Musically Inclined

Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

It was a cold Sunday afternoon in Coralville, Iowa in the late fall of 1997.  I was with my parents, visiting my sister at the University of Iowa.  We made the trip over to the Coral Ridge Mall and to the Best Buy store where I would make a purchase that would change my life forever…the album, The Cars Greatest Hits.

From the moment I popped that silver donut into my Discman I knew I would never be the same again.  As the family van (full-size, conversion…some of you may remember it) rolled across the hills and plains of Interstates 80 and 88, I stared out the window while listening to a band I barely knew…The Cars.

I had purchased the CD, mainly, for the songs “Just What I Needed” and “My Best Friend’s Girl”…two monster rock hits from the band’s 1978 album, The Cars.  As I stared out the window, headphones on, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Holy shit…I know almost all these songs.”  I was emphatic.  Inspired.

Without further ado, I bring you the 1980s hits from Ric Ocasek and the rest of the boys from Boston, MA…The Cars.

Some AMAZING videos...

“Shake It Up”, 1981, Shake It Up, US Pop #4, US Rock #2

“Since You’re Gone”, 1982, Shake It Up, US Pop #41, US Rock #24…currently #10 on DR’s Top 20 (all-time)

“You Might Think”, 1984, Heartbeat City, US Pop #7, US Rock #1

“Magic”, 1984, Heartbeat City, US Pop #12, US Rock #1

“Drive”, 1984, Heartbeat City, US Pop #3, US Rock #3

“Tonight She Comes”, 1985, Greatest Hits, US Pop #7, US Rock #1

“I’m Not the One”, 1986, Greatest Hits, US Pop #32, US Rock #29…Valentine’s Day scene from Billy Madison

 

Party, Karamu, Fiesta, Forever

”Hazy Shade of Winter” by The Bangles

“All Night Long” by Lionel Richie

“Into the Groove” by Madonna

“This Must Be the Place” by Talking Heads

“De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” by The Police

Commercial Success

My Buddy