Just What I Needed

Song written by Ric Ocasek.

The Cars version

‘Just what I needed’ was recorded by The Cars on their self-titled debut album, released in 1978. Sung by the band’s bass player Benjamin Orr, the song was released as a single and peaked at number 17 in the UK singles chart.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘Just what I needed’ for her 2011 album Snapshots.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Just what I needed’: the album version and the rough demo mix included on the promotion cd for the album.

Live performances

‘Just what I needed’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 only.

Kim about ‘Just what I needed’

‘Just what I needed’ was recorded by the Cars, released in 1978. I was 18, increasingly getting into pop music. I loved the punk rock scene but I loved the sort of post-punk, new wave kind of scene. The Cars were in that sort of genre, post-punk, new wave, definitely rock and roll, and very pop. So they seemed to combine all the elements of music that I loved the most. And this song I just, I just loved Ben Orr’s vocals and his beautiful face. It was just a few years before I started recording myself, so they were a huge influence, not just on myself but on my brother, Ricky Wilde. (1)

Credits

Drums: Paul Kaiser
Guitars: Ricky Wilde
Additional vocals by Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Alex Rethwisch
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde
Drums recorded by Manfred Faust @ Gaga Studio, Hamburg

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

I don’t mind you coming here
and wasting all my time
’cause when you’re standing oh so near
I kinda lose my mind

It’s not the perfume that you wear
It’s not the ribbons in your hair
I don’t mind you coming here
and wasting all my time

I don’t mind you hanging out
and talking in your sleep
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been
As long as it was deep

You always knew to wear it well
You look so fancy i can tell
I don’t mind you hanging out
and talking in your sleep

I guess you’re just what i needed
I needed someone to feed
I guess guess you’re just what i needed
I needed someone to bleed