Heartbeat City
| Heartbeat City | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:The Cars - Heartbeat City.jpg | ||||
| Studio album by The Cars | ||||
| Released | March 13, 1984 | |||
| Recorded | July 1983 – January 1984 Battery Studios, London |
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| Genre | New wave, pop rock, power pop, soft rock | |||
| Length | 38:41 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the Cars | |||
| The Cars chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Heartbeat City | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[2] |
| Rolling Stone |  [3] |
Heartbeat City is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Cars. Released in 1984, it was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Picking up a positive commercial response, the Cars had many tracks getting airplay, and singles "Drive" and "You Might Think" in particular both became Top 10 hits. The album also received supportive reviews from several critics; for example, Robert Christgau stated that "the glossy approach the Cars invented has made this the best year for pure pop in damn near twenty, and it's only fair that they should return so confidently to form."[4]
Contents
Background
Heartbeat City contains a total of five American Top 40 singles. Of these, "Drive" and "You Might Think" were also Top 10 hits, reaching the #3 and #7 positions, respectively. A number of songs from the album gained significant radio and TV exposure; most notably "You Might Think" and "Magic", which both received heavy airplay on MTV.
The lead vocal on "Drive" was performed by bassist Benjamin Orr. The song's video was directed by actor Timothy Hutton. It features Ocasek arguing with a troubled young woman played by model Paulina Porizkova.[5] "Hello Again" had a video directed by the legendary Andy Warhol, who also appeared onscreen.
The song "Stranger Eyes" was used in the theatrical trailer of the 1986 film Top Gun, but it never made it into the soundtrack. "Looking for Love" was later covered by Austrian singer Falco as "Munich Girls" on his 1985 album Falco 3.
When the Cars performed at Live Aid, they played three songs from the album ("You Might Think", "Drive", plus the album's title track) alongside the fan favorite "Just What I Needed".
The album was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. He used the same drum machine that he used when he produced Def Leppard's Pyromania to create an perfect drum beat. His commitment to the Cars album meant that he told Def Leppard he could not work on their album, Hysteria. However, due to delays in that album's recording, Lange was eventually able to produce it.
Cover art
The cover art (including an image of a 1971 Plymouth Duster 340) is from a 1972 piece by Peter Phillips called Art-O-Matic Loop di Loop.[6]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ric Ocasek except where noted.
| Side one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Vocals | Length |
| 1. | "Hello Again" | Ocasek | 3:48 |
| 2. | "Looking for Love" | Ocasek | 3:52 |
| 3. | "Magic" | Ocasek | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Drive" | Benjamin Orr | 3:55 |
| 5. | "Stranger Eyes" | Orr | 4:24 |
| Side two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Vocals | Length |
| 6. | "You Might Think" | Ocasek | 3:04 |
| 7. | "It's Not the Night" (Greg Hawkes, Ocasek) | Orr | 3:49 |
| 8. | "Why Can't I Have You" | Ocasek | 4:04 |
| 9. | "I Refuse" | Ocasek | 3:16 |
| 10. | "Heartbeat City" (Titled "Jacki" on original U.S. LP and cassette release[citation needed]) | Ocasek | 4:31 |
Personnel
The Cars
- Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, synthesiser, lead vocals on 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Greg Hawkes – keyboards, Fairlight programming, backing vocals
- Benjamin Orr – bass, lead vocals on 4, 5, 7
- David Robinson – drums, percussion, Fairlight programming
Additional musicians
- Andy Topeka: Additional Fairlight programming
Production
- Arranged by The Cars
- Produced by The Cars & Robert John "Mutt" Lange
- Recorded & Engineered by Nigel Green
- Mixed by Mike Shipley
- Mastered by George Marino
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Billboard 200 | 3 |
| 1984 | UK Album Chart | 25 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "You Might Think" | Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| 1984 | "You Might Think" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1984 | "It's Not the Night" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 31 |
| 1984 | "Magic" | Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| 1984 | "Magic" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1984 | "Drive" | Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| 1984 | "Drive" | Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
| 1984 | "Drive" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 9 |
| 1984 | "Hello Again" | Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 8 |
| 1984 | "Hello Again" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 22 |
| 1984 | "Hello Again" | Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| 1985 | "Why Can't I Have You" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 11 |
| 1985 | "Why Can't I Have You" | Billboard Hot 100 | 33 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – United States | 4x Platinum | December 17, 2001 |
Reissues
| Year | Label | Edition |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Audio Fidelity | 24 Karat Gold HDCD |
See also
External links
References
| Studio albums |
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|---|---|
| Other albums | |
| Singles |
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| Other songs | |
| Concert tours | |
| Related articles | |
| The New Cars | |
