The Dangerous Type - The Cars | The Midnight Special

[@Downhuman74]

As popular and revered as The Cars always were, I feel that only recently have people begun to understand just how good they really were. That first album is a bona-fide masterpiece of rock n' roll genius.

[@eric_in_florida]

It sure is. Not a skip song in the whole bunch.

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

Their first album was a gem but Candy O album wasn’t even a let down. You knew they were on to something. I don’t know what it is but their Panorama album is my favorite.

[@davidkost418]

The first time I heard LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL was a game changer - went and bought the album and it was soo different and good - they had such a unique sound! Loved the CANDY O album also!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I’ve known and loved them since they dropped their first 2 fantastic albums. Saw them in ‘79 at their beginnings, a great memory!

[@eugenefirebird8938]

Nah we knew in 1978.

[@demonicsweaters]

The Cars were the coolest rock band in history

[@humanactivated1017]

I don’t get the name though ‘ The Cars ‘? Doesn’t make sense

[@mournblade1066]

@@humanactivated1017 The drummer, David Robinson, came up with the name and the logo. He wanted something short and simple, something people would easily remember, like The Doors.

[@timregan1005]

@@humanactivated1017 it isn't supposed to. relax your brain

[@ThrillingTwo]

Can't argue with that.

[@richalderson6069]

The Cars were one of those bands that had the perfect chemistry, every member had a special contribution yet they were much more than the sum of its parts.

[@Torgo1969]

Well stated.

[@mournblade1066]

I might be in the minority here, but I absolutely LOVE the audience clapping along. This is how an audience SHOULD react.

[@Scottocaster6668]

I agree. They were spot on too! 😆

[@NeilMiller-fw8zv]

Agree, and no cell phones...

[@TimEric4d3d3d3]

The Cars were so damn cool in this era, I guess I never noticed that much.

[@mournblade1066]

Ah, I see what you did there!

[@vap0rland]

@@mournblade1066 #metoo!

[@Torgo1969]

I guess you were out of touch!

[@BruceBurrier]

Nice play on words my friend 😀

[@infin8mas]

Elliot Easton's is the most underrated guitar player. I think one of the reason's is every member of the band on the first 2 album's performance is epic.

[@Frostheimer]

His stuff is so tasty and always in service of the song when we know he could just rip it. I love the short solo on “Candy-o.”

[@santiagobenites]

I agree about Elliot. The solo on Touch and Go is little piece of musical mastery..

[@Torgo1969]

I have heard that when he played the solo for "It's All I Can Do" for Ocasek the first time, Ric was struck by how good it was and he had no words and just stared blankly in amazement at Easton. Easton said, "I can try to make it better". If this story is true then it shows how humble Easton was and that can be a great trait for an artist to possess.

[@BruceBurrier]

January 2025. This is my favorite Cars song. The guitar work is insane. Especially Elliott Easton. Why isn't he on a top ten list of guitarists? I have a double disc CD that Rhino put out yesrs ago. It's in my car CD player and has been for over a month. And although I enjoy the entire CD, I am constantly hitting replay on this song. I'm 67.

[@AlanBrown-yg7rl]

These "Midnight Special" videos are the best, no crappy lip-synching and the musicians are actually making music!

[@kdrkdr5123]

Hell yes!! Agree like F

[@Downhuman74]

Depends on the era. In later seasons, they definitely started using backing tracks for some artists. You'll find two different occasions when REO performed Roll With The Changes. First time was completely live. Second one was not - Kevin's vocals were live while the rest of the band's parts were from the album version.

[@lesliemcculloch1590]

Yes, not like American bandstand!!! Such a treasure to be able to pull up all these live performances 😊

[@XRakkgruntX]

Those of us who lived as teens in the late 70’s and 80’s really got to see some of the greatest music and best of times. Let’s hope we never forget them

[@detectorgadget]

The cars were my first concert, 1978.

[@Luna-wv5zx]

Yes indeed!!! we had the best of times. This music takes us back like a Time Machine. Great time to be young ☄️☄️🌟✨🌪️🔥🌞🌙

[@TG-uj6yu]

It’s unrivaled. I was teen in the 90’s at the height of grunge…and all I wanted was to see was Pink Floyd, the Cars and Tom Petty

[@Skynyrdforever]

You said a mouthful.Those of us who were there understand just how great those times really were.

