Just What I Needed
Encyclopedia
"Just What I Needed" is a song by the American
rock
band The Cars
from their self-titled album
in 1978 on Elektra Records. "Just What I Needed" is sung by The Cars' bass player Benjamin Orr
. The song peaked at 17 in the UK and 27 in the US. This song first appeared in 1977 on a Boston radio station, WBCN, as a demo tape for The Cars. Shortly thereafter it became one of the station's most requested songs.
sound, although has been described as having a hard rock
punch by essential reference of rock's greatest guitarists when talking about the band's lead guitarist Elliot Easton
, and his notoriety as a rock
guitarist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
from their self-titled album
The Cars (album)
The Cars is the self-titled debut album by the American rock band The Cars released in 1978. With the popular tracks "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" getting heavy airplay on AOR radio stations, the album sold one million copies by the end of the year and steadily climbed the...
in 1978 on Elektra Records. "Just What I Needed" is sung by The Cars' bass player Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr was an American rock musician best known as the bassist and vocalist for the Boston based rock band, The Cars....
. The song peaked at 17 in the UK and 27 in the US. This song first appeared in 1977 on a Boston radio station, WBCN, as a demo tape for The Cars. Shortly thereafter it became one of the station's most requested songs.
Reception
Allmusic reviewer Donald A. Guarisco praised it as a "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." The song has a minimalistic power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
sound, although has been described as having a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
punch by essential reference of rock's greatest guitarists when talking about the band's lead guitarist Elliot Easton
Elliot Easton
Elliot Easton plays lead guitar and sings backing vocals for The Cars. His guitar solos are integral part of the band's hit singles. He studied music at the Berklee College of Music...
, and his notoriety as a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
guitarist.
Album appearances
- 1978: The CarsThe Cars (album)The Cars is the self-titled debut album by the American rock band The Cars released in 1978. With the popular tracks "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" getting heavy airplay on AOR radio stations, the album sold one million copies by the end of the year and steadily climbed the...
- 1979: Over the EdgeOver the Edge (film)Over the Edge is a drama film directed by Jonathan Kaplan released in 1979. Due to the negative publicity surrounding a wave of recent youth gang films, Over the Edge had a limited theatrical release in late 1979...
soundtrack - 1985: Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (The Cars album)Greatest Hits is a six-time platinum-selling compilation album by the new wave band The Cars. It was released in October 1985 on Elektra Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Ric Ocasek.# "Just What I Needed" – 3:43...
- 1995: Just What I Needed: The Cars AnthologyJust What I Needed: The Cars AnthologyJust What I Needed: The Cars Anthology is a career compilation from the 80s New Wave rock group The Cars...
- 1999: 200 Cigarettes200 Cigarettes200 Cigarettes is a 1999 comedy-drama film starring Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Díaz, Angela Featherstone, Janeane Garofalo, Gaby Hoffman, Kate Hudson, Courtney Love, Jay Mohr, Martha Plimpton, Christina Ricci and Paul Rudd. The film also features paintings by Sally...
soundtrack - 2002: Complete Greatest Hits
Cover versions
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- Reading Festival 2011 - No Ca$h - O.G. Demo Tape