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Just What I Needed

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"Just What I Needed"
Single by the Cars
from the album The Cars
B-side"I'm in Touch with Your World"
ReleasedMay 29, 1978 (1978-05-29)
RecordedFebruary 1978
StudioAIR (London, UK)
Genre
Length3:44
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Ric Ocasek
Producer(s)Roy Thomas Baker
The Cars singles chronology
"Just What I Needed"
(1978) 		"My Best Friend's Girl"
(1978)
The Cars track listing
9 tracks
Side one
  1. "Good Times Roll"
  2. "My Best Friend's Girl"
  3. "Just What I Needed"
  4. "I'm in Touch with Your World"
  5. "Don't Cha Stop"
Side two
  2. "You're All I've Got Tonight"
  3. "Bye Bye Love"
  4. "Moving in Stereo"
  5. "All Mixed Up"
Audio
"Just What I Needed" on YouTube

"Just What I Needed" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their self-titled debut album (1978). The song, which first achieved radio success as a demo, took inspiration from the Ohio Express and the Velvet Underground. The song is sung by bass player Benjamin Orr and was written by Ric Ocasek.

"Just What I Needed" was released as the band's first single in 1978, reaching number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charting in several other countries. Appearing on numerous compilation albums, it has become one of the band's most popular songs and has been received positively by critics.

Background

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Like several other tracks on the album The Cars, "Just What I Needed" originated as a demo tape recorded by the band in 1977.[3][4] Ocasek had originally written the song in the basement of the commune he lived in at the time.[5] Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes recalled the first time he heard the song in an interview, saying, "I remember hearing 'Just What I Needed,' thinking ... 'Wow, that's pretty cool. 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."[6]

The song first appeared in 1977 on Boston radio stations WCOZ and WBCN from the demo tape, along with its future follow-up single "My Best Friend's Girl".[3] DJ Maxanne Sartori, who was given the tapes of these songs by Ocasek, recalled, "I began playing the demos of 'Just What I Needed' and 'My Best Friend's Girl' in March during my weekday slot, from 2 to 6 p.m. Calls poured in with positive comments."[7] Shortly thereafter, it became one of the stations' most requested songs.[8]

Guitarist Elliot Easton has since named "Just What I Needed" as the band's signature song. When asked what his favorite Cars song was, Easton commented, "On some level I think I'd pick 'Just What I Needed' as our [overall] best. It's our song. You expect the Beatles to perform 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand,' and you expect the Cars to play 'Just What I Needed.'"[9]

Composition

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"Just What I Needed" is a new wave and power pop song,[10][11] described as having a "hard rock punch".[12] The song's opening riff was borrowed from "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by the Ohio Express.[3] It also features a prominent keyboard riff performed by Greg Hawkes.[4] The lyric "wasting all my time-time" is a reference to "Sister Ray" by the Velvet Underground, a band Ocasek credited as one of his favorites.[13] The song was sung by the Cars' bassist Benjamin Orr, in a performance that Ultimate Classic Rock described as "perfect."[14]

Classic Rock History critic Emily Fagan described the lyrics as exploring "themes of romantic indifference and attraction through its catchy, somewhat ironic chorus: 'I guess you’re just what I needed, I needed someone to bleed.'"[15] Fagan felt that the lyrics are relatable to listeners because they "convey a sense of ennui and detachment, yet they’re delivered with a palpable sense of engagement."[15]

In 2003, pop rock band Fountains of Wayne would in turn copy the Cars' take on the riff for their song "Stacy's Mom".[16] This prompted Ric Ocasek to say the opening was a sample;[17] however, the band has insisted they "got it right".

The cover has the same photo as the cover of The Cars, though cropped differently, and features singer and model Nataliya Medvedeva.[18]

Release

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"Just What I Needed" was released as a single in 1978 prior to the release of The Cars, backed with "I'm in Touch with Your World". The song peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart,[19][20] as well as number 38 in New Zealand.[21] The single was the Cars' most successful of the songs on The Cars in the United States, with follow-up singles "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Good Times Roll" charting at numbers 35 and 41, respectively.[19]

"Just What I Needed" appeared on multiple compilation albums, among them being Greatest Hits, Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology, Shake It Up & Other Hits, Complete Greatest Hits, The Essentials, and Classic Tracks. It appeared on the soundtracks for the films Boys Don’t Cry, Over the Edge and 200 Cigarettes. The song was also featured in an advertising campaign by Circuit City in 2004.[22] "Just What I Needed" has since been covered by several artists, including by the Strokes with Jarvis Cocker in 2011,[23] the Killers in 2018,[24] and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2019.[25]

Reception

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AllMusic reviewer Donald A. Guarisco praised it as "a clever pop song", commenting that "Elliot Easton's fiery guitar leads duel with Greg Hawkes' icy synth lines over a throbbing pop/rock backbeat while Benjamin Orr lays down a fey, detached vocal that captures the sarcastic edge of the lyrics with skill."[26] Billboard said that it was energized by a "driving, propulsive beat" and enhanced by "feisty rock guitar lines" and "a winning harmonic vocal style."[27] Cash Box said that "the ticking guitar opening is reminiscent of Tommy James & The Shondells and that "the tight-lick guitar work and excellent singing" make it likely to go to the top of pop music playlists.[28] Record World said that "Roy Thomas Baker's production and the group's lively vocals makes the record a standout."[29] Rolling Stone named the song one of Ocasek's "essential songs", praising the "chugging eighth-note guitars marching along in crisp perfection" in the song.[5]