[@April-pw5ub]

I remember those great times. New Wave was beginning to hit, and there were so many great bands, Blondie, The Ramones, . You were ahead of the rest of the world if you knew about them.

[@TonyLovell]

This song is under-rated.

[@JonathanGill-iz5hb]

Elliott is one of my favorite guitarists. He actually writes his solos and they are very tasty. He is well recognized in the industry by his peers

[@beckiebuist803]

Berklee trained...he's one of the best in the business and any gtrist worth his salt knows this to be fact.

[@collectivismkills]

He’s like a Mike Campbell…great, understated guitarists who are eclipsed by their very charismatic frontmen.

[@mournblade1066]

Only The Cars were able to present themselves as totally awkward yet totally cool at the same time.

[@allisonreimers9411]

I got their first album in junior high. So amazing. The 70s and early 80s when you bought an album and all the songs flowed into each other and were perfect

[@gregoryduncan3067]

It didn't feel complete without this song.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Benjamin Orr looks like a “Dangerous Type” … hmmm … he’s all beefed up in the chest and guns 💪 😅 Love his Boots! Great songwriting Ric!

[@helainefossier]

Yes!!! He was a beautiful man for sure!!

[@FIGGY65]

@@helainefossier. A rather astute fan said that he “ was an Angel on assignment” and she was 110% spot on!

[@Torgo1969]

Yes. He looks huge in that shirt. Slavic Thunder in those guns.

[@musicsavage707]

Back when rock stars dressed like rock stars, leather pants and love those red boots Ben Orr is wearing, lol

[@Torgo1969]

I noticed those also! He looks huge in that tight shirt.

[@StephanieJeanne]

So rad! Ric had such a cool voice, too! I loved the camera angles, and I think this is the first time I've seen a cameraman right on the stage on this show! 🤩 Man, I miss them!❤️‍🔥💜

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

His vocal delivery was perfect for the lyrics. EE guitar outro on this song was brilliant too. It was perfect.

[@musicalSFCat]

Thank you for posting this very cool live version of "Dangerous Type" from The Cars '79 Midnight Special show.

[@hookipaboy3412]

The Cars were a big part of the soundtrack to my life as a teenager growing up in Hawaii🤙🏽

[@RobertPeterson-d2o]

Elliot was their Secret Weapon, Berklee in Massachusetts Graduate 😊

[@krisschedler]

I played the Cars first album for my teen son on a road trip 4 years ago and he went totally ape shit over it, blasted it many times during that trip, every time he took the wheel that album was queued up!!

[@flavellinator]

This album was one of a kind... It just had its own beat

[@gregdolecki8530]

One of their best songs.

[@dianahohimer1107]

Still feeling the love Midnight Special! ❤

[@Fordham81]

1978- Palladium, NYC Cars opening for Cheap Trick. What a show

[@trixie898989]

One of the greatest and most expensive bands I've ever listened to 😍😂 8-tracks to cassettes to cd's to mp3 (back in the day). The Cars sound will never grow old!

[@tomt.3089]

True Rockstars! Simple, yet mysterious all doing their parts/great sound and musical construction. Faces of people we’re never going to see bands like this again! Soak it in and be glad we can still enjoy these times!❤

[@P51]

Bang a gong, get it on!

[@delmedeiros3570]

I thought and heard the same thing as you.

[@zookytar]

He also works in a "Psycho Killer" reference there too. Never realized the boogie woogie connection between these songs until now 😮

[@markt4605]

Another classic. Love these live performances! Takes me back.

[@josefinagarza241]

They're great o love sessions

[@pmccachren]

Unique band with a great sound. Will never be duplicated.

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

Great performance and I love the lyrics. 🎶 Oh inside angel, always upset Keeps on forgettin' that we ever met Can I bring you out in the light My curiosity's got me tonight 🎶 The clapping is to much though

[@MovingBlanketStudio]

The older I get, the more I like The Cars. Yeah.

[@BruceBurrier]

My curiosity got me tonight. YEAH

[@lorenarojas4504]

Oh gosh ! Thanks for uploading this ! Absolutely fantastic! One of my all time favorite songs !!!! Just awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@chiappettamark]

Elliot E is definitely restrained in all The Cars songs, which is fantastic. Really enjoy how The Cars had the Keyboard fella be the secret weapon to their sound. Ben Orr being a singing Bass Player can easily soak the attention, yet Ben also showed great restraint which let band shine as a whole musical interplay.

