Category: The Cars

RIP Ric Ocasek

 

Ric Ocasek, frontman of the popular late 1970s and 1980s band the Cars, was found dead in his New York home on Sunday. He was 75.

The NYPD confirmed that he was found dead after they received a call for an unconscious male at his townhouse. Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene.

The Cars and Ocasek were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

With a sound that melded new wave and classic rock, the Cars had 13 top-40 singles including “Just What I Needed,” “Best Friend’s Girl,” “Let’s Go,” “Shake It Up,” “You Might Think” and the ballad “Drive.” Both during the band’s career and after their breakup in 1988, Ocasek produced numerous albums and songs for artists including Bad Brains, Weezer, Guided by Voices, Bad Religion and Nada Surf. He released seven solo albums, and although none had the impact or success of the Cars’ material, the influence of his songs with the band is vast: To cite just one example, in March of 1994 Nirvana opened their final concert with a jokey medley of The Cars’ “Best Friend’s Girl” and “Moving in Stereo,” the latter of which was featured in the generation-defining 1982 film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

Ocasek — born Richard Theodore Otcasek — was raised in Baltimore but moved to Cleveland at the age of 16. (There is some confusion about his year of birth, but 1944 is most frequently cited.) He briefly attended college but dropped out to pursue music, and in 1965 met future Cars bassist/singer Benjamin Orr. The two formed a succession of bands and operated in Ohio and Michigan before relocating to Boston in the early 1970s. There they formed a folk-rock band called Milkwood that released one album on Paramount Records that was not a commercial success; the pair also performed as an acoustic duo at the time. They eventually united with future Cars lead guitarist Elliot Easton in a band called Cap’n Swing that received airplay on Boston rock powerhouse WBCN, but rebooted as The Cars late in 1976, bringing in keyboardist Greg Hawkes and former Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson.

From there things moved quickly for the band: During the following year a nine-song demo, including their future breakout hit “Just What I Needed,” received heavy airplay on Boston stations and the group signed with Elektra. Their self-titled debut, released in June of 1978, featured an unusual but appealing mixture of styles that both capture the pop-rock sensibilities of the time as well as the burgeoning new wave sound, which was gradually making inroads in the U.S. In a review from that summer, New York Times critic Robert Palmer succinctly described their sound as a combination of “punk minimalism, the labyrinthine synthesizer and guitar textures of art rock, the ’50s rockabilly revival and the melodious terseness of power pop.” The album reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and spawned three hit singles in “Just What I Needed,” “Best Friend’s Girl” and “Good Times Roll.”

While Ocasek was the group’s primary songwriter and frontman — singing in a pouty drawl, like a cross between Lou Reed and Television’s Tom Verlaine — the Cars were very much a band, with Orr’s softer voice and rock-star swagger, Easton’s snarling guitar, Hawkes’ quirky keyboard flourishes and Robinson’s rock-solid, imaginative drumming creating a powerful and rare musical chemistry.

Their 1979 sophomore effort “Candy O” continued in a similar vein, spawning the hit single “Let’s Go,” but “Panorama” the following year was more synthesizer-heavy and experimental, and less commercially successful. The band took a break and Ocasek produced the “Rock for Light” album by hardcore legends the Bad Brains and also worked with synth-punk legends Suicide and San Francisco band Romeo Void, and released a solo album called “Beatitude.”

The Cars returned in force in 1982 with the “Shake It Up” album, which dovetailed with the rise of MTV and, driven by eye-catching videos — several of which starred models, including Ocasek’s future wife, Czech-born Paulina Porizkova — the group became more commercially successful than ever. The title track became their biggest hit single to date, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spawned another hit song and video with “Since You’re Gone.”

The group’s commercial peak came with their next album, 1984’s “Heartbeat City,” which produced two Top 10 singles with “You Might Think” (driven by another eye-grabbing video, this one with Ocasek’s head on a fly’s body) and the ballad “Drive,” which came in for some criticism (that had nothing to do with the band) the following year when MTV aired behind footage of the famine in Ethiopia during Live Aid.

The group took another break, with Ocasek releasing a second solo album, “This Side of Paradise,” but by the time the Cars regrouped for 1987’s “Door to Door,” times had changed. The only reached No. 26 and the group split early the following year.

Ocasek’s solo career continued at an unhurried pace in the years after the group’s split and he became better known as a producer. His biggest success in that role was Weezer’s debut in 1994; he also produced that group’s “Green Album” as well as albums or songs by No Doubt, Hole, Nada Surf, Bad Religion, Guided by Voices and many others.

