Heartbeat City

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Buddy Holly-meets-Roxy Music was the hook-filled formula Ric Ocasek and crew fell into on their classic 1978 debut--and it's one they continued to milk throughout the first half of the '80s. As in any formula, it seemed to dilute a bit with each subsequent release. Heartbeat City, however, saw the Cars shaking things up a bit and scoring three hit singles in the process. "You Might Think" does have that same old Cars pop sound, but "Magic" and especially "Drive" sound unlike anything the Boston band had previously recorded. The album proved to be a rebirth of sorts...as well as a final hurrah. Following their Greatest Hits package, the Cars would fade away following 1987's Door to Door. --Bill Holdship --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Heartbeat City
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Driven to Excellence
  • Heartbeat City
  • Automatic Loop-de-Loop: Greatest of the Great
  • We're not in Kansas anymore
  • One Of The top Recordings Of The 80's.
 Heartbeat City
The Cars
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Shake It Up
  2. Panorama
  3. Candy-O
  4. Door to Door
  5. The Cars

ASIN: B000002H1T
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Hello Again
  2. Looking For Love
  3. Magic
  4. Drive
  5. Stranger Eyes
  6. You Might Think
  7. It's Not The Night
  8. Why Can't I Have You
  9. I Refuse
  10. Heartbeat City

Amazon.com essential recording

Buddy Holly-meets-Roxy Music was the hook-filled formula Ric Ocasek and crew fell into on their classic 1978 debut--and it's one they continued to milk throughout the first half of the '80s. As in any formula, it seemed to dilute a bit with each subsequent release. Heartbeat City, however, saw the Cars shaking things up a bit and scoring three hit singles in the process. "You Might Think" does have that same old Cars pop sound, but "Magic" and especially "Drive" sound unlike anything the Boston band had previously recorded. The album proved to be a rebirth of sorts...as well as a final hurrah. Following their Greatest Hits package, the Cars would fade away following 1987's Door to Door. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Driven to Excellence.......2007-07-07

The fifth studio release by the Cars' is Heartbeat City a CD filled with infectious songs and one that elevated the band to a new found glory thanks to some sharp, fun, intellectual, goofy and, most importantly, creative videos in the height of MTV's importance in pop culture.

This album spread the Cars' appeal to a new audience but it also came with a degree of spoil, perhaps putting the band in an unwanted position of notoriety one which was difficult to uphold for future releases.

The CD was produced by famed producer Mutt Lange and it exposed the use, maybe overuse, of a drum machine by drummer David Robinson; however, the Cars pulled off the trick of satisfying long time fans while developing a larger audience through catchy pop tracks.

A track-by-track review:

1. The CD starts off with "Hello Again" a track probably more famous for its extensive video presence with the likes of Andy Warhol and a group of purposely used freaky people. Ric Ocasek does lead vocals. The song is one of the album's best and was representative of the imagery of the time. It holds up today.

2. "Looking for Love" is an overlooked tune. While it isn't the pop sensation of others on the disc, it is a song that deserves merit for if nothing else Ocasek's unique vocal style.

3. "Magic" is another tune that congers up images of the video played many times on MTV. Ocasek walks on water and a gang of misfits fawn over his presence. The song instantly induces memories of summertime pleasures.

4. "Drive" is perhaps the signature vocal of Benjamin Orr. The man never got his due as one of rock's all-time great vocalists. Here is a perfect illustration of a phenomenal voice and a chilling reminder of a lost treasure. True fans will never forget him. The video starred Ocasek's future wife, model Paulina Porizkova, and highlighted the typical ups and downs of a relationship. Paulina's sexiness is ideal.

5. "Stranger Eyes" is another song that merits better appreciation than what history has written. Orr delivers the vocals and the song is a winner.

6. "You Might Think" is in a group of songs that defines the music of the new wave era of the 1980s. The video, an award-winner, is comical and shows the mystery that is Ocasek in an extroverted way. One of the band's all-time best songs. "You might think I'm crazy but all I want is you." What an obvious line but what a splendid one, too. Brevity is the soul of wit.

7. "It's Not the Night" is arguably the big rocker on this release. Orr again shows his vocals have no limitations. He evokes memories of "Cruiser" from Shake it Up. Crank this up.

8. "Why Can't I Have You" was a deep album cut at the time. It is melancholy and the cries of desperation in Ric's voice can be heard throughout. In one sense a soft song but in another so powerful.

9. "I Refuse" wallows in mediocrity but it does have some attraction. Ocasek does a good job here painting a picture of someone who is tired of being used by his mate and who refuses to be part of any charade.

10. "Heartbeat City" is the title track and is a cool, if not smashing, entry. It is a tune that will create an image of how one person can make another smile with just her (Jacki) presence. A really solid song. This is one of those tracks that never gets tired.