Ultimate Classic Rock named the song the best Cars song as well as the best Benjamin Orr Cars song, saying "On a near-perfect debut album, the Roy Thomas Baker-produced "Just What I Needed" was a near-perfect song."[30][14] The site also ranked it the 35th best classic rock song of all time.[23] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the Cars' 2nd greatest song, describing it as "a combination of Benjamin Orr’s original-sounding voice, Greg Hawkes’ fascinating keyboards, Elliot Easton’s sparkling guitar, and that rock meets dance meets punk groove set up so perfectly in the rhythm section of Benjamin Orr and David Robinson."[31] Fagan rated it as the Cars best song sung by Orr, praising Orr's "effortlessly cool and quintessentially rock 'n' roll" vocal delivery.[15] The song was also ranked among the band and Ocasek's best by The New York Times, NME, Esquire, and Inquisitr.[32][33][34][35]

In 2021, Rolling Stone added "Just What I Needed" to their list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," ranking it at 369 and writing that the song "defined [the band's] mix of precision-tuned sleekness and creepy mystery."[36]

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo singled out the song as the reason for selecting Ocasek to be the band's producer for their debut album, recalling, "One day I was in the grocery store and I heard 'Just What I Needed'. I was like, 'Yeah that's kind of what I want the Weezer record to sound like. So let's get that guy."[37]

Australian solo artist Aodhan notably covered this song on Triple J's 'Like a Version' in 2021.

Personnel

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Charts

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "New Wave Music Songs". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Welton, Jamie (2016). "The Cars - The Cars". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 415.
  3. ^ a b c Milano, Brett (1995). Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology (liner notes). The Cars. Elektra Traditions/Rhino Records. R2 73506.
  4. ^ a b "The Story Behind 'Just What I Needed' By The Cars". Society of Rock. January 27, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Hiatt, Brian; Hoard, Christian; Leight, Elias; Sheffield, Rob; Schteamer, Hank (September 15, 2019). "The Cars' Ric Ocasek: 17 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Cars interview". Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Myers, Marc (April 23, 2018). "The Story Behind the Cars' 'My Best Friend's Girl'". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  8. ^ Scott, Jane (June 9, 1978). "The Cars take off fast in record derby". The Plain Dealer.
  9. ^ Ivie, Devon (August 25, 2020). "The Good, Better, and Best of the Cars, According to Elliot Easton". Vulture. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  10. ^ Prato, Greg. "The Cars – The Cars". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 19, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Runtagh, Jordan (April 8, 2014). "Catchy, Loud and Proud: 20 Essential Power Pop Tracks That Will Be Stuck In Your Head Forever". VH1. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  12. ^ Prown, Pete; Newquist, Harvey P. (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-7935-4042-6. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Sheffield, Rob (September 16, 2019). "Why Ric Ocasek Was the Ultimate New Wave Voice". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Swanson, Dave (September 8, 2015). "Top 10 Benjamin Orr Cars Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c Fagan, Emily (September 2024). "Top 10 Cars Songs Sung By Benjamin Orr". Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Weiss, Dan (May 20, 2014). "Single Again: Fountains Of Wayne – 'Stacy's Mom' / The Wonders – 'That Thing You Do'". Radio.com. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  17. ^ [1] (This is more likely similar to the intro of "Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed" combined). Fountains of Wayne US, "February 8, 2006 – Ric Ocasek"
  18. ^ Bratersky, Alexander (February 7, 2003). "Writer, Singer Medvedeva Dead at 44". The Moscow Times.
  19. ^ a b c "The Cars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Cars: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "The Cars – Just What I Needed". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  22. ^ Elliott, Stuart (October 2004). "Circuit City Uses an Old Song to Personify Customer Advice". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  23. ^ a b Zalenski, Annie (April 19, 2012). "No. 35: The Cars, 'Just What I Needed'—Top 100 Classic Rock Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  24. ^ Graves, Wren (September 20, 2019). "The Killers honor "king" Ric Ocasek with cover of "My Best Friend's Girl": Watch". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  25. ^ Reilly, Nick (September 24, 2019). "Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers cover The Cars' 'Just What I Needed' in tribute to Ric Ocasek". NME. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  26. ^ Guarisco, Donald A. "Just What I Needed – The Cars". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  27. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 90, no. 23. June 10, 1978. p. 82. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2020.
  28. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 10, 1978. p. 21. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  29. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 17, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  30. ^ Zalenski, Annie (March 23, 2013). "Top 10 Cars Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  31. ^ Kachejian, Brian (February 2024). "Top 10 Cars Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  32. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (September 16, 2019). "Ric Ocasek's Essential Songs: Listen to 11 Tracks". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  33. ^ McMahon, James (September 18, 2019). "The Cars' 10 Best Songs". NME. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  34. ^ Vankin, Jonathan (September 15, 2019). "Ric Ocasek's 5 Best Cars Songs: Legendary New Wave Band Turned Out More Than A Dozen Hit Singles". Inquisitr. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  35. ^ Miller, Matt (September 16, 2019). "The Best Songs From the Cars' Ric Ocasek". Esquire. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  36. ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  37. ^ Laing, Rob (July 28, 2023). ""I never would have seen that and I'm really grateful to him for that" – Rivers Cuomo reveals how The Cars' Ric Ocasek dramatically changed his guitar tone for Weezer's Blue Album". MusicRadar. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  38. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  39. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4647a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  40. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Just What I Needed". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  41. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending September 16, 1978". Cash Box. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  42. ^ "The Cars Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  43. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Pop Annual 1955–1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
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