THE CARS- It's All I Can Do [DEMO VERSION] (1979) HD AUDIO

[@jonathanreed4457]

Saw The Cars in 1982...The only band that sound just as tight live, or in studio. Absolutely amazing. Ben Orr was a complete rock star and Elliot Easton guitar work was impeccable!

[@brewster84067]

In my top 3 songs of all time. '88 high school graduate.

[@donbabcock2062]

I’m 59, I grew up with the best music ever. So blessed to be Gen X!

[@Fossilsunleashed]

us boomers listened on 8 track

[@liquidsteel8131]

I had this on vinyl, 8 track, cassette and now cd. I discovered The Cars in 1979 at the age of 11 years old. And I still listen to them almost daily!

[@christopherzaniboni1366]

I’m 62 and the Cars were the first concert I ever saw..1978 16 years old at the Boston Garden..they played with the Del Fuegos.. I envy some of the young people today on the reaction channels hearing music from back then for the first time and really enjoying the stuff we heard every day.

[@Kerry-xu7fq]

You are not gen x you are a baby boomer.

[@sonicdewd]

@@christopherzaniboni1366 Same. But Orlando. 18.

[@intercommerce]

Great band, led by the (now deceased) core element of Ben Orr and Ric Ocasek, two Polish-American musicians who wrote almost all their music and lyrics, and were also the two lead singers, with remarkably similar voices.

[@jamescaron6465]

Their rough demos sounded better than 80% of most bands masters

[@andrewwilson888]

Good call!

[@ralphnewcomejr]

Damn Straight! And there was No digital bullshit to cover for you either!!!

[@jamescaron6465]

@@ralphnewcomejr I dont know if you ever heard the original to track demo of Just what I needed but you can find it here. It's really good too.

[@Lerch-zc3ww]

I was thinking the same thing!!

[@TheFullKanani]

That’s because this is the album version with a scratch vocal.

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

Elliot Easton is an absolute BEAST of a guitarist.

[@martyc2637]

His fills and wrap-ups are legendary.

[@Ali-yh9qi]

Lefty guitarists freak me out.

[@donnorton5018]

More of a machine. So consistent.

[@TheJoncatlin]

I was anticipating the EPIC solo in that song, and it never came! One of my favorite solos of all time.

[@garysullivan9243]

He's highly underrated. He's in my "top ten"!

[@briansmith3191]

Anyone that grew up listening to music in the late 70s remembers when the Cars hit the music scene...cutting edge and memorable...

[@festerofest4374]

The rare album where just about every song is great.

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

@@festerofest4374 Yes, there are no skippable songs on this album.

[@Vod-Kaknockers]

Man! Sitting around in my girlfriends brothers room blasting this on a freaking phonograph record player about the size of a small suitcase lol. Anyone else remember those? 15 and had my whole life ahead of me. WTH happened!? I wanna go back.

[@Gamevet]

@@Vod-Kaknockers I remember when my sister brought the Cars record home. I was floored by the tunes the band was putting out. There was nothing like it at the time.

[@bernecomp]

@@Vod-Kaknockers Me too. The future ended up sucking far worse than we imagined it could.

[@stevewright6290]

Benjamin Orr =. Coolest rockstar ever...

[@jaym3064]

I’d forgotten how much I love this song! How can anyone not like this band?

[@stevewright2972]

RIP Ben and Ric ❤🙏👍

[@donnowak4304]

The mix of guitars, synths, vocals. Pure magic. I'm 54.

[@avenueb]

welcome to club Cars, kid

[@marcelmallory2761]

My favorite Cars song of all time. Benjamin Orr was perfect vocally in this song...

[@jimwonderboy3390]

All mixed up is my favorite. I hadn't heard it in years. Now I can't get it out of my head. Orr was phenomenal as a lead singer. What a voice.

[@LoriLintz]

YES OH YES....when ur right ur RIGHT!!!😊

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

Many consider this the companion to Just What I Needed. They were trying to recapture the success of the forementioned song. Notice how it was placed third on the album. My assessment is that is a VERY worthy companion...if not better. Both are my top two favs.

[@whom382]

Cruiser is my favorite by far.

[@freezing71]

Saw a comment once where someone called them “ the masters of ear candy”. I couldn’t agree more. They’ve been my absolute favorite band since I was introduced to them when I was around 10 in 83. I’ve never stopped listening to them since.

