The discography of the American rock band the Cars includes seven studio albums, eight compilation albums, four video albums and 26 singles. Originating in Boston in 1976,[1] the band consisted of singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson.[2][3] The Cars sold over 23 million albums in the United States and had 13 singles that reached the Top 40. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.[4]
| The Cars discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 7 |
| Compilation albums | 8 |
| Singles | 26 |
| Video albums | 4 |
| Music videos | 20 |
| Box sets | 3 |
Albums
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications[5][6][7] (sales threshold) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [8] |
AUS [9][10] |
CAN [11] |
GER [12] |
JPN [13] |
NL [14] |
NZ [15] |
SWE [16] |
SWI [17] |
UK [18] | |||
| The Cars | 18 | 35 | 50 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 29 | ||
| Candy-O |
|
3 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 30 |
|
| Panorama |
|
5 | 19 | 10 | — | 69 | — | 14 | — | — | — |
|
| Shake It Up |
|
9 | 20 | 7 | — | — | 40 | 12 | — | — | — |
|
| Heartbeat City |
|
3 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 41 | 1 | 26 | 20 | 25 |
|
| Door to Door |
|
26 | 26 | 19 | 57 | 32 | — | 10 | 29 | 20 | 72 |
|
| Move Like This |
|
7 | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||||||||
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications[5][6] (sales threshold) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [8] |
AUS [9][10] |
CAN [11] |
JPN [13] |
NZ [15] |
UK [18] | |||
| Greatest Hits |
|
12 | 3 | 21 | 72 | 2 | 27 |
|
| Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Shake It Up & Other Hits |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Complete Greatest Hits |
|
32 | 65 | 55 | — | 10 | — |
|
| The Essentials |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Classic Tracks |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Greatest Hits & More |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Moving in Stereo: The Best of The Cars |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||||
Box sets
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Original Album Series |
|
| Studio Album Collection: 1978–1987 |
|
| The Elektra Years 1978–1987 |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications[6] (sales threshold) |
Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [21] |
US Rock [22] |
AUS [9][10] |
CAN [23] |
FRA [24] |
GER [25] |
NL [14] |
NZ [15] |
SWE [16] |
UK [18] | ||||
| "Just What I Needed" | 1978 | 27 | — | 96 | 35 | 4 | — | — | 38 | — | 17 | The Cars | |
| "My Best Friend's Girl" | 35 | — | 67 | 55 | — | — | 40 | — | — | 3 | |||
| "Good Times Roll" | 1979 | 41 | — | — | 74 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Let's Go" | 14 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | 40 | — | 51 | Candy-O | ||
| "It's All I Can Do" | 41 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Double Life" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Touch and Go" | 1980 | 37 | — | 62 | 16 | 2 | — | — | 42 | — | — | Panorama | |
| "Don't Tell Me No" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Gimme Some Slack" | 1981 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Shake It Up" | 4 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 10 | — | 48 | 26 | — | — | Shake It Up | ||
| "Cruiser" | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Since You're Gone" | 1982 | 41 | 24 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 37 | ||
| "Victim of Love" | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Think It Over" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "You Might Think" | 1984 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 8 | — | — | 49 | 27 | 20 | 88 | Heartbeat City | |
| "Magic" | 12 | 1 | 96 | 14 | 10 | — | — | 50 | — | — | |||
| "Drive" | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 4 [nb 1] |
| ||
| "Hello Again" | 20 | 22 | 52 | 42 | 4 | 27 | — | 12 | — | — | |||
| "Why Can't I Have You" | 1985 | 33 | 11 | — | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Heartbeat City" | — | — | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 78 | |||
| "Tonight She Comes" | 7 | 1 | 16 | 36 | — | — | — | 20 | — | 79 | Greatest Hits | ||
| "I'm Not the One (remix)" | 1986 | 32 | 29 | 75 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Greatest Hits (Shake It Up) | |
| "You Are the Girl" | 1987 | 17 | 2 | 69 | 33 | — | — | — | 30 | — | — | Door to Door | |
| "Strap Me In" | 85 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Coming Up You" | 1988 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Sad Song" | 2011 | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Move Like This | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||||||||
Videos
editVideo albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [26] |
UK [27][28] | ||
| Heartbeat City |
|
10 | 16 |
| Live 1984–1985 |
|
— | 28 |
| The Cars Live |
|
— | — |
| The Cars Unlocked: The Live Performances |
|
— | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Music videos
edit| Title | Album |
|---|---|
| "Just What I Needed" | The Cars |
| "My Best Friend's Girl" | |
| "Let's Go" | Candy-O |
| "Double Life" | |
| "Dangerous Type" | |
| "Panorama" | Panorama |
| "Touch and Go" | |
| "Shake It Up" | Shake It Up |
| "Since You're Gone" | |
| "You Might Think" | Heartbeat City |
| "Magic" | |
| "Drive" | |
| "Hello Again" | |
| "Why Can't I Have You" | |
| "Tonight She Comes" | Greatest Hits |
| "You Are The Girl" | Door to Door |
| "Strap Me In" | |
| "Blue Tip" | Move Like This |
| "Sad Song" | |
| "Free" |
Notes
edit- ^ "Drive" originally peaked at #5 in the UK in 1984, but re-entered the chart in 1985 after being used for documentary footage during Live Aid, this time reaching #4.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Hosken, Patrick. "Ric Ocasek Wrote The Songs You Love". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019.
- ^ Ivie, Devon (August 25, 2020). "The Good, Better, and Best of the Cars, According to Elliot Easton". Vulture.
- ^ Rodman, Sarah (May 8, 2011). "The Cars get back in gear". Boston.com – via The Boston Globe.
- ^ Mann, Keith (September 16, 2019). "Ric Ocasek Net Worth: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know".
- ^ a b "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Home". BPI. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Cars Chart History:Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c "Australian Charts > The Cars". australian-charts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Peak positions for the Cars' albums in Canada:
- The Cars: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 30, no. 4. October 21, 1978. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- Candy-O: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 31, no. 23. September 1, 1979. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- Panorama: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 34, no. 3. November 8, 1980. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- Shake It Up: "RPM 50 Albums". RPM. Vol. 36, no. 2. February 20, 1982. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- Heartbeat City: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 42, no. 3. September 22, 1984. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- Greatest Hits: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 19. February 1, 1986. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- Door to Door: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 47, no. 2. October 17, 1987. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- More Like This: "Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. May 28, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- The Complete Greatest Hits: "Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. September 28, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "charts.de (Albums) > The Cars". charts.de Media Control. Retrieved June 17, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ a b "Dutch Charts > The Cars". dutchcharts.nl Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ a b c "New Zealand Charts > The Cars". charts.nz Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Swedish Charts > The Cars". swedishcharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c "The Official Charts Companys > The Cars". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. pp. 25, 53.
- ^ "The Cars Album & Song Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ^ "The Cars Album & Song Chart History (Mainstream Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ^ "Collections.gc.ca".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The World's Music Charts (Song artist 501 - The Cars)". Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ^ "charts.de (Singles) > The Cars". charts.de Media Control. Retrieved June 17, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Top Videocassettes Sales" (PDF). Billboard. October 20, 1984. p. 29. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Music Video Top 30" (PDF). Music Week. December 8, 1984. p. 31. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Music Video" (PDF). Music Week. November 16, 1985. p. 10. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "The Cars Live advert" (PDF). Billboard. October 14, 2000. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
External links
edit- Unofficial discography of The Cars
- The Cars discography at Discogs