Heartbeat City

Heartbeat City
The cover art (including an image of a 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 and an Alberto Vargas pin-up model[1][2]) is from a 1972 piece by Peter Phillips called Art-O-Matic Loop di Loop.[3]
Studio album by
the Cars
ReleasedMarch 12, 1984 (1984-03-12)[4]
RecordedJuly 1983 – January 1984
StudiosBattery (Willesden, London)
Genres
Length38:41
LabelElektra
Producers
The Cars chronology
Shake It Up
(1981)		 Heartbeat City
(1984)		 Greatest Hits
(1985)
Singles from Heartbeat City
  1. "You Might Think"
    Released: February 1984
  2. "Magic"
    Released: May 7, 1984
  3. "Drive"
    Released: July 23, 1984
  4. "Hello Again"
    Released: October 15, 1984
  5. "Why Can't I Have You"
    Released: January 7, 1985
  6. "Heartbeat City"
    Released: September 23, 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarStar[5]
The Baltimore SunStarStarStarStarHalf star[6]
Chicago TribuneStarStarStarHalf star[7]
Classic Rock9/10[8]
MojoStarStarStarStar[9]
Pitchfork7.5/10[10]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[11]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStar[12]
Under the Radar8/10[13]
The Village VoiceB+[14]

Heartbeat City is the fifth studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on March 12, 1984, by Elektra Records. This marks the band's first album not produced by long-time producer Roy Thomas Baker, instead opting to produce with Mutt Lange. The album was a major commercial success, certifying quadruple platinum in the U.S.[15]

Considered a "comeback" album for the Cars, Heartbeat City represented a return to the success of the band's self-titled debut album.[14] Numerous tracks from the album received airplay on modern rock and AOR stations, with the singles "Drive" and "You Might Think" reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

Background and release

The Cars in a publicity photo for Heartbeat City, 1984

Heartbeat City was recorded at Battery Studios in Willesden, London with producer Mutt Lange. The band followed a method where the keyboards, guitars and vocals were recorded first to a LinnDrum click track, then the bass and drums were added. According to drummer David Robinson, all the drums and keyboards were sampled into and played or programmed via the Fairlight CMI, which he felt gave "a much better, cleaner, more controllable sound" for the album.[16]

Heartbeat City spawned six singles. "Drive" and "You Might Think" reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at numbers three and seven, respectively.[17] A number of songs from the album gained significant radio and television exposure, notably "Drive", "You Might Think" and "Magic", which all received heavy rotation on MTV. The title-track served as the album's sixth and final single outside North America.

The lead vocals on "Drive" were performed by bassist Benjamin Orr. The song's video was directed by actor and film director Timothy Hutton and features Ric Ocasek arguing with a troubled young woman played by fashion model Paulina Porizkova (whom Ocasek would later marry). "Hello Again" had a music video directed by Andy Warhol, who also appeared onscreen.[18]

Despite not being released as a single, "It's Not the Night" reached number 31 on the Top Rock Tracks chart.[19] The song "Stranger Eyes" was used in the theatrical trailer of the action drama film Top Gun (1986), but never made it onto the soundtrack. "Looking for Love" was covered by Austrian musician Falco as "Munich Girls" on his third studio album Falco 3 (1985).

When the Cars performed at Live Aid in 1985, they played three songs from the album ("You Might Think", "Drive", and the album's title-track), alongside the fan favorite "Just What I Needed".

The album was produced by Mutt Lange. His commitment to the Cars' album meant that he told Def Leppard he could not work on their fourth studio album Hysteria (1984). However, due to delays in that album's recording, Lange was eventually able to produce it.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek; track 7 co-written by Greg Hawkes.

Side one
No.TitleVocalsLength
1."Hello Again"Ocasek3:47
2."Looking for Love"Ocasek3:52
3."Magic"Ocasek3:57
4."Drive"Benjamin Orr3:55
5."Stranger Eyes"Orr4:26
Side two
No.TitleVocalsLength
6."You Might Think"Ocasek3:04
7."It's Not the Night"
  • Orr
  • Ocasek
3:49
8."Why Can't I Have You"Ocasek4:04
9."I Refuse"Ocasek3:16
10."Heartbeat City"Ocasek4:31
Total length:38:41
2018 expanded edition bonus tracks
No.TitleVocalsLength
11."Hello Again" (remix version)Ocasek5:57
12."Drive" (demo)Orr4:45
13."One More Time" (early version of "Why Can't I Have You")Ocasek3:59
14."Baby I Refuse" (early version of "I Refuse")Ocasek3:52
15."Jacki" (early version of "Heartbeat City")Ocasek4:16
16."Breakaway" (B-side of "Why Can't I Have You")Ocasek3:47
17."Tonight She Comes" (from Greatest Hits, 1985)Ocasek3:58
Total length:69:15

Notes

  • "Stranger Eyes" is titled "Stranger" on the label of early U.S. vinyl pressings, though the title is listed as "Stranger Eyes" on the inner sleeve.
  • "Heartbeat City" is titled "Jacki" on the inner sleeve of early U.S. vinyl pressings, though the title is listed (correctly) as "Heartbeat City" on the label. On early cassette versions, the track is titled "Jacki" on the cassette insert, but as "Heartbeat City" on the actual tape.

Deluxe edition

In October 2025, Rhino Records released a four CD plus one LP deluxe edition.[20]

All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek; "It's Not the Night" co-written by Greg Hawkes.

