Born Gary Anthony James Webb, Gary Numan first found fame in the mid-'70s with his band the Tubeway Army which combined a punk attitude and ethic with synthesized, electronic rock. Taking further inspiration from science fiction and glam fashion styles, the group became a sensation in the late '70s, scoring several hits in the UK. When Numan opted for a career under his own name, he quickly earned a global audience when the song "Cars" became a world-wide smash.

Lyrically "Cars" relies on a simple, repeated verse that also serves as the chorus, but it's hardly the words that made the song such a sensation. It's blend of synthesizer and live intrumentation combined to create an infectious dance-rock texture that still sounds rather futuristic today. Taken from the album The Pleasure Principle, "Cars" served as a bridge between the disco sound of the '70s and the burgeoning New Wave stylings of the early '80s while foreshadowing the explosion of electronic music nearly twenty years later.

Impossible to shake after hearing, "Cars" became Numan's one and only pop hit in the US, reaching #9 in June of 1980 while it topped the UK charts. Although Numan wouldn't have another US hit, he retained a devoted following, continuing to release albums and maintaining a presence on the UK charts. "Cars," meanwhile, has become one of the more beloved and fondly remembered hits of the era.

To hear this song, and many more hits from the '80s, log on to Pop Go The '80s

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