Already darlings of the New Wave era and known for a string of hits like "Just What I Needed," Good Times Roll", and "Let's Go," 1984 proved to be the commercial peak for Boston's The Cars with the release of their Heartbeat City album. Produced by Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard), the album had become one of the biggest of the year, reaching #3 on the album charts and spinning of a quartet of hits including "You Might Think," "Magic," "Drive," and "Hello Again." Their dominance of radio included pop, rock, and even adult contemporary stations and wasn't limited to the singles as several album cuts also received airplay. The success was the result of a seamless collection of ear candy and the band embracing the video age with clips that became some of MTV's favorites.

In March of 1985, the band managed to pull one final track from Heartbeat City and notch a fifth Top 40 hit with "Why Can't I Have You." The mid-tempo love song might not have matched the artistic heights of the album's other hit ballad "Drive," but the simple song of longing possessed its own charms. Permeated by a sense of melancholy and featuring an angst-filled vocal by lead singer Ric Ocasek, the song reached #33 and brought a close to the most successful chapter of The Cars' career.

The band would release only one more studio album, 1987's fairly weak Door To Door before splitting up shortly thereafter. Although reunion talks would occasionally be rumored, the chance for one involving the original members was lost with the passing of keyboardist/singer Ben Orr (who sang lead on "Drive") in 2000.

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