Album of the Day

The Cars had four hit albums in the trunk when the group took a short hiatus to accommodate solo projects; they reconvened in London to cut their fifth album, HEARTBEAT CITY, with producer Robert “Mutt” Lange. The time off was just what they needed, and the collection broadens the quintet's classic rock and new wave hybrid to include moody and atmospheric tracks like “Drive.” Released on this day in 1984, the poignant ballad reached the Top 10 and showed The Cars were still eager to explore new territory. With inventive videos for “You Might Think,” “Magic” and “Hello Again” in heavy rotation on MTV, HEARTBEAT CITY wound up being The Cars' biggest seller ever (and, along with their debut, the group's most critically acclaimed).