Cars

Cars is the title of a song written, recorded and released by British recording artist Gary Numan. It was his first and only no.1 singlke as a solo artist although he had also hit the top in the Uk earlier in the year with Are Friends Electric? released by Tubeway Army.

Single release
The track was the first that Numan released under his own name, previous recordings having been released as Tubeway Army. Cars had been included in Tubeway Army's second Peel session recorded in May 1979 and first broadcast on Peel's radio show on 25 June 1979. The session featured a further three tracks which together with Cars would appear on Numan's debut solo album The Pleasure Principle.

The B-side Asylum was another new track although did not feature on The Pleasure Principle. It was later included on Cd re-releases of the album

Chart performance
The single went to no.1 in September 1979 on the fourth week in the UK charts (Numan's debut album also went straight to no.1 in the same week). The single remained at the top for just one week, usurped by Message in a Bottle by The Police.

Tracklisting
7" Beggars Banquet BEG 23

A. Cars

B. Asylum
 * A 12" version with identical tracks was released in Germany. 

Live versions

 * Several live versions of Cars have been recorded and officially released by Numan, starting from the Living Ornaments '79 album originally issued in 1981, which showcased the artists first solo tour. Similarly live performances of the song were included on Living Ornaments '80 (expanded version, 2005) and Living Ornaments '81 (1998). Cars features on almost all of Numan's many live albums released over the years.
 * Numan made a surprise appearance as guest vocalist with American band Nine Inch Nails during some gigs on the group's 2009 tour, performing Cars and Metal from The Pleasure Principle. NIN's lead singer Trent Reznor announced "When I was an artist shaping my sound, this man very was influential and it’s my honour to introduce him tonight".