Just What I Needed

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"Just What I Needed"
"Just What I Needed" cover
Single by The Cars
from the album The Cars
Released 1978
Genre New Wave
Length 3:46
Label Elektra Records
Writer(s) Ric Ocasek
Producer(s) Roy Thomas Baker

Just What I Needed is a song by the band The Cars on their self-titled album in 1978 on Elektra Records. It is the official advertising song for Circuit City. Just What I Needed is sung by The Cars' bass player Benjamin Orr, not Ric Ocasek, their usual lead singer. The song peaked 17 in the UK and 27 in the US. This song first appeared in 1977 on a Boston radio station, WBCN, as a demo tape for The Cars. Shortly after it became the radio's most requested song.

[edit] In the media

  • Played in the 1979 film Over the Edge.
  • Played at the 1985 benefit concert Live Aid.
  • Played in the 1999 film Boys Don't Cry.
  • Covered by Sister Hazel on their 2004 album Lift.
  • Played in the 2005 film Sky High.
  • The lyrics "Just what I needed, something to set me free" are present in the song 'Secret Agent' by Australian band 'The Lost Gospel'.
  • Played in various Circuit City commercials in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
  • The song, "B.O.Y." samples the opening guitar riff on Jessica Simpson's album A Public Affair.