The Cars – The Cars (Rhino High Fidelity Series)

There’s a reason this edition was going for top dollar on eBay – it sounds fantastic

The Cars 1978 debut still stands as one of the greatest albums of all time.  The perfect blend of new wave and power rock gives it a universal appeal like very few others.  Rhino Records issued the album as part of their High Fidelity series in 2023, and it quickly sold out.  Now it’s back in print – and well worth another look.

I took my original pressing and compared it to this new, Rhino High Fidelity version.

The word that comes to mind first is DEFINITION.  You can hear it in Ric Ocasek’s voice on “My Best Friend’s Girl.”  It’s what gives “Just What I Needed” so much more punch.  “I’m In Touch With Your World” has lots of crazy percussion that jumps from speaker to speaker, and is crystal clear in this new pressing. 

The phased drums sound meatier on “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” while Ben Orr’s bass really stands out on the beginning of “Bye Bye Love.”  “Moving in Stereo” is the song that benefits the most from this new transfer – it just leaps out of the speakers.

Traditionally, the last song on an album side doesn’t sound as good as the others.  On my original, 1978 copy, the high end on Orr’s vocal on “All Mixed Up” rolls off.  I do not hear this on the new version.

The record itself is heavy, 180-gram vinyl, and the jacket is thick grade cardboard.  This edition touts a gatefold sleeve (the original did not have this).  Actually, the gatefold is just a reproduction of the inner sleeve of the original LP.  However, there’s also an additional insert featuring pictures of the original tape reel boxes (nice touch), as well as a new interview with Cars’ guitarist Elliot Easton.

Pricey (retailing for around $50, about twice as much as standard vinyl these days), but totally worth it.  Rhino’s High Fidelity is the definitive way to hear this fantastic album.  —Tony Peters