Shake It Up (The Cars album)

Shake It Up is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Cars, released in 1981. 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 their first Billboard top ten hit.

For the 2001 compilation album, see Shake It Up & Other Hits.

Shake It Up
Studio album by the Cars
Released	November 6, 1981
Recorded	1981
Studio	Syncro Sound Studios (Boston, MA).
Genre	New wave, dance-rock
Length	40:42
Label	Elektra
Producer	Roy Thomas Baker
The Cars chronology
Panorama (1980) Shake It Up (1981) Heartbeat City (1984)
Singles from Shake It Up
"Shake It Up" Released: November 9, 1981 "Since You're Gone" Released: 1982 "Victim of Love" Released: 1982 (US) "Think It Over" Released: 1982 (UK)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B[2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek, except where noted.

Side one

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

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Vocals	Length
6.	"A Dream Away"		Ocasek	5:44
7.	"This Could Be Love"	Greg Hawkes, Ocasek	Orr	4:26
8.	"Think It Over"		Orr	4:56
9.	"Maybe Baby"		Ocasek	5:04

2018 reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Vocals	Length
10.	"Since You're Gone" (early version)		Ocasek	5:57
11.	"Shake It Up" (demo)		Ocasek/Orr	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

• Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar, lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9)
• Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Greg Hawkes – keyboards, backing vocals
• Benjamin Orr – bass guitar, lead vocals (5, 7, 8)
• David Robinson – drums, percussion

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, NY).
• David Robinson – cover design
• Clint Clemens – photography
• Elliot Roberts – management
• Stan Berkowitz – management

Charts

Album

Chart (1981–1982)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart (Kent Music Report)[3]	20
US Billboard 200[4]	9

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1981	"Shake It Up"	Billboard Hot 100[5]	4
1982	"Shake It Up"/"Cruiser"	Billboard Club Play Singles[6]	14
1982	"Shake It Up"	Billboard Mainstream Rock[7]	2
1982	"Cruiser"	Billboard Mainstream Rock[7]	37
1982	"Since You're Gone"	Billboard Mainstream Rock[7]	24
1982	"Since You're Gone"	Billboard Hot 100[5]	41
1982	"Think It Over"	Billboard Mainstream Rock[7]	41
1982	"Victim of Love"	Billboard Mainstream Rock[7]	39

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
United States (RIAA)[8]	2× Platinum	December 17, 2001

External links

• "Shake It Up" at Discogs

References

1. Shake It Up at AllMusic
2. Robert Christgau rock critic
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "The Cars Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
5. "The Cars Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
6. "The Cars Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
7. "The Cars Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
8. "American certifications – Cars – Shake It Up". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 19, 2019.