TGIF Rock-n-Roll Oldies: THE CARS - 1984/85

Reaganite Republican ^ | July 1, 2011 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

The Cars were a trailblazing pop band who's beat-and-guitar driven rock n roll added synthesizers in a way that created a foundation for the 80s New Wave scene that was to come.

The first album -1978's The Cars- was a smash hit for the Boston-based group that promptly went platinum. That debut has been lauded as a "genuine rock masterpiece" by allmusic, with songs such as "Just What I Needed" "Best Friend's Girl"
"Let the Good Times Roll", and "Bye Bye Love".

After six albums and four Top Ten hits in the US, the band broke up in 1988. Sadly, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr -a close friend to fellow Cars founder Ric Ocasek- passed away far too young in 2000. Following that, Ocasek often said there would never be a Cars reunion, so by 2005 guitarist Elliott Easton and keyboard player Greg Hawkes instead hooked-up with Todd Rundgren and Kashim Sultan (fmr Meat Loaf/Rundgren's Utopia) to form a cleverly-named spin-off band -The New Cars- who toured with classic Cars and Rundgren tunes in addition to some new collaborative compositions.

But as overplayed as they were for so long, The Cars are still one of the few bands it's hard to tire of hearing, at least in my case. The epitome of power pop... what originality and fun!
If you're a rock fan that can somehow manage to be unhappy when The Cars are playing there's something seriously wrong with you. 
Myself, I'll always hold them dear, as this band really made that first summer with my Camaro in '79... couldn't play them loud enough, or often enough.

The Cars also ruled MTV in that era, with hugely popular videos like "You Might Think I'm Crazy", which specifically won Video of the Year honors on the cable music channel.

Band leader Ric Ocasek -son of a NASA engineer- also appeared in Jon Waters' cult film Hairspray, has put out a number of solo albums, and today produces bands such as Weezer and No Doubt. He has been married to the ever-lovely Paulina Porizkova for over 20 years, who he met on the set while shooting the video for "Drive" in 1984, in which the supermodel starred. (clip below). 

But to the surprise of many, just last month a new Cars album
-the first in 24 years- was released. Seems that Mr Ocasek had a change of heart last year, and the surviving members began practicing and composing for a new album: Move Like This.
It's been met with a decent critical reception, if not commercially. I myself have only heard one track -Sad Song- really not bad at all, though- and real Cars all the way, right down to the hand claps. The band is touring again, too... dates -here-

Let the good times roll indeed- remember when bands actually had some sense of humor and sang fun songs about cool cars and beautiful women?  What a contrast to most of the caustic rubbish you hear today. Who needs angry pierced-n-stamped 'outcasts' like Pink or Eminem whining about their childhood and what victims they are? To hell with them, if I want to get depressed I'll listen to George Jones-


The Cars: Tonight She Comes - 1985


The Cars: Drive - 1984


Links/video/more at Reaganite Republican
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Have a great weekend, FReeper patriots... and may God Bless America
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allmusic   NNBD   Wikipedia   Consequence of Sound

Previous RR Rock n Roll Oldies features -here-

[FortWorthPatriot]

LOL my 13 year old daughter loves the song "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Alyson Stoner. I told her that she was singing a remake of a song that came out when I was 10 years old. I pulled up a YouTube video of the King Harvest version and she seemed to like the original version better!

[Zeneta]

Parenting is so much fun !!!!

[VeniVidiVici]

I downloaded their new album from Amazon a few weeks ago. I was actually surprised how much I did like it.

[FortWorthPatriot]

Yes. Yes, it is. And I love every minute of it. :)

I think the best thing from this is she appears to have taste in music similar to mine. I’ve already got her singing “Carry On Wayward Son” - she loves the “don’t you cry no more” line.

[Zeneta]

This is the "strike a pose" I think she is looking for.

It's from the "Legs" video, but I know there is a close up from maybe another video.

[Zeneta]

It’s so cool.

“Don’t you cry no more”

That has got to break your heart.

It does mine.

[manic4organic]

Like!

[Zeneta]

What was amazing for me was when she started telling me about certain songs and bands that she found on her own.

Blue oyster cult, for example. one of my favorite bands growing up that I NEVER played for her.

My daughter is so much like me it’s scary.

[dangerdoc]

Great news!

I still have my Cars albums and occasionally hook up the turntable and listen the old fashioned way, snaps, pops and all. I’ll have to check Amazon tonight for the new album.

Ping to myself.

[Gena Bukin]

I too graduated in 1980 and remember hearing “Let’s Go” for the first thinking “That is a kick-ass song.” I have loved The Cars ever since.

Here's a great version from "The Midnight Special" TV show circa. 1979.

Let's Go

I didn't realize Orr provided the vocals on this one as well.

[chemicalman]

The video at the link is CLASSIC. Thanks.

[al_c]

Wow. Reading “oldies” and “The Cars” in the same sentence really makes me feel ... old.

[FLAMING DEATH]

The Cars? Oldies?

Crap. I’m old.

Does this stuff sound to my kid the way Buddy Holly did to me when I was his age?

[FLAMING DEATH]

You beat me to it.

RE: Post 32

[Gena Bukin]

Cars' lead guitarist Elliot Easton posts frequently over at the Les Paul Forum where he's just a regular dude who loves Gibson guitars and happened to have enjoyed some success in the music business a long time ago.

[al_c]

My 19 year old daughter just now told ME, to check out ZZ Top, La Grange.

They got a lot o' nice girls there.

Truer words were never spoken. I married my bride in La Grange in 1992. And before anyone asks .... no, not at the Chicken Ranch. ;-)

[Zeneta]

My daughter is still a VIRGIN.

I think

[al_c]

You beat me to it.

Yep ... I guess we're old. Dang, when did that happen?!

[al_c]

Congrats! What’s your secret? I’m raising two daughters.

[Zeneta]

Fear ?

Trust.

Truth.

Honor.

I think I’m very very lucky.

I need to go and thank God right now.