[@FYMASMD]

That describes the Kinks more.

[@RichOzowski-kc7tv]

That’s basically an insult, a diminishment. They were masters of great songs, period.

[@gettinjiggywitit5332]

Yup,I loved listening to these guys then and now.

[@rgfreese]

I was going to say ABBA

[@freezing71]

@@rgfreese You’re right freese. ABBA as well. Love em.

[@madisonmc]

Born in 66 here…had an older brother born in 60’’’. He bought The Cars album in 78 when I was 12, brought it home and listened a few times. He hated it. Asked if I wanted it. Heard side one and my music taste changed forever. I still give him shit about that. He was big into The Eagles, Dylan, Neil Young etc, which I too enjoy, but the first album was a game changer.

[@sergeantfury785]

Talk about a "gift"!

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

My older brother came home from college in 85...gave me the Love album from The Cult... I was 14....game changer for me 😊

[@acorreira1915]

Wow, the crunchy guitar.

[@scottuforox7654]

I love having the guitars up in front like this

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

This song still sounds like it is from the future. We all know about amazing talent of Ben and Elliot. However, let's give a shout out to Greg Hawkes performance on keyboards.

[@ricomajestic]

The biggest talent was Ric Ocasek! He's the one that wrote all of the songs.

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

@@ricomajestic Ric produced my beloved Blue Album by Weezer. Absoulute genius. Ric much preferred to be out of the spotlight. So unselfish.

[@whom382]

@@ricomajestic You know that Orr wrote Just What I Needed, Bye Bye Love, Moving in Stereo, All Mixed Up, Cruiser (their best song), the song we are commenting under, and many more! If Ric was still with us, he would credit Benjamin for what he did.

[@jenndavin]

Such a great sound. The Cars first two albums are perfection. All good.

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

Everything worked on those first two. The balance between Ric and Ben. The guitar hooks, Greg's perfection on the keyboard. STELLAR albums.

[@livinaftermidnight9651]

Better than most bands "greatest hits"

[@rodneybrocke]

I think you meant to say, All Great!

[@aspjake123]

I have a R2R, watching this makes me want to use it again.

[@charlyW34]

Music can NEVER sound this good again, unless beings from an an all analogue planet befriend us.

[@paull451]

I couldn’t agree more. Today’s music is absolute dog shit.

[@pattii55]

@@paull451 Agree. Makes you wonder how the Hell music went to shit after outstanding decades before this mess it is now. Taylor Swift 🤮

[@henryolivo176]

One of The Cars most underrated songs.

[@capncrush6729]

@henryolivo176 Every Cars song is underated

[@Nudiescorner]

There are very few perfect songs out there..THIS ..is one of them.❤

[@connelllund3293]

Completely underrated band. Elliot Easton is a beast.

[@Nudiescorner]

@@connelllund3293 OH.. ABSOLUTE BEAST🔥💥🔥💥🔥

[@cfm8090]

Amazing that their music - unlike most new wave - doesn’t sound dated at all. Great songwriting is evergreen.

[@DP-wi6hm]

thxThats a great way to put it !

[@markcassel3392]

What a great version. Much better than the commercial release.

[@atomic-fox]

But the Easton Guitar solo (not on this demo) seals the deal

[@KennethFinuf]

They are so underrated!! They had the most unique and amazing sound ahead of their time!!

[@PaulyV56]

Hahahahah. No they aren’t!!! Where u been.

[@Arturo-p1g4y]

​​@@PaulyV56Not everyone lives around a bunch of hipper than thou folks.

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

I disagree. I think they are appreciated and very much on the radar. The other day, I literally heard 10 The Cars songs on Sirius radio. The induction to the HOF was well deserved.

[@bunnspecial]

I was in high school when this came out and they were big. Same with Boston.

[@ritaskeeter8539]

Benjamin Orr had the best voice ever. RIP

[@MsSydney10]

Yes he did ....and the looks!!!!

[@blaster-zy7xx]

We were at a party and the question of the evening was, "if you could sing like anyone who would you like to sing like?" I said Benjamin Orr.

[@ritaskeeter8539]

@@MsSydney10 He was the cutest

[@stooge81]

Even at their worst, The Cars were the best.

