Album of the Day

The Cars had been on cruise control for a couple of years when they traveled to London to cut their fifth album, HEARTBEAT CITY, with producer Robert “Mutt” Lange. An effort to stretch out beyond the upbeat new wave for which they were known, the 1984 collection showed the band could be moody and atmospheric on such songs as the title track and the Top 10 ballad “Drive,” sung by bassist Benjamin Orr. The Cars also shook things up on MTV with inventive videos for “You Might Think,” “Magic” and “Hello Again” helping drive the album to #3 on the Billboard chart. HEARTBEAT CITY wound up being The Cars' biggest seller ever (and, along with their debut, the group's most critically acclaimed). It's an ideal way to remember Orr, who was born on this day in 1947.