Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology
Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology is a greatest hits compilation by 1980s new wave rock group The Cars. It features most of the band's singles, as well as many album tracks, B-sides and previously unreleased tunes.
Background
While the 1985 Greatest Hits disc contained the band's most popular hit singles, "Just What I Needed" includes an album's rarities and unreleased tracks, plus the album's deeper tracks and requisite hits.
"I'm Not the One" is the original 1980 album version, while the Greatest Hits was a 1986 remix. Greatest Hits also includes "Heartbeat City," which is not included on Just What I Needed.
Rare and unreleased tracks
B-sides
The next three songs were B-sides that had never been released on CD before:
- "That's It" (previously issued as the B-side of 1979's 'Let's Go')
- "Don't Go to Pieces" (previously issued as the B-side of 1981's 'Gimme Some Slack')
- "Breakaway" (previously released as the B-side of 1985's 'Why Can't I Have You')
Demos
1977
The next 4 tracks were recorded as demos in 1977. "Leave or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" were eventually re-recorded for the band's 1987 Door to Door album; the other 2 tracks were never re-recorded. All 4 tracks were previously unreleased recordings.
- "Take Me Now"
- "Cool Fool"
- "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" (demo)
- "Leave or Stay" (demo)
1978
The next unreleased track is an unfinished outtake from the band's first album, featuring only Ocasek & Hawkes. It was eventually re-recorded for 1979's Candy-O.
- "Night Spots" (early version)
1979
The previously unreleased "Slipaway" was recorded as a 24-track demo by The Cars between their first and second albums. Rather than record a finished studio version, The Cars gave the song to Ian Lloyd, who published his version later in 1979.
- "Slipaway"
Previously unissued cover songs
The following two tracks, both versions, were initially made as backing tracks for Bebe Buell to record vocals for her 1981 EP Covers Girl. These versions feature lead vocals from Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr, and have not been previously released.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ric Ocasek, except where noted.
| Disc one | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Original album | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "Just What I Needed" | The Cars | 3:43 | ||||||
| 2. | "My Best Friend's Girl" | The Cars | 3:44 | ||||||
| 3. | "Good Times Roll" | The Cars | 3:44 | ||||||
| 4. | "You're All I've Got Tonight" | The Cars | 4:13 | ||||||
| 5. | "Don't Cha Stop" | The Cars | 3:01 | ||||||
| 6. | "Moving in Stereo" (Greg Hawkes, Ocasek) | The Cars | 3:54 | ||||||
| 7. | "Take Me Now" | previously unreleased | 4:01 | ||||||
| 8. | "Cool Fool" (Elliot Easton, Ocasek) | previously unreleased | 2:42 | ||||||
| 9. | "Let's Go" | Candy-O | 3:33 | ||||||
| 10. | "Candy-O" | Candy-O | 2:36 | ||||||
| 11. | "Dangerous Type" | Candy-O | 4:28 | ||||||
| 12. | "Double Life" | Candy-O | 4:14 | ||||||
| 13. | "Got a Lot on My Head" | Candy-O | 2:59 | ||||||
| 14. | "It's All I Can Do" | Candy-O | 3:44 | ||||||
| 15. | "Night Spots" (Original demo version) | Candy-O | 3:09 | ||||||
| 16. | "Slipaway" | previously unreleased | 3:43 | ||||||
| 17. | "That's It" | B-side to "Let's Go" | 3:24 | ||||||
| 18. | "Panorama" | Panorama | 5:42 | ||||||
| 19. | "Gimme Some Slack" | Panorama | 3:32 | ||||||
| 20. | "Don't Go to Pieces" (Hawkes, Ocasek) | B-side to "Don't Tell Me No" and "Gimme Some Slack" | 4:03 | ||||||
| Disc two | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Original album | Length | ||||||
| 21. | "Touch and Go" | Panorama | 4:55 | ||||||
| 22. | "Don't Tell Me No" | Panorama | 4:00 | ||||||
| 23. | "Shake It Up" | Shake It Up | 3:32 | ||||||
| 24. | "Since You're Gone" | Shake It Up | 3:30 | ||||||
| 25. | "I'm Not the One" | Shake It Up | 4:12 | ||||||
| 26. | "Cruiser" | Shake It Up | 4:54 | ||||||
| 27. | "The Little Black Egg" (Michael Stone) | previously unreleased | 2:54 | ||||||
| 28. | "Funtime" (David Bowie, Iggy Pop) | previously unreleased | 3:10 | ||||||
| 29. | "You Might Think" | Heartbeat City | 3:04 | ||||||
| 30. | "Drive" | Heartbeat City | 3:55 | ||||||
| 31. | "Magic" | Heartbeat City | 3:57 | ||||||
| 32. | "Hello Again" | Heartbeat City | 3:47 | ||||||
| 33. | "Why Can't I Have You" | Heartbeat City | 4:04 | ||||||
| 34. | "Breakaway" | B-side to "Why Can't I Have You" | 3:47 | ||||||
| 35. | "Tonight She Comes" | Greatest Hits | 3:52 | ||||||
| 36. | "You Are the Girl" | Door To Door | 3:52 | ||||||
| 37. | "Strap Me In" | Door to Door | 4:22 | ||||||
| 38. | "Door to Door" | Door to Door | 4:22 | ||||||
| 39. | "Leave or Stay" (1977 demo version) | Door to Door | 4:22 | ||||||
| 40. | "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" (1977 demo version) | Door to Door | 4:22 | ||||||