Let The Good Times Roll

 

The Cars - The Cars [MFSL 1-274 USA 2009 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

What's this....? A Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab release which is genuinely cut directly from original analogue tape. I know there have been hundreds of such releases over the decades, however after what has been a difficult year for the high-end label, I thought we would end 2022 with one of their best releases.

I was never really the biggest fan of The Cars, their self-titled debut album was recorded at AIR Studios in London in early 1978 and originally released on Elektra Records in June of that year. The album greatly benefits from the idea to send an American rock band to London to experience the British new wave scene and produced a couple of classic power-pop hit singles, the energetic Just What I Needed and My Best Friend's Girl.

It was a stroke of genius to ask British producer Roy Thomas Baker (Bowie, Stones, Queen, Stranglers etc) to deal with studio matters, his production is tight, crisp and powerful. This is not the same Cars sound which was in later years to produce softer-rock classics like Drive, this is a young band of musicians keen to find their feet during an ever evolving era of rock music. I especially love the sound of Greg Hawkes keyboards which fit nicely between the sounds of Dave Greenfield, Ray Manzarek and Dave Formula. Just listen to Bye Bye Love and you'll hear what I mean.

This MoFi release was pressed at RTI and sounds bloody fantastic. It has been cut quite quiet so will need some listener interaction with the volume control. Whack this one up folks, the sound stage fills the room without distortion and with a comfortably quiet noise floor.

A1 Good Times Roll

A2 My Best Friend's Girl

A3 Just What I Needed

A4 I'm In Touch With Your World

A5 Don't Cha Stop

B1 You're All I've Got Tonight

B2 Bye Bye Love

B3 Moving In Stereo

B4 All Mixed Up