Certified Multi-Platinum (4 times) by the RIAA. (4/02) 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
The Cars' 5th studio album was their most popular record of their career. "Heartbeat City" was released in 1984 and there were some noticeable changes for the band. The band cut ties with their long-time producer, Roy Thomas Baker and replaced him with Robert "Mutt" Lange. "Heartbeat City" is a slightly more polished album and the band used background singers for the first time. The most obvious change was the band's signature sound. This album is considered their..
