"Victim of Love" is a song by the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

new wave band

the Cars The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek ( rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), ...

, appearing on their fourth studio album, ''

Shake It Up Shake It Up may refer to: * ''Shake It Up'' (Boney James & Rick Braun album), 2000 * ''Shake It Up'' (The Cars album), 1981 ** "Shake It Up" (The Cars song), the title song * "Shake It Up" (Divine song), 1983 * "Shake It Up" (Koda Kumi song), ...

''. It was written by

Ric Ocasek Richard Theodore Otcasek (March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019), known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock ...

Release and reception

"Victim of Love" was first released on ''Shake It Up'' in November 1981. However, in June the next year, it was released as the third American single from ''Shake It Up'' (the first two being "

" and "

Since You're Gone "Since You're Gone" is a song by the American rock band the Cars. It was released as the second single from their fourth album, '' Shake It Up''. Composition "Since You're Gone" is a power ballad about the breakup of a relationship. AllMusic cri ...

"). Although the song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it hit #39 on the

Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent the middle ground between classic rock and active rock ...

chart. The single was not released in Britain; another track from ''Shake It Up'', "

Think It Over "Think It Over" is a rock-and-roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty in 1958, originally recorded by the Crickets. Vi Petty, Norman Petty's wife, played piano on this recording. Chart performance In the US, "Think I ...

", was released as a single instead.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

critic Greg Prato described the track as "pop-oriented" and listed it as one of "many lesser-known album tracks

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

prove to be highlights n ''Shake It Up''"

B-side

The B-side of "Victim of Love" is the

Greg Hawkes Gregory A. Hawkes (born October 22, 1952) is an American musician best known as the keyboardist for the rock band The Cars. Hawkes, a native of Fulton, Maryland, United States, attended Atholton High School where he played in a band called Teeth ...

-Ric Ocasek written track, "This Could Be Love". The song appeared on the second side of the ''Shake It Up'' album.

Charts

References

{{The Cars singles 1981 songs 1982 singles The Cars songs Songs written by Ric Ocasek Song recordings produced by Roy Thomas Baker Elektra Records singles