[@Skynyrdforever]

The Cars were an incredible band right out of the gate. Loved their music from the start. Used to blow the windows out of my '74 Dodge Demon. Every time I hear their music it brings back some great memories. Thank you to the Cars for what you added to my life.

[@Torgo1969]

Right out of the gate, indeed. 6 out of the 9 songs on the debut album got major airplay all thru the 1980s. Incredible debut. Rivaled perhaps by Boston's first album as the best debut album ever, IMHO.

[@bradleytygard3593]

The Cars were simply Bad-Ass!

[@Iceveign]

they always sound just like their albums when playing live. Bravo

[@ralphnewcomejr]

That's the sign of a TRUELY talented band!!!!!

[@jkmsaturn]

Along with Fleetwood Mac, The Cars were the best band since I was in High School (over the past 45 years). Their work will far outlive them. With each re-released video their legend grows to a new generation.

[@matthewneufeld8854]

I just discovered this song and I can not say how many times I have listened to it. Man this live version is just a banger.

[@Hutsonville78]

As time passes, world figuring out how good these guys truly were. Lucky to grow with them on my 8-tracks.

[@FenderBassDave]

Ya, I remember running out to buy them on 8 track too. 💯

[@tootallbob]

I had them on 8-track too but I got my Pioneer SuperTuner stolen out of my car, so I switched to cassette and had to buy all my albums all over again! What a great era!

[@ThrillingTwo]

BTW the drums are perfect in Cars songs too!

[@hollywoodrock1224]

Simple and perfect.

[@DPhasely]

One of the best American rock and roll bands of all time.

[@DP-wi6hm]

Awesome band,awesome song. Each band member super talents.

[@Dirthog.722racing]

They sounded so clean live, I miss them and these times.

[@drumhd1]

The effing cars were freakin amazing!!

[@danielkatzel895]

mechanical, yet smooth & dreamy - they were the essence of really good new wave - even at the time , i realized this would become some of the coolest stuff ever recorded - r.i.p. rick & benji...

[@HighVelocityRips]

Oh we knew how good they were- when you have unbelievable albums coming out every week by great bands it’s hard to pick one band

[@destinationx4176]

Elliot Easton under rated, The Cars were simply amazing. What a great catalog they left us to enjoy!

[@larryflanagan8799]

Got to see the Cars 1981? Oklahoma City. The Motels opened for them. Great show.

[@jkmsaturn]

Such a great group. Don’t hear of much animosity between members. Unique, yet equally talented.

[@mhausenfluck]

A phenomenal band. I'm sad that I never saw them live.

[@jossyknight2083]

Wow! The public's reaction gives me chills! You did it again The Midnight Special! Thank you very, very much for this amazing performance of The Cars!!! They are simply the best!!! I love them!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@drumhd1]

Great songs and Damn were they great live!

[@quinnhen2325]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Cars!!!!!!!

[@anz2441]

They created a sound that's unmatched !

[@fishingchance]

My favorite and of all time.😊

[@FrankBishop-vn2if]

One of my favorite bands growing up the cars

[@penelopepitstop6731]

I looked at the title and didn't recall the song title, but I remember this song on the cassette tape and I enjoyed it, don't think I've heard it in over 40 years, thanks!

[@mournblade1066]

Yep, it's the final track on their second album, _Candy-O_ .

[@lovebuzz1979]

Thank you for posting Love The Cars❤❤

[@spauldee886]

Going into the synthesizer and guitar riffs just after the 1st two chorus are brilliant.

[@mournblade1066]

Probably my favorite song of theirs. And this sounds great, too!

[@DesrochersBob]

Here I am, pushing 75, and I still feel like I’m late 20’s when listening to this tune. Ric had such a perfect power pop punk voice, quirky but added the right vibe to the tune. Ben had those androgynous good looks, mysterious, perfect for a co-frontman. Elliott just ripped the shit out of his leads, David was solid foundation and Greg played “the riff” that you traced throughout the song. FYI, listen the the Letters To Cleo version of this song, as they do it Justice! RIP Ric and Ben.!

[@loucyphers_nightmare]

Loved watching this show every weekend

[@Torgo1969]

As always with The Cars, everybody shines.

[@drm54321]

I love how raw this is!!! Rock n roll forever!!!!

[@arcade85_]

Big fan. It warms my heart to see Elliot on a tele while Ric is on a Les Paul Jr: each a rare sighting. 4/4 audience clapping didn't detract too much on this number.

