led question

on the other tacoma we took out the back lights for center console and put some leds in that were bought at a show (lighting it from the inside of the console and not behind)... the ones that were bought had a circuit board? (1/2' X 1/2' i think) and i was wondering if i went to radio shack and bought leds if they would work or is that circuit board to convert ac to dc so the leds would work? i took out the stock lights and soddered the bought led wires into the same spot in the circuit board on the truck and it worked fine.... any idea if just buyin regular leds would work? thx