"The Cars" is the self-titled debut album by the American rock band The Cars. Released on June 6, 1978, this new wave album achieved sustained commercial success in the United States and internationally. The band members involved in its production were Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, David Robinson, Elliot Easton, and Greg Hawkes. The band’s primary genres span new wave, pop rock, power pop, and synth-pop.
As for the background of the album, The Cars were fresh in the Boston music scene prior to the release of the album. Recordings were largely done at AIR Studios in London, and the production was helmed by veteran producer Roy Thomas Baker. The progressive sound of The Cars, combining rock with synthesizer arrangements, turned the band into pioneers of the new wave movement and they gained popularity fast.
The album elicited critical acclaim upon its release and it spawned numerous hit singles, such as "Just What I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girl," and "Good Times Roll." It peaked at No. 18 on the US Billboard 200 chart and stayed on the chart for 139 weeks. In 2003, the album was ranked number 282 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. More than four decades after its release, the album continues to be highly regarded in rock music discography.
