Been around at EW&SL for a bit now and inasmuch as you could ever quite capture what’s on offer here, I think you’ve summarized it quite well!
Not sure I’ve heard that Cars song. Outside of their bigger hits they’re a bit of a musical black hole for me.
Nice to see Hello Again on your playlist, I love me some Neil Diamond!! I’d add David Gray’s “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” from the brilliant White Ladder album from 1998.
Thanks, Mark! It's interesting that this was the opening song on The Cars' biggest-selling album and was a single, but did the poorest of all of them. Of course there's the other "Hello Again" song, which I could definitely write an entire post about, though it'll likely be "Sweet Caroline," as I used to sing it in my college band. And I'm not a singer. But it always got the crowd involved.
Thanks for the David Gray suggestion! I'm kind of surprised I didn't have this on my extended list, especially as I own the album.
Drive will always be in my top 10 favorite cars songs.
That being said. I too am a fan of the first 4 albums. I’m shocked that they let go the production reins for Heartbeat City given what a gifted producer and arranger Ric Ocasek himself was.
Yeah, I do have a special fondness for the songs that Ben Orr sang. From the little research I did, it sounded like the band was in a rut, and likely to break up. So handing the reins to a super producer was sort of like a fresh start. Hence, I figure, the song “hello again.“
“Photo by Alex Devera on Unsplash. Not me, but he looks like how I imagine I might, if I were trying to impersonate a Russian novelist waving to his fans” or a villain in the Russian spy subplot in “Stranger Things”
Great Re-Intro, Steve! As long as you have "Hello, It's Me," I'm happy! And, I knew you would! A band Todd once produced (and they even played behind him for occasional gigs, early-'70s) was Hello People. I just looked, and they don't have a "hello" song, ironically enough! But, in 1975, Todd produced their "Bricks" album, which had Todd's "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" (from his '72 "Something/Anything" album) on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMN2OAORoIY Enjoy!
I've been thinking about the Cars a lot lately so it's interesting that you bring up "Heartbeat City." It was a hugely popular album when released and I did like a number of the cuts (although "Drive" was QUITE overplayed.) However, I rarely listen to any of them. I've put a number of Cars songs on workout playlists but never anything from this album. You may be right about the production. It takes away from what could be timeless about those songs. The first four albums are filled with songs that still feel relatable and current today. I may need to take "Heartbeat City" out for another spin but I don't think it can compare to the first Cars album or "Candy-O."
I'd add Lionel Richie's "Hello" to the playlist. It's a hauntingly beautiful song!
Thanks, Dan. I think you said it perfectly when you said that the songs on this album lack a certain timeless quality. I think it is largely the production. Also, I do have Lionel Richie‘s, “hello“ in my playlist. I would never leave that one out! :-)
Love this! I was just talking about the Cars, and this album, earlier this morning. Specifically, how I played it (and, in particular, ‘You Might Think’) so much that it drove my mother to distraction! So, transitioning away from Spotify? Where are you going? I’m looking to do the same.
Probably Qobuz, but I’m going to do more research. And yes, You Might Think is an even more insidious earworm. It’s hard for me to listen to it now, as it’s a little too cloying to my ears. The other songs have aged a little better for me.
I'm a proud EW&SL veteran and I liked your description of what you do. However, I would urge all newbies reading this to actually read a couple of your essays because there's no description that would ever do them justice.
What a catchy bastard, this Cars earworm, and what a music video, may I say. While reading and before listening, I was going to defend Mutt Lange, as I happen to like some of his production decisions (later in life though). However, the moment I clicked "Play", I retracted what I was going to say 🤣 You're so right.
I love Adele's "Hello" and I was happy to see its inclusion in your playlist 😊
Thanks, Andy! I always appreciate your thorough investment in my long winded essays! And yes, Mutt Lange really had three eras. The early to mid 80s was his most popular or successful, but also his most heavy-handed. When he went in a more country vein, he dialed it back a bit. But more than that, I think he just adjusted to the sound of the times.
Been around at EW&SL for a bit now and inasmuch as you could ever quite capture what’s on offer here, I think you’ve summarized it quite well!
Not sure I’ve heard that Cars song. Outside of their bigger hits they’re a bit of a musical black hole for me.
Nice to see Hello Again on your playlist, I love me some Neil Diamond!! I’d add David Gray’s “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” from the brilliant White Ladder album from 1998.