[@ОлегЕмельянов-и6э]

Охуительно!!!🤝

[@gregoryrekitt9375]

The Midnight Special was so awesome! I remember sitting in my basement watching with my older sisters. Great memories and great bands! There is nothing on tv nowadays that can even come close!

[@kobbetop]

What makes this version great is Elliot’s guitar and how it’s tuned to be a tad louder than on the record. The guitar is almost like a solo in between the vocals. Perfection.

[@GregoryRivera-bt7zc]

Didn't realize how many songs Benjamin actually sang....growing up listening to the Cars I just always thought Rick sang all the songs except for Drive....love the band

[@DylanWhite-k5j]

Nice to see Greg help out with the percussion.

[@philipgeraci9253]

This sounds can’t be matched. The cars were too damn cool.

[@hojo70]

I remember walking across college campus with my Sony walkman cranking this album

[@gracegeek4678]

David tears it up on this song, camera doesn't hit him once.

[@rebeccawagner4167]

The Midnight Special, was the best place to catch the best groups around. You could always count on hearing classic rock and roll. You knew that it was going to be amazing. Then you would go to school and ask your friends if they watched the Midnight Special. Then we would discuss it and say what we thought about what group was on.

[@emptyemptiness8372]

In todays world of computers and samples i feel privileged to have grown up before that , we had rock n roll in all its artistic forms played by people, from Buddy Holly to Hardcore we had people playing instruments.

[@sash7551]

100% analog was the shit

[@petechilds788]

Elliot found the chorus pedal.. awesome. The definition of a band where each bandmates knew their parts perfectly and live they nail it and shine. I really miss this band, the first 2 albums were otherworldly in my view.

[@79tazman]

The Cars Rock they were a bad ass band

[@bimmarvinlim3804]

This Band is ahead of its time for making grooves that will make your body move to it.

[@woodch]

Not my favorite song by The Cars, but definitely my favorite performance of it. Those solos by Elliot! Holy smokes!

[@TG-uj6yu]

So smooth, so tight. Better live then the studio album

[@charlesjohnson1678]

What a great band needy and way cool too.

[@grantharrismusic]

I became an instant fan of the Cars after seeing them perform live late on night on Rock Arena which was a quirky classy music show broadcast on tha ABC out of Perth in Australia. Without a doubt the best performance of Best Friend’s Girlfriend that had to be seen in the moment to be appreciated because it will never be seen again. Sadly there is very little archival footage from the show that remains.

[@kaymart9887]

favorite cars song forsure

[@cunn9305]

45 years ago tonight .. my 13 year old self was most likely up late watching it ..... *sigh* 😔

[@monnybzar80]

✨⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨❤️🇧🇷Ever.

[@golfcoursemanager33]

some of my friends back in the day gave me crap about liking the cars.....they were still listening to led zep, kiss, the who, etc. I like those bands too, but I have been proven right. the cars' music more than stood the test of time.

[@phoenixjim0527]

Cool live version. Nice grit added into the guitar tones. Slightly uptempo. Slight but fun variations versus the album. And sure, clap along!

[@gantech]

There’s no question it was a masterpiece and if you live back in the late 70s and early 80s and you were a teenager or in your 20s it was perfect

[@philo240]

I was & it was.

[@iwantthe80sback59]

I was 20 when JWIN came out. My VERY first thought: the song that killed disco. ( I FN HATED disco but there was no escape from it for years).

[@johnfcronkrite]

They were truly the Masters of the lost genre of Popular Rock!

[@Merylstreep1949]

It's too bad that they never released any official live albums like KISS did😢

[@nise5281]

Sooo good!!

[@EdwardStack-j8f]

PERFECTION. PERIOD. 1978.

[@gogoyubari366]

A great song by a great band]!

[@RodneyRotten]

Greatest of the time,Still Greatest! Turn up the volume!!!

[@517bjh]

1979, I'm a freshman in high school and in a great little garage band. What a wonderful time in my life. We wanted to sound like the Cars so much, but we just weren't that good. Still, wouldn't change a thing! Benjamin Orr was the GOAT! I miss them.

[@philo240]

Amen, mate. These guys were one of the soundtracks of my high school years.

[@larryjex6485]

This takes me right back to the '70s!

[@franciscodiaz6026]

Live is the best!

[@MrRanggong]

Wow these are really well done videos. Thank!