CD one: Original album
No.TitleLength
1."Hello Again"3:47
2."Looking for Love"3:52
3."Magic"3:57
4."Drive"3:55
5."Stranger Eyes"4:26
6."You Might Think"3:04
7."It's Not the Night"3:49
8."Why Can't I Have You"4:04
9."I Refuse"3:16
10."Heartbeat City"4:31
CD two: Bonus Tracks, B-sides, Remixes, Early Versions, Demos & Alternate Versions
No.TitleLength
1."Breakaway" (B-side to "Why Can't I Have You")3:47
2."Hello Again" (Remix Version)5:57
3."Hello Again" (Dub Version)6:11
4."Drive" (Demo)4:44
5."Stranger Eyes" (Early Version)6:16
6."It's Not the Night" (Early Version)3:49
7."One More Time" (Early Version Of "Why Can't I Have You")3:59
8."Baby I Refuse" (Early Version Of "I Refuse")3:51
9."Jacki" (Early Version Of "Heartbeat City")4:15
10."Shooting for You" (First Version)4:37
11."Shooting for You" (Re-Recorded Version)5:23
12."Shooting for You" (Re-Recorded Version Alternate Mix)4:03
CD three: Early Mixes
No.TitleLength
1."Hello Again"3:58
2."Looking for Love"3:57
3."Magic"4:01
4."Drive"4:05
5."Stranger Eyes"4:56
6."You Might Think"3:09
7."It's Not the Night"3:44
8."I Refuse" (Early Version / Early Mix)3:07
9."Heartbeat City"4:01
10."Breakaway"3:58
11."Shooting for You" (First Version / Early Mix)4:08
12."Shooting for You" (Re-Recorded Version)4:41
CD four: Live at the Summit, Houston, TX, 09/11/1984
No.TitleLength
1."Hello Again"4:01
2."It's Not the Night"3:58
3."Touch and Go"5:02
4."Candy-O"2:44
5."Good Times Roll"3:34
6."Jimmy Jimmy"4:39
7."Moving in Stereo"5:33
8."Just What I Needed"3:38
9."A Dream Away"5:38
10."Cruiser"5:10
11."Drive"4:00
12."You Might Think"3:10
13."My Best Friend's Girl"3:43
14."Magic"4:26
15."Let's Go"3:45
16."Heartbeat City"5:11
17."You're All I've Got Tonight"5:05
140g black vinyl LP, Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Hello Again"3:47
2."Looking for Love"3:52
3."Magic"3:57
4."Drive"3:55
5."Stranger Eyes"4:26
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."You Might Think"3:04
7."It's Not the Night"3:49
8."Why Can't I Have You"4:04
9."I Refuse"3:16
10."Heartbeat City"4:31

Personnel

The Cars

Additional musicians

  • Andy Topeka – Fairlight CMI programming

Technical

  • Mutt Lange – production
  • The Cars – production
  • Nigel Green – recording engineering
  • Mike Shipley – mixing engineering
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City)
  • Andy Topeka – production assistance
  • David Heglmeier – production assistance
  • Steve Rance – production assistance

Artwork

  • Peter Phillips – cover painting
  • HSU – art direction
  • Cathy Henszey – art direction
  • Doris Kloster – photography
  • George Holz – photography
  • David Robinson – cover design[5]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Heartbeat City
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[40] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Stack, Phil; Vargas, Alberto (January 1944). "Varga Calendar for 1944". Esquire. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. ↑ "FEB 1944 VARGA CALENDAR SEXY BLONDE PIN-UP GIRL PRINT". WorthPoint. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "1972 The Cars "Heartbeat City" Album Cover". PeterPhillips.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". CMJ New Music Report. February 27, 1984. p. 10.
  5. 1 2 Sendra, Tim. "Heartbeat City – The Cars". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  6. ↑ Considine, J. D. (March 25, 1984). "'Heartbeat City' sounds almost too carefully polished to be a Cars album". The Baltimore Sun.
  7. ↑ Kot, Greg (August 4, 1991). "Tracking Ocasek's Voice On The Record". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  8. ↑ Elliott, Paul (May 2018). "The Cars: Reissues". Classic Rock. No. 248. p. 99.
  9. ↑ Blake, Mark (May 2018). "The Cars: Heartbeat City". Mojo. No. 294. p. 104.
  10. ↑ Soto, Alfred (March 31, 2018). "The Cars: Shake It Up / Heartbeat City". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  11. ↑ Shewey, Don (April 26, 1984). "The Cars: Heartbeat City". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  12. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "The Cars". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 141. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  13. ↑ Rushbury, Ian (April 19, 2018). "The Cars: Heartbeat City: Expanded Edition (Rhino)". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (September 25, 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ Maillard, Chris (January 1985). "The Driving Beat: The Cars". International Musician And Recording World.
  17. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Uncensored Andy Warhol-Directed Video for The Cars' Hit "Hello Again" (NSFW)". Open Culture. October 15, 2012. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  20. ↑ Sinclair, Paul (September 24, 2025). "The Cars / Hearbeat City Deluxe Edition". Super Deluxe Edition.
  21. ↑ Kent 1993, p. 56.
  22. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Image 8605". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cars – Heartbeat City" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  24. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 34. November 19, 1984. p. 16. OCLC 29800226. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cars – Heartbeat City" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Charts.nz – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 1/9/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  30. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Rock Albums". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 29. July 21, 1984. p. 20. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  32. ↑ Kent 1993, p. 436.
  33. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of 1984". RPM. Vol. 41, no. 17. January 5, 1985. ISSN 0033-7064. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  34. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1984". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  35. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 Albums of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. December 25, 1985. p. 14. ISSN 0033-7064. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  36. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  38. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Recorded Music NZ. September 30, 1984. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  39. ↑ "British album certifications – Cars – Heartbeat City". British Phonographic Industry. September 25, 1985. Retrieved December 26, 2020. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Heartbeat City Cars in the "Search:" field.
  40. ↑ "American album certifications – The Cars – Heartbeat City". Recording Industry Association of America. December 17, 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2019.

Bibliography

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