Thanks, Mark! It's interesting that this was the opening song on The Cars' biggest-selling album and was a single, but did the poorest of all of them. Of course there's the other "Hello Again" song, which I could definitely write an entire post about, though it'll likely be "Sweet Caroline," as I used to sing it in my college band. And I'm not a singer. But it always got the crowd involved.
Thanks for the David Gray suggestion! I'm kind of surprised I didn't have this on my extended list, especially as I own the album.
Drive will always be in my top 10 favorite cars songs.
That being said. I too am a fan of the first 4 albums. I’m shocked that they let go the production reins for Heartbeat City given what a gifted producer and arranger Ric Ocasek himself was.
Yeah, I do have a special fondness for the songs that Ben Orr sang. From the little research I did, it sounded like the band was in a rut, and likely to break up. So handing the reins to a super producer was sort of like a fresh start. Hence, I figure, the song “hello again.“
“Photo by Alex Devera on Unsplash. Not me, but he looks like how I imagine I might, if I were trying to impersonate a Russian novelist waving to his fans” or a villain in the Russian spy subplot in “Stranger Things”
Ha! Man, how I would have loved to have been cast as a villain on Stranger Things. Maybe I can play one of the kids grandfathers in the next season.
Great Re-Intro, Steve! As long as you have "Hello, It's Me," I'm happy! And, I knew you would! A band Todd once produced (and they even played behind him for occasional gigs, early-'70s) was Hello People. I just looked, and they don't have a "hello" song, ironically enough! But, in 1975, Todd produced their "Bricks" album, which had Todd's "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" (from his '72 "Something/Anything" album) on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMN2OAORoIY Enjoy!
Always would include “Hello, It’s Me”— it would have been a good alternate to “Hello Again” to kick this piece off with.
And thanks again for the kind words and promotion on notes. It gives me all kinds of warm fuzzies.
I always loved The Cars. And I always enjoy Oasis “Hello.” And Hollie Cook’s “Hello Operator.”
Thanks, Thea! I’m not familiar with the Hollie Cook song, I will have to check it out!
I've been thinking about the Cars a lot lately so it's interesting that you bring up "Heartbeat City." It was a hugely popular album when released and I did like a number of the cuts (although "Drive" was QUITE overplayed.) However, I rarely listen to any of them. I've put a number of Cars songs on workout playlists but never anything from this album. You may be right about the production. It takes away from what could be timeless about those songs. The first four albums are filled with songs that still feel relatable and current today. I may need to take "Heartbeat City" out for another spin but I don't think it can compare to the first Cars album or "Candy-O."
I'd add Lionel Richie's "Hello" to the playlist. It's a hauntingly beautiful song!
Thanks, Dan. I think you said it perfectly when you said that the songs on this album lack a certain timeless quality. I think it is largely the production. Also, I do have Lionel Richie‘s, “hello“ in my playlist. I would never leave that one out! :-)
Love this! I was just talking about the Cars, and this album, earlier this morning. Specifically, how I played it (and, in particular, ‘You Might Think’) so much that it drove my mother to distraction! So, transitioning away from Spotify? Where are you going? I’m looking to do the same.
Probably Qobuz, but I’m going to do more research. And yes, You Might Think is an even more insidious earworm. It’s hard for me to listen to it now, as it’s a little too cloying to my ears. The other songs have aged a little better for me.
Oh, I couldn’t listen to it now! But I still love the preposterous, ‘but you kept it going/‘til the sun fell down/You kept it … going’ Pure 80s!
Yeah, and that video is embedded in my brain as well!🫣
🤪
What a hook. Simple, but deadly effective.
That could describe a lot of songs from The Cars. And also, some of my favorite Tom Petty songs, too.
I'm a proud EW&SL veteran and I liked your description of what you do. However, I would urge all newbies reading this to actually read a couple of your essays because there's no description that would ever do them justice.
What a catchy bastard, this Cars earworm, and what a music video, may I say. While reading and before listening, I was going to defend Mutt Lange, as I happen to like some of his production decisions (later in life though). However, the moment I clicked "Play", I retracted what I was going to say 🤣 You're so right.
I love Adele's "Hello" and I was happy to see its inclusion in your playlist 😊
Thanks, Andy! I always appreciate your thorough investment in my long winded essays! And yes, Mutt Lange really had three eras. The early to mid 80s was his most popular or successful, but also his most heavy-handed. When he went in a more country vein, he dialed it back a bit. But more than that, I think he just adjusted to the sound of the times.