The Cars – Heartbeat City Live (Rhino/Elektra)

Ric Ocasek and Co – at their peak

Heartbeat City, the fifth album from the Cars, went quadruple platinum in 1984 and spawned FOUR top 20 singles – yet the band only toured for a little more than two months during that time!  Now, just in time for Record Store Day, Rhino Records has issued, for the first time ever, Heartbeat City Live, a full concert of the quintet, at their absolute peak, recorded live at the Summit in Houston, Texas.

The double album comes pressed on clear vinyl, and opens with, appropriately, “Hello Again,” before immediately downshifting into the eerie, “It’s Not the Night.”  The crowd goes wild when they hear the opening keyboard licks of “Moving in Stereo,” while “Just What I Needed” comes off pretty nice, with guitarist Elliot Easton playing his solo, note for note, like the record.

I saw the band during this tour (the 2nd date listed in the gatefold sleeve, July 13, 1984 in Greensboro Coliseum, NC).  My impression back then is the same as hearing it over 40 years later:  some of the tracks, especially the ones from Heartbeat City, sound somewhat robotic.  Sure, the whole sequencer/drum machine technology was in its infancy.  But, these guys SHOULD know how to rock.  They also never say a single word to the crowd – which I found odd back then, and still do now.  Also, “Jimmy Jimmy,” from Ocasek’s first solo album seems like an odd choice, especially since the band, at that point, had a rich catalog of great songs.

Things start to pick up on the second disc.  “Drive” sound particularly heartfelt in this setting, with Benjamin Orr stretching out some of his notes more than the album, while  “You Might Think” sounds grittier here than the studio.  

They save the best for near the end.  “Let’s Go” is really good – the band sounds really engaged here and Orr is having fun.  After the moody “Heartbeat City,” the final track, “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” is an absolute stunner.  It rocks ferociously, in a way like none of the other songs did.  Easton also stretches out and plays a blistering, ad-libbed solo.  I’m wondering if it’s the only song not tied to a drum machine?  Either way, it really jumps out of the speakers, and the crowd responds with their roaring approval.  

The inside gatefold sleeve also features several ticket stubs from the tour and even part of a setlist, which is a nice touch.  

Def Leppard toured for two solid years for their Hysteria album, while the Cars toured for two months??? Absolutely baffling.  If you’re interested in the crazy interworking of the Cars, I highly suggest Bill Janovitz’s book, Let the Stories Be Told.

There aren’t a lot of live documents of the Cars in concert, making Heartbeat City Live an indispensable addition for any true fan of the band.  —Tony Peters