In most cases, a band has to rule its home turf before it conquers the world. That’s exactly what The Cars. did. In ’77, amid the disco onslaught, a demo version of “Just What I Needed” became the most requested song on a local (Boston) Rock radio station. The following lists The Cars Top 10 songs with the parent album it’s from and the year or release. 10. You’re All I’ve Got Tonight – The Cars (1978) “Ric Ocasek’s got a knack for taking a common phrase like ‘You’re All I’ve Got Tonight’ and making a great song out of it,” noted keyboardist Greg Hawkes, You’re All I Got Tonight 9. Tonight She Comes – Greatest Hits (1985) Ocasek had originally intended to save this song for his solo career. However, it was recorded as a standalone single. Ocasek recalled, “That was like a one-off single that we just all came together and did.” The Cars Greatest Hits Tonight She Comes 8. My Best Friend’s Girl – The Cars (1978) “Nothing in that song happened to me personally,” stated Ocasek, the song’s writer. “I just figured having a girlfriend stolen was probably something that happened to a lot of people.” My Best Friend’s Girl 7. Let’s Go – Candy-O (1979) The song’s hook was inspired by The Routers, an early ’60’s instrumental group, who recorded a song titled “Let’s Go!” The debut single from “Candy-O,” was a chart success, reaching #14 in the United States and charting in multiple other countries. Vocals were performed by bassist Benjamin Orr. Candy-O Let’s Go 6. Good Times Roll – The Cars (1978) “That was my song about what the good times in Rock ‘n’ Roll really mean, instead of what they’re supposed to be,” shared Ocasek. “It was kind of a parody of good times, really. It was kinda like not about good times at all.” Let The Good Times Roll 5. Shake It Up – The Cars (1978) “(The song was) “kicking around for years,” remembered drummer David Robinson. “It never sounded good. We recorded it a couple of times in the studio and dumped it, and we were going to try it one more time, and I was fighting everybody . . . So we thought, let’s start all over again, like we’ve never even heard it—completely change every part—and we did. Then, when it was through and all put back together, it was like a brand-new song.” Shake It Up 4. You Might Think – Heartbeat City (1984) It was the band’s first song to top Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and peaked at #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The accompanying video won the first MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year (1984) and was nominated for five more awards (Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, Viewer’s Choice, Best Concept Video and Most Experimental Video). Heartbeat City You Might Think 3. Just What I Needed – The Cars (1978) The track was written by Ocasek. “I remember hearing ‘Just What I Needed,’ thinking … ‘Wow, that’s pretty cool,” offered Hawkes. “It’s got something sort of unique about it, it’s like, nice and concise and … fairly short pop song format’ … so I still remember hearing that for the first time.” Just What I Needed 2. Drive – Heartbeat City’ (1984) The album’s third single was written by Ocasek, sung by Orr and produced by John “Mutt” Lange (Def Leppard, AC/DC, Foreigner). “Drive” became The Cars’ highest-charting single in the U.S., reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Drive 1. Bye Bye Love – The Cars (1978) Written by Ocasek, this was another track sung by Orr. It was first performed, and recorded as a demo, by the band Cap’n Swing, which featured Ocasek, Orr, and guitarist Elliot Easton. Bye Bye Love The Cars: Ric Ocasek – Rhythm Guitar/Vocals Elliot Easton– Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals Greg Hawkes – Keyboards/Backing Vocals Bejamin Orr – Bass/Vocals David Robinson – Drums ### The post The Cars Top 10 Songs appeared first on RockinTown.