With their campy groundbreaking videos and catchy songs, The Cars emerged from the late-1970s/early-1980s New Wave movement to become one of America's best selling musical acts. This Boston band led by Ric Ocasek scored thirteen Billboard Top 40 hits from 1978 to 1987 with thinly-veiled sexual innuendo songs like "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," "Drive," and "Tonight She Comes."

Formed in 1976 out of the ashes of various local Boston bands, including the Jonathan Richman-fronted Modern Lovers, The Cars landed a major label deal with Elektra after a demo of "Just What I Needed" became a hit on local Boston radio stations. The group consisted of Ric Ocasek on vocals and guitar, Ben Orr handling vocals and bass duties, Elliot Easton on guitar, Greg Hawkes playing keyboards and former Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson behind the drum kit. The Cars' aesthetic jumping-off point fell somewhere between...