[@user-eu7tp2vw3d]

15 years old and definitely a metal head. I was at a HS party, heard the Cars and instantly was and still a fan. Ben and the Cars are great, thank you for the memories 😁

[@donnyhud]

the cars.. candy-o ... absolute masterpiece!!

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

I honestly listen to this album weekly. Never gets old.

[@Kram2525]

Dangerous Type is great as well.

[@donnyhud]

@@Kram2525 candy-o is the name of the album!! thats what i meant!!

[@pauli6043]

Love the crunchy guitar, courtesy of the legendary Elliot Easton!

[@Nancoman]

I sure miss this band.

[@janetmoore5645]

Another priceless tune 😁❤.

[@goratgo1970]

The Orr is strong in this one...🫡

[@rwfrench66GenX]

That’s a very polished demo. RIP Benny 11 letters

[@martyc2637]

Polish and precision. That was their specialty.

[@wickedout2010]

Great song! I love it! RIP in Ric Ocasek! Benjamin Orr is excellent on this song!

[@captain13ron]

really like this demo version!

[@effeojnedib7208]

Born in 60'. I believe our generation experienced the best music and we're spoiled by that. The last of the 4 string bass era. Real voices. From outlaw country to hard rock. Even some disco was good, beginning of punk.

[@matthewbyrd398]

What a great GREAT band!! No one else sounds like The Cars!!

[@Plazman]

I dig Eliott's aggressive guitar!

[@bradleystereoguitaramplifi9616]

This is cool.I've never heard this before. Benjamin is one of the greatest voices in rock history. ❤

[@jameskarchner8218]

The summer of 79 , my parents were both out of the country , my brother and I , and 3 of our friends took my parents car to Nags Head N.C. ,and listened to the new Cars tape on repeat , what a summer . Saw the Cars twice , at the Norfolk Scpoe , and the Hampton Coliseum , I lived near the Coliseum and could walk there . Saw the Stones there twice , 78 and 81 ,sat in George Thurgoods family seating for the Friday night show on Keith Richard's birthday, which was taped . Saw the Who summer of 80 . Van Halen in 78 warmed up for Ozzy and Black Sabboth . ACDC total of 7 times . Peter Frampton was my first concert in 1977

[@rickdaniels1789]

Very cool. My first concert was also '77, maybe early '78. KISS with Cheap Trick at the Forum in L.A. Never got to see The Cars, but those 1st 2 albums were a huge part of the soundtrack of my teens. Never got to see the original Sabbath, but I caught them in '83 with Ian Gillan on the Born Again tour in Vegas. Great times!

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

@jameskarchner8218 I also saw The Cars in concert starting with the Panorama tour at Hampton Coliseum then Shake It Up tour at William n Mary and Heartbeat City at Hampton Coliseum. My wife and I caught the Saturday Rolling Stones concert at Hampton Coliseum. I still have the Tour program and my daughters have the concert tees. I also to some really cool photos and here we thought it was going to be their last tour. Great times. Come to think about it I saw VH at the Hampton Coliseum in 81.

[@ChadBest-ug8uo]

Great story James. The Cars, road trips, and summers go hand in hand.

[@briansmith3191]

@@jameskarchner8218 nothing like music to transport us back to great times...whether it be hanging out with our friends back in high school or just "songs" that stamped out our lives. Cheers

[@WesFanMan]

Today, seeing those concerts would cost roughly $50,000.

[@ericjencson9489]

That's a pretty clean demo.

[@LarryDanaDavid]

I’m amazed there hasn’t been a Cars resurgence. This band is just too cool and will be forever.

[@sib5150]

They were great, they sounded like no one else

[@Mark-sc9iu]

Reminds me of a high school sweetheart. This was 'our' song. Makes me long for 1980 again.

[@pattii55]

MANY things today make me long for 1980 again! This is just one.

[@F.S.111]

Brings me back to growing up as a teen in the 70’s. Good stuff.

[@julenepegher6999]

Sigh….a Teen in the 70’s the Greatest!!

[@CHRISTINEAZ]

Way ahead of their time. RIP Ben and Ric

[@harrydrury4734]

time goes by so fast . I miss those days .

[@jerryhoward8133]

One of their best songs, this band was so great, they have truly stood the test of time, the past is best relived with special music like this, RIP Rick and Ben truly Iconic.

