The Cars "The Cars"

"The Cars", the first album by the American rock band of the same name, was released on June 6, 1978, on Elektra Records. The album, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, includes popular singles like "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Good Times Roll". The album reached number 18 on the US Billboard 200 and received six platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The band was formed in Boston in 1976 and consisted of members Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, David Robinson, and Greg Hawkes. They had previously been in and out of various bands throughout the 1970s. After gaining popularity in local clubs, the band recorded several demos in early 1977, some of which ended up on The Cars album, such as "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl". Other songs, like "Leave or Stay" and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo", were saved for a later album release.

The demos for "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" received frequent airplay on Boston radio by DJ Maxanne Sartori, which helped increase the band's popularity. Both Arista and Elektra were interested in signing the band, but Elektra was ultimately chosen because they lacked other new wave acts, allowing the band to stand out more. David Robinson explained that the choice was made because Elektra already had successful acts like the Eagles and Jackson Browne, and they saw the band as a unique addition with their black-and-white photo collage on the album cover.