wanted a black-and-white photo collage on their cover."

Over to you...

How do you rate it? 🤔

Thoughts, experiences, memories... post em' up! 

Score it out of 10!  

[MoeFOH]

 

[Ford2112]

This album and Candy O are in the rotation. Great band. Elliott Easton doesn't get the credit he deserves as a guitar player. 10/10. I told a friend of mine you can never be depressed while listening to the Cars!

[Greenhorn2]

Grew up with The Cars. Still pump up the volume when they come up on the radio.9/10

[BurstReynolds]

I really like this album and think it holds up very well. 8/10. Solid pop rock. 

[KCCubano]

Grew up on the Cars and had all their albums. 8/10. Solid band for the time 

[SpecialK]

10/10 all day . Takes me back to the 80's. Was glad when they made the RR HOF. Wish Benjamin Orr could have lived to see  it

[Chibearsv]

Meh.  Ok when I'm in the mood but The Cars aren't very high on my list.  Too light.  6/10

[Puros Y Vino]

Yeah, this one is a classic.  Probably the best example of pop/rock out there.  Not too hard, not too sappy.  A "rockier" version of Roxy Music.    8/10 for me.

[Doctorossi]

9/10- can't fault it.

[bassistheplace]

10/10 classic new wave record

although Candy-O is the one i still listen too