Shake It Up [Expanded Edition]

by The Cars

Overview

After the success of their first three albums, the Cars had enough money banked that they were able to build their own recording studio in Boston, and that's where they recorded their fourth album, 1981's Shake It Up. The new setup allowed the Cars more time to tinker with their sound, but also meant that much of the album was recorded in pieces by each member of the band, instead of them being in the same room. While it's not something that seems like an issue on the album's big hits, the pensive "Since You're Gone" and the timelessly silly title track, other songs on the record mostly sound a little lifeless and mechanical, filled with tinny drum machines, odd sound effects, and not much inspiration. "Cruiser" comes across as a pale version of a rocker from either of the first two albums, "This Could Be Love" is a monochromatic ballad, and "Think It Over" is a lesser version of "Shake It Up." The admittedly pretty ballad "I'm Not the One" barely sounds like the Cars; the electronic handclaps, massed backing vocals, and tinkling modern synths make it sound like adult contemporary daytime radio fodder, which is better than the sound they got on "A Dream Away," which sounds like a demo (half)-cooked up on super-cheap gear. Only "Maybe Baby," with its massive drum overdubs and spiraling guitar work, shows the band using the studio to its fullest, matching a strong song with inventive production. Apart from that song, and the two hits that kicked off the album like vintage Cars, the album is the sound of a band spinning its wheels. Coming after the middling success of Panorama, it's not surprising that they swung back toward something more familiar; it's just too bad they didn't have the songs or production savvy to make it work. [The 2018 reissue of the album features behind-the-scenes liner notes by drummer David Robinson and some interesting extras. Early versions of album tracks like "Since You're Gone" show how closely the band's early takes were to the finished product, the demo of "Shake It Up" is a fascinating glimpse of the usually tightly buttoned-up Ric Ocasek fooling around a little behind the mike, and the version of garage oddity "Little Black Egg" is goofy fun. A previously unreleased track, the Benjamin Orr-sung "Midnight Dancer," could have been a fine addition to the album and would have brought the overall quality of the disappointing record up a little.] ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	03/30/2018
Label:	Elektra / Rhino
UPC:	0603497862719
Rank:	41242

Tracks

1. Since You're Gone
2. Shake It Up
3. I'm Not the One
4. Victim of Love
5. Cruiser
6. A Dream Away
7. This Could Be Love
8. Think It Over
9. Maybe Baby
10. Since You're Gone [Early Version]
11. Shake It Up [Demo]
12. I'm Not the One [Remix]
13. Cruiser [Early Version]
14. Take It on the Run [Early Version of "A Dream Away"]
15. Coming Up You Again [1981 Version of "Coming Up You"]
16. Little Black Egg
17. Midnight Dancer

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Cars   Primary Artist
Benjamin Orr   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Greg Hawkes   Vocals,Keyboards
Elliot Easton   Guitar,Vocals
Ric Ocasek   Guitar,Vocals
David Robinson   Drums,Vocals

Technical Credits

Ian Taylor   Engineer
Greg Hawkes   Composer
Walter Turbitt   Assistant Engineer
Roy Baker   Producer
Roy Thomas Baker   Producer
George Marino   Mastering
Thom Moore   Assistant Engineer
Ric Ocasek   Composer,Lyricist
Chuck Conlon   Composer