[@JClaus1221]

Benny 11 Letters vocal masterpiece.

[@jamieredman8606]

Their debut album blew me away, but Candy-O was their best work. Imo

[@cosmicsunbeams]

❤ The Cars were an awesome band ❗

[@shadowwalker7190]

Born 1971. I got to “clunk” the 8-Track to these cool cats.

[@Tranquility32]

I was 10 years old in 1979. Have LOVED The Cars every day since! So sooo awesome. ❤

[@jakeburns6566]

I was 13 and the cars were one of my first "New wave" type bands. I had a brother (7 years older) that got me into rock ( Beatles to Queen to Blue Oyster Cult) at a young age. He wasn't real happy when I started bringing The Ramones, The Clash and other "Punk Rock" music home in 1980. He about shit his pants when I took my long blond california beach hair and cut it into a mohawk and died it black. Sorry, just started getting tired of long, slow and mostly boring music. But, I still love most of that old, slow and boring music...since I am old, slow and boring now-haha

[@edhobbs]

From Boston, LOVED the cars. This is my favorite Cars song.

[@kjodleken8810]

"Greg Hawkes' Mustache" is the name of my next band.

[@ip0d]

Love love the guitars on this version. The most underrated Cars song.

[@capncrush6729]

Takes me back in time 😭

[@cycleguy1943]

One of the all time greatest bands of the70- 80’s for sure….👍

[@jameshodgin3660]

Each instrument is crisp and pure

[@jamesw.scarber4924]

Perfect soundtrack for my teen years ....60 now ...the cars were my first solo show to see ....Dallas ,Texas 78' ....the motels were the openers ...I had brought some refer with me in the bottom of my binocular case ....I had some older folks to buy my beers ..incredible show ...brother dropped me off at the door ..came back three hours later ...before cell phones....before auto tune kiddies ....

[@slshusker]

The CARS showed up with a new range of sounds for tunes.

[@donatocongialdi4811]

One of my favorite bands....just even more incredible listening with headphones. You hear each instrument crystal clear....their production was top notch !

[@mikekaz-x2m]

Agreed 100% with the comment below. One of the best rock tunes ever!

[@DrBlood-cq2cm]

The memories come flooding back.

[@mikezenda3740]

One of the Greatest Bands of all time

[@t.o.408]

First time hearing this version. I think I like it more than the album version. Check that, I know I like this version better, and this was already a top 5 Cars song for me. Those guitars!

[@mrBDeye]

Great music. The 70s was the best time to be a kid. ❤️ listening to the radio and cassette tapes.

[@gooddognigel9992]

What about 8 Tracks?!

[@wendellbarrett7752]

He was an amazing singer, always enjoyed listening to him ❤

[@thomasmurphy9348]

This is better than the studio version..the guitars are up in the mix..Orr's voice is great..as usual. Miss them much.

[@pauls5096]

I love demos and stripped down versions of songs. Only thing missing on this is Ben's voice inflections that are present on the album version and of course, backing vocals. Great stuff though.

[@megatoneamps]

too bad the solo is not there...

[@jbeav3902]

The guitar is raw

[@anakina1]

The band that brought the 80s in the 70s. Gotta love the cars.

[@roberthijar4793]

I love the album version with that amazing guitar solo. My favorite Cars song since 1980. I love these guys.

[@artyanthony1682]

Benjamin Orr ❤

[@carfvallrightsreservedwith6649]

1981, being 19, Arkansas country boy, stationed in Las Vegas (Nellis AFB) Nv.

[@davidwestcott3383]

1981, being 19, Baltimore City Boy, stationed in New York (Griffiss AFB).

[@myrrhavm]

The Cars. One of few bands that has that lay on the bed or couch and stare at the ceiling sound while listening to the whole record.

[@Janine-x1j]

YES!!💢💢💥

[@susanconnelly6915]

In the 7th grade in the Philly area we had a substitute teacher who was from Boston. She played us the first Cars album when it came out on a record player from the AV department. Told us this would be the best band of the next 10 years. Boy was she right. Fell in love with the Cars that day and they're still my favorite 47 years later.

[@tomdecuca3627]

I remember when these guys first hit back in the late 70s. They were so good at what they did! They had their own original style. Great artists. Real artists!!

