Strap Me In

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew is spinning a classic for you today with "Strap Me In" by The Cars, a track from their 1987 album Door to Door. This song’s got that signature Cars vibe—sleek, moody, and dripping with new wave cool. Fun fact: "Strap Me In" was one of the last singles released before the band’s initial breakup in 1988. According to a 1987 interview in Rolling Stone, Ric Ocasek described the track as a metaphor for buckling up for life’s wild ride, with its driving beat and edgy guitar riffs mirroring the tension of being strapped into something intense. The music video, which you can still find floating around on YouTube, features the band in a stark, industrial setting, with Ocasek’s detached vocal delivery stealing the show. Fans on X have recently shared how the song’s raw energy still feels like a late-night cruise through neon-lit streets, with one user calling it “the ultimate underrated Cars gem.”

Another tidbit comes from drummer David Robinson, who mentioned in a 1987 Billboard interview that the recording sessions for Door to Door were intense, as the band was grappling with creative differences. Despite this, "Strap Me In" stands out for its polished production and Elliot Easton’s killer guitar solo, which he improvised in one take, according to a fan post on the The Cars Fan Club group on Facebook. The song peaked at #85 on the Billboard Hot 100, but its cult following among Zoo Freaks and new wave diehards keeps it alive. A cool piece of trivia: the song’s title was almost "Buckle Up," but Ocasek pushed for the edgier "Strap Me In" to give it that extra bite, as noted in a fan discussion on CarsFanzine.com.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Cars got their start. Formed in Boston in 1976, the band came together when Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, who’d been playing music together since the late ‘60s in various groups, teamed up with Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, and David Robinson. Their early days were spent grinding it out in Boston’s club scene, where their tight, radio-friendly sound caught the ear of local DJs. By 1977, their demo of "Just What I Needed" was getting heavy airplay on Boston radio, leading to a deal with Elektra Records. Their self-titled debut album in 1978 was a smash, blending punk’s raw edge with pop sensibilities and new wave’s synth-driven polish. Ocasek’s quirky songwriting and the band’s knack for catchy hooks made them a defining act of the era, as detailed in their bio on TheCarsOfficial.com.

The Cars’ influence is still felt today, with fans keeping the love alive across social media. You can follow them on Facebook, where they share throwback photos and tour memories, or on Instagram for rare behind-the-scenes shots. Their X account posts updates on reissues and fan events, while the The Cars Fan Club on Facebook is a great spot for Zoo Freaks to connect and swap stories. For deeper dives, check out CarsFanzine.com, a fan-run site packed with discographies, interviews, and memorabilia. So, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO, and let "Strap Me In" take you for a ride!