"Why Can't I Have You" is a song by American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band

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

from their fifth studio album, ''

Heartbeat City ''Heartbeat City'' is the fifth studio album by American New wave music, new wave band the Cars, released on March 12, 1984, by Elektra Records. This marks the band's first album not produced by long-time producer Roy Thomas Baker, instead opti ...

'' (1984). It was released on January 7, 1985, as the album's fifth single. Written by

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

, the song is a lush ballad.

Release

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' reviewed the single, saying that "this moody piece of peculiarly American synth-pop is pure Ric Ocasek: broken romance lyrics, angular musical backing and a handful of melodic hooks." Although it did not reach the top 20 like its four predecessors, "Why Can't I Have You" managed to reach number 33 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, as well as number 11 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. The song was the final single from ''Heartbeat City'' released in the United States; in the United Kingdom, however, a sixth single, "

", was released after "Why Can't I Have You". It was also the final Heartbeat City video, and achieved Power Rotation on MTV.Billboard, MTV Programming, February 23, 1985
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B-side

The B-side of "Why Can't I Have You" was the non-album track "Breakaway", described as having " Euro-disco undertones" in the liner notes of '' Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology'' (1995).

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1984 songs 1985 singles 1980s ballads The Cars songs Elektra Records singles New wave ballads Song recordings produced by Ric Ocasek Song recordings produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange Songs written by Ric Ocasek