My Best Friend’s Girl

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin the classic track "My Best Friend’s Girl" by The Cars from their iconic self-titled debut album. This song, released in October 1978, is packed with trivia that’ll make you love it even more. According to Ric Ocasek, the band’s frontman, the lyrics weren’t drawn from personal drama but were inspired by a universal experience: “I just figured having a girlfriend stolen was probably something that happened to a lot of people,” he told the Wall Street Journal. The song’s demo, recorded in Ocasek’s Boston home studio, was so catchy that Boston DJ Maxanne Sartori played it on WBCN, sparking a flood of listener calls before the band even signed with Elektra Records. It became a smash, hitting number 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and climbing to number three in the UK, where it was released as the first commercially available picture disc single.

Another cool tidbit comes from guitarist Elliot Easton, who revealed the song’s rockabilly riff was inspired by The Beatles’ “I Will.” Easton told Rhino, “I played my solo on a new Fender Telecaster I had brought to London,” adding a joyful spark to the track. The song’s quirky lyrics, like “nuclear boots” and “drip-dry glove,” gave it a modern edge, blending ‘50s heartbreak vibes with new wave flair, as noted by Songfacts. Producer Roy Thomas Baker, known for his work with Queen, polished the track at George Martin’s AIR Studios, making it sound “beamed in from another planet,” according to Rhino. Fans on Reddit rave about its pop perfection, with one user calling it “a masterclass in virtuoso guitar playing in a pop context.”

The Cars formed in Boston in 1976, emerging from the vibrant new wave scene. Ric Ocasek (rhythm guitar and vocals), Benjamin Orr (bass and vocals), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), and David Robinson (drums) had all been in various bands throughout the ‘70s, honing their craft. Ocasek and Orr, the band’s core, started collaborating in the early ‘70s, playing in multiple projects before finalizing the lineup with Hawkes, Easton, and Robinson. Their big break came when demos for “Just What I Needed” and “My Best Friend’s Girl” caught fire on Boston radio, thanks to DJ Maxanne Sartori. Elektra Records snapped them up, drawn to their fresh sound that mixed punk minimalism, ‘50s rockabilly, and synth-pop, as described by critic Robert Palmer in The New York Times. Their debut album, released in June 1978, sold six million copies in the U.S., cementing their place as new wave pioneers.

Connect with The Cars and their legacy online. Visit their official website at thecars.org for news and history. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwback posts, like their 2020 tweet celebrating the 42nd anniversary of recording their debut album. Fans can dive deeper at sites like Best Friends Girl, a tribute band keeping The Cars’ music alive, or join discussions in fan communities on The Cars Fan Club on Facebook. Whether you’re a longtime Zoo Freak or new to the scene, crank up “My Best Friend’s Girl” and let The Cars’ timeless sound take you for a ride.