"Dangerous Type" is a 1979 song by the Cars from their second studio album, Candy-O. It was written by Ric Ocasek.
| "Dangerous Type" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Cars | |
| from the album Candy-O | |
| Released | June 13, 1979 |
| Recorded | 1979 at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles |
| Genre | New wave, hard rock |
| Length | 4:28 |
| Label | Elektra |
| Songwriter(s) | Ric Ocasek |
| Producer(s) | Roy Thomas Baker |
| Candy-O track listing | |
11 tracks
| |
Background
editThe core guitar riff that "Dangerous Type" is centered on resembles the T. Rex song, "Bang a Gong".[1][2] The song features Ric Ocasek on lead vocals. AllMusic critic Tom Maginnis compared the song to "All Mixed Up", a track on The Cars' self-titled debut album, as they both were the final track on their respective albums, with both tracks "vamping on an upsweep of grand chord changes as the group's entire sonic palette eventually fills the tape to capacity for the big finish."[1]
Although "Dangerous Type" never was released as a single, the song has since become a fan favorite. It has appeared on numerous compilation albums, among them Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology and Complete Greatest Hits.
Reception
edit"Dangerous Type" has received positive reception from music critics. AllMusic critic Greg Prato said it was one of the "plenty of other standouts [besides "Let's Go" on Candy-O that] can be found" and cited the track as a highlight from Candy-O.[2] Tom Maginnis said, "'Dangerous Type' is the Cars' idea of a musical epic", and went on to say, "After the impossibly infectious leadoff single 'Let's Go,' 'Dangerous Type' would become the album's second-biggest hit."[1] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the Cars' 9th greatest song, praising the way "the sound of the drums, bass, keyboards, and guitar all blend together so nicely without losing their distinctive sounds."[3] In the Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology liner notes, Brett Milano said, "'Let's Go' and 'Dangerous Type' [stood] out as the best of [Ric] Ocasek's enigmatic-woman songs."[4] Rolling Stone rated it as one of the Cars' 17 essential songs, with critic Elias Leight saying that "Ocasek uses repetition for maximum impact" and "runs through the four-line hook 10 different times in four and a half minutes."[5]
Covers
edit- In 1996, Letters to Cleo recorded a cover of "Dangerous Type" for the movie, The Craft.
- The song was covered by Johnny Monaco for the tribute album Substitution Mass Confusion: A Tribute to The Cars.
Personnel
edit- Ric Ocasek: rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Benjamin Orr: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Elliot Easton: lead guitar, backing vocals
- Greg Hawkes: keyboards, backing vocals
- David Robinson: drums
References
edit- ^ a b c Maginnis, Tom. "Dangerous Type". allmusic.com.
- ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Candy-O". allmusic.com.
- ^ Kachejian, Brian (February 2024). "Top 10 Cars Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Milano, Brett. Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology. Rhino.
- ^ Dolan, Jon; Doyle,Patrick; Hiatt,Brian; Hoard, Christian; Leight, Elias; Sheffield, Rob; Shteamer, Hank (September 15, 2019). "The Cars' Ric Ocasek: 17 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-09-21.