Shake It Up (The Cars album)
1981 studio album by the Cars
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Shake It Up is the fourth studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on November 6, 1981, by Elektra Records. It was the last Cars record to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker. A much more pop-oriented album than its predecessor, its title-track became the band's first top ten single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Spin magazine included it on their "50 Best Albums of 1981" list.[1]
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| Shake It Up | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 6, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Studios | Syncro Sound (Boston, Massachusetts) | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 40:42 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
| The Cars chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Shake It Up | ||||
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Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [5] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[6] |
The Globe and Mail wrote that "Ric Ocasek and the boys have produced an understated and decidedly underwhelming package that makes no attempt to deviate from their patented, semi-robotic pop."[7] The Boston Globe deemed the album "a conservative, cautious work that breaks no new ground."[8] AllMusic critic Tim Sendra said, "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."[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Since You're Gone" | Ric Ocasek | 3:30 |
| 2. | "Shake It Up" | Ocasek | 3:32 |
| 3. | "I'm Not the One" | Ocasek | 4:12 |
| 4. | "Victim of Love" | Ocasek | 4:24 |
| 5. | "Cruiser" | Benjamin Orr | 4:54 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "A Dream Away" | Ocasek | 5:44 | |
| 7. | "This Could Be Love" |
| Orr | 4:26 |
| 8. | "Think It Over" | Orr | 4:56 | |
| 9. | "Maybe Baby" | Ocasek | 5:04 | |
| Total length: | 40:42 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Since You're Gone" (early version) | Ocasek | 5:57 | |
| 11. | "Shake It Up" (demo) |
| 4:10 | |
| 12. | "I'm Not the One" (1985 remix from Greatest Hits) | Ocasek | 4:10 | |
| 13. | "Cruiser" (early version) | Ocasek | 5:00 | |
| 14. | "Take It On the Run" (early version of "A Dream Away") | Ocasek | 6:19 | |
| 15. | "Coming Up You Again" (1981 version of "Coming Up You") | Ocasek | 5:22 | |
| 16. | "The Little Black Egg" (from Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology, 1995) | Chuck Conlon | Ocasek | 2:54 |
| 17. | "Midnight Dancer" (demo, previously unreleased) | Orr | 4:22 |
Personnel
The Cars
- Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Benjamin Orr – bass guitar, vocals
- David Robinson – drums, percussion
- Greg Hawkes – keyboards, backing vocals
Production
- The Cars – arrangements
- Roy Thomas Baker – producer
- Ian Taylor – recording
- Thom Moore – assistant engineer
- Walter Turbitt – assistant engineer
- George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
- David Robinson – cover design
- Clint Clemens – photography
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[17] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||