5 out of 5 stars Heartbeat City.......2007-01-17

The Cars was a interesting band. They got played on classic rock stations but they was a new wave band even the police had a hard time getting played on stations at the time. That being said when this album came out in 1984 it sounded different, clean yet a little rough, new wave yet a little hard around the edge which is why I loved this album. This is one of very few album that is flawless. Years later (around 1998) Ric said this was a experimental album and it was the first album ever that was recorded through computer with synth and drum machine which make it even more better album because it doesn't sound cold like other new wave bands at the time. I highly recommand this album to anyone that want a classic new wave album.

5 out of 5 stars Automatic Loop-de-Loop: Greatest of the Great.......2007-01-13

The Cars, in a word, are unbelievable. As popular as they were in their heyday of the '80s, the quality and sophistication of their music remains largely unappreciated. Heartbeat City is one of the finest albums of the period, and of New Wave as a genre altogether. It brought together and for the first time to the mainstream, a perfect interaction of rock and electronica, in such an understated way that the very notion passed unnoticed. The title track itself is emblematic of great soundscape-driven pop/rock, and I don't have enough time to write about all the other tracks in the album. Suffice it to say that, musically, aesthetically and artistically this was a high watermark for the band and New Wave in the Pop world. Its follow-up album, Door to Door, was equally good and largely misunderstood, and I would recommend it as much as this one.

2 out of 5 stars We're not in Kansas anymore.......2006-11-03

I remember when You Might Think, the first song off the Cars' new album made itself known - it was upbeat, but completely overshadowed by its groundbreaking video that set new standards. The problem with that was, it was easy for the video to distract from the fact that the song was a bit fluffy, for a group that made its name by vowing "there's no mistaking rock and roll". By now the Cars sound has lost just about everything that made it unique, and gone from having lots of synths to having TOO MANY. It still has Rik Ocasek's odd voice, but instead of amusing, wry humor, the emphasis is slickness and a certain smugness. This album has a terrifically produced sound, and there are some well written songs, like 'Hello Again' (which contains a lot of the old Cars humor) and the title track. Songs like 'Magic' and 'You Might Think' are instantly catchy, but don't really merit repeated listenings. 'Drive' is a nice ballad, it's nothing TOO amazing but it avoids a lot of the traps that made other ballads of the time (like Chicago/Peter Cetera's) so bad. This isn't bad music by any means, like the Moody Blues' Other Side of Life, it is elegantly put together, but the soul's gone. I guess the guys just got older and weren't as peppy and intense into the music anymore. And one last thing, the album cover is pretty terrible. What a confusing jumble of car parts and body parts (and interestingly, a two-star rating). Their other covers you could UNDERSTAND what you were looking at.

5 out of 5 stars One Of The top Recordings Of The 80's........2006-09-25

Owning every Cars CD and solo recording by this group I feel quite familiar with the Cars music. I've listened to ALL of them countless times, but always find myself back in "Heartbeat City". What a CD!!!! When the album was first released unbeknownst to me I heard Drive and Magic on the radio, and immediately went out and purchased the cassette. To this day the CD still remains in my changer. This music defined so many things for me back then. I feel this CD help change the direction on music at the time. All they're previous releases led up to this. It was the pinnacle of their music. Important yet dreamy at times, dark and light, sad yet compelling. An absolutely fantastic recording that I cannot say enough good things about. On another note I've listened to the New Cars release that just came out..........Todd is great in his own right but this is nothing more than a $$ scheme. I can't help but laugh every time I hear his voice on a favorite Cars song. Give me a break. Ric, are you listening? There is one and only will be one lead singer for the Cars, ever.
Heartbeat City
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Heartbeat City

    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B000IJ7J1Q
    Release Date: 2006-11-28
    ITV 50: The Album
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		ITV 50: The Album

      Manufacturer: EMI
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      Album Description

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      (Cd) Terrys Café Dj Mix Compilation By Terry Lee Brown Jr. T.l.b. Jr: Ambiophonique, I Got Pressure Control, Funkin Situation, the Police Deepended, Oohaah, Fatn Grooving, Mitternacht, Chicken Shack, Stunner, Skylark, Nu Odyseey, Soul Kicks, Toni & Stephanie, Into Your Heart Terrys Heartbeat, Fonkatonic, Blue
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		(Cd) Terrys Café Dj Mix Compilation By Terry Lee Brown Jr. T.l.b. Jr: Ambiophonique, I Got Pressure Control, Funkin Situation, the Police Deepended, Oohaah, Fatn Grooving, Mitternacht, Chicken Shack, Stunner, Skylark, Nu Odyseey, Soul Kicks, Toni & Stephanie, Into Your Heart Terrys Heartbeat, Fonkatonic, Blue

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        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD
        ASIN: B000HE7ATS

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