Beatitude (album)

Beatitude
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 3, 1983
StudioSyncro Sound (Boston, Massachusetts)
Genre
Length45:50
LabelGeffen
ProducerRic Ocasek
Ric Ocasek chronology
Beatitude
(1983)
This Side of Paradise
(1986)
Singles from Beatitude
  1. "Something to Grab For"
    Released: 1983
  2. "Jimmy Jimmy"
    Released: 1983
  3. "Connect Up to Me"
    Released: 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]

Beatitude is the debut solo studio album by Ric Ocasek, primary vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the American new wave band the Cars. It was released on January 3, 1983, by Geffen Records. It features contributions from Greg Hawkes of the Cars on keyboards, Stephen George of Ministry on drums, Fuzzbee Morse and Roger Greenawalt on guitars, as well as Jules Shear and Stephen Hague from Jules and the Polar Bears.

The album peaked at No. 28 on the U.S. Billboard 200 in spring of 1983.

Title

The Beatitudes (/biˈætɪtjud/) are eight or nine blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Here, the title is pronounced "beat-itude" (/ˈbtɪtjud/), a portmanteau of the words "beat" and "attitude", and pays homage to the 1950s–70s poetry magazine Beatitude, which featured work by poets including Allen Ginsberg. The 1997 Geffen CD issue of the album misprinted the title on the disc as "Beautitude".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ric Ocasek, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Jimmy Jimmy"4:57
2."Something to Grab For"3:43
3."Prove"3:56
4."I Can't Wait"3:43
5."Connect Up to Me"4:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."A Quick One" 3:37
7."Out of Control"4:41
8."Take a Walk" 4:38
9."Sneak Attack" 3:55
10."Time Bomb" 5:03
Total length:45:50
  • Although the album track "Connect Up to Me" was given an extended 12" remix, it was never released as a single. An extended mix that clocks in at 7:37 is on the cassette and CD editions.
Additional Tracks, GEFFEN B0031508-02, 2020
No.TitleLength
1."Jimmy Jimmy (Single Version)"3:55
2."Prove (Extended Remix)"6:24
3."Connect Up to Me (Remix/Extended Version)"7:20
4."Jimmy Jimmy (A New Extended Version)"5:07

Personnel

Musicians

Production

  • Ric Ocasek – producer
  • David Heglmeier – tape operator
  • Thom Moore – tape operator
  • Ian Taylor – engineer
  • Walter Turbitt – assistant engineer
  • Andy Topeka – resident technician
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
  • Jeri McManus – graphic layout
  • Bob Carlos Clarke – cover and sleeve photography
  • Boo Topeka – symbols
  • Elliot Roberts – management
  • All songs published by Ric Ocasek Music, except "Out of Control" (published by Ric Ocasek Music/Oversnare Music-Lido Music)[3]

Charts

Chart performance for Beatitude
Chart (1983) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[4] 31
US Billboard 200[5] 28

References

  1. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Beatitude". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  2. ^ [1] Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Publishing Details at discogs
  4. ^ "Charts.nz – Ric Ocasek – Beatitude". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  5. ^ "Ric Ocasek Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2026.