[@gregcorner1041]

“Underrated guitarist” gets thrown around very loosely. But Elliot Easton truly was. I did miss his great solo on this demo, that obviously came later in the recording session.

[@thevoiceman6192]

R.I.P. Ben and Ric

[@noelwarner1235]

Ben was know for his vocals but wow he could really play that bass with a pick like no one I had ever seen.His bass was a big part of their sound.

[@stanpatterson5033]

Anthony Jackson is also pretty handy with a pick on a bass guitar. So damn good, he got was given a writing credit for contributing the "hook" to the song "For The Love Of Money" (by the O'Jays). Huff and Gamble felt the song wouldn't have been what it became if not for Jackson's work.

[@sqd37l]

Ben sure could sing!

[@tylerrjohnson68]

I like this better than the album version. You can really hear the lead guitar on this one

[@julenepegher6999]

Fantastic song by my beloved Cars❤

[@Guitarzzzzzzz173]

Love Ben's voice! That was what struck me the most, the first time I ever heard The Cars in 1978.

[@FischerRestoration]

I was 17 in 79 and my hot little blonde girlfriend Becky was totally into the Cars. We always had the volume turned up high, especially this song on the 8 track stereo in my 67 Camaro .. those days were magical

[@Dreamstalker8002]

Yes yes!! Also 17 in '79, except my girl was a redhead and I had a '76 Cutlass

[@govinda102000]

They were my cruising band in my Buick big block in the 70s.

[@danmercado2771]

Ben was the coolest!

[@duron700r]

That's a heck of a demo tape! Those guys were just excellent. My friends and I all had at least 2 albums on cassette and we wore them out! Thank you!

[@gooddognigel9992]

I remember when this song came on the radio in 1979. I was sitting on the school bus enjoying this song, while one of my classmates made fun of it. It’s a great song imo

[@66limelight]

When I was in school some of the music I was into wasn't what any of my friends liked. Your comment about one of your classmates making fun of that song reminded me of that. In Jr High our band room had a really nice hi fi and sometimes some of us would bring a record to play. I brought my brother's ELO Out Of The Blue album and nobody liked it! They just didn't appreciate good music. Our band was on the bus heading to a basketball game and one of my friends had a Cars cassette in his boom box. That was my first introduction to them and liked them immediately. Let the Good Times Roll and Just What I Needed were ear candy to me.

[@valensinclair6750]

A staple of my jr. high years in the late 70s.

[@kevind8752]

Might be my favorite Cars song. Have their albums.

[@YouCanCallMeDon]

My first job, working at a diner as a bus boy. They had those JukeBoxes on each booth... you pay the quarter and select a few tunes and it gets played throughout the diner. And this was how I discovered The Cars (and other bands at the time). If I recall, late 1979 or thereabouts. A great time to grow up with all the music. We were really spoiled. I mean, we all the Zep, Pink Floyd, all that type of stuff, but the pop music was really great too. Michael Jackson, Bee Gees, Chic, AC DC, Van Halen, and did I mention the really good pop music... endless. To me, The Cars were first of a new style of music.. that New Wave music thing, and they really set the tone for what would follow in the 80s.

[@iracer9395]

The first two Cars albums were both brilliant. Every single song on both albums was fantastic and the production work was pure genius. Two of the best complete albums ever realeased.

[@pagit69]

Their debut album could also be called "The Best Of The Cars volume1" Sounds strange without Elliott Easton's great solo in the final product.

[@pattii55]

Then when MTV came along and Ric decided to sing all the potential hits himself and gave Ben the weak leftovers, the downhill slide began. Except for “Drive” which Ric’s vocal range could not do so had to have Ben sing it. I think some of their later songs would have charted higher if he’d let Ben sing some of them.

[@Rottingboards]

Just became a teenager and got to go cruising with my older brothers in their muscle car. This song was playing on our small town radio station. I have loved The Cars for over 45 years. 🙂

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

❤❤❤ICONS FOREVER ❤❤❤

[@jefff6167]

RIP Ben and Ric. Thank-you for the wonderful songs.

[@brianhuffstetler360]

That four beat drum fill right into each chorus makes that song. Glad David stayed with that.

[@DP-wi6hm]

Still love the Cars......After all these years. Great band, great music.

[@briangarza7532]

The song writing, lyrics is what separated the cars from all other bands. Unbelievable!!!