He released five solo albums between 1991 and 2005, with 1997’s “Troublizing” produced by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. The albums generally received positive reviews but Ocasek’s distaste for touring — The Cars had a reputation as a dull live act for their entire career — effected their visibility. After Orr’s death from cancer in 2000, Ocasek approved of a touring version of the band that featured Todd Rundgren essentially in his role, although he reunited with the Cars in 2011 for an album called “Move Like This” that found him writing and singing all of the songs. He told Rolling Stone at the time, “I was aware that on half of the new songs, Ben would have done better than I did. But we never wanted anybody from the outside.” The album’s liner notes include a tribute to Orr.

Ocasek was married three times and left his second wife, Suzanne, after meeting Porizkova in 1984.

He is also survived by six sons, two of whom he had with Porizkova; in 2018 she confirmed that the two had separated the previous year after 28 years of marriage.

Ric Ocasek – Emotion In Motion (US 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Emotion in Motion” is a song by Ric Ocasek, the main songwriter and lead vocalist for The Cars. It was featured on his second solo album, This Side of Paradise, and released as a single in late 1986. The tune topped the Album Rock Tracks chart and reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Ocasek’s only U.S. top 40 hit as a solo artist. In Australia, the song peaked at #8 on the Kent Music Report.

Ocasek was a founding member, lead singer and principal songwriter of the new wave rock band The Cars. Following the group’s 1985 Greatest Hits release, its members split up to pursue solo projects. Lead guitarist Elliot Easton released a solo album in 1985, and both Ocasek and singer/bassist Benjamin Orr did the same in 1986. Just as “Emotion in Motion” was Ocasek’s only solo song to reach the Top 40, Orr’s “Stay the Night” was the latter’s only solo Top 40 hit.

The band reunited to record 1987’s Door to Door, which produced “You Are the Girl”, the group’s last Top 40 single.

SIDE A:
Emotion In Motion (Edit Version) 3:57

SIDE B:
P.F.J. 3:40

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Emotion In Motion U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #15
1986 Emotion In Motion U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks #1
1986 Emotion In Motion U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #8

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records ‎– 7-28617
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Producer [Produced By] – Chris Hughes, Ross Cullum
Written-By, Producer [Produced By] – Ric Ocasek

NOTES:
Edited From the forthcoming Ric Ocasek album This Side Of Paradise.
Made in U.S.A.

Find the 7″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Mullard 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube Pins
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Benjamin Orr – Stay The Night (Japan 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

REQUEST

“Stay the Night” is a song by The Cars vocalist and bassist Benjamin Orr. It was included on his 1986 solo debut album The Lace, and released as a single in the end of 1986. “Stay the Night” reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the beginning of 1987, becoming Orr’s only Top 40 hit as a solo artist.

Prior to recording his solo album, Orr had been a founding member, along with singer and songwriter Ric Ocasek, of The Cars. The Cars’ first Top 40 hit, “Just What I Needed”, featured Orr on lead vocals, as did their biggest hit, “Drive”, from 1984’s Heartbeat City.

Following The Cars’ 1985 Greatest Hits release, the band split up to pursue solo projects, with both Orr and Ocasek releasing solo albums in 1986, lead guitarist Elliot Easton having released one in 1985. Weeks before “Stay the Night” entered the US Top 40, Ocasek himself was in the Top 40 with his own solo hit “Emotion in Motion”. In both cases, those would become the only US Top 40 solo hit for both Cars members respectively.

The band reunited to record 1987’s Door to Door, which produced “You Are the Girl”, their last Top 40 single.

Sadly Benjamin Orr died of pancreatic cancer on October 3, 2000 at age 53.

SIDE A:
Stay The Night 4:26

SIDE B:
That’s The Way 4:08

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Stay The Night U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #24
1986 Stay The Night U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #6
1986 Stay The Night U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks #2

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra ‎– P-2187
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: Japan
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

CREDITS:
Producer – Benjamin Orr, Larry Klein, Mike Shipley
Written-By – Benjamin Orr, Diane Grey Page

NOTES:
Warner-Pioneer Corporation Tokyo, Japan
From the Elektra album “Benjamin Orr: The Lace”

Find the 7″ on DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

The Cars – Hello Again (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

A. Front

New 2015 Re-Rip!
Meticulously Remastered!
First time in 24bit Flac!

Originally posted December 2, 2010

“Hello Again” is a song performed by the rock band The Cars, released in 1984 as the fourth single from the album Heartbeat City. It was the fourth Top 20 hit from the album, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also reached number 8 on the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and number 22 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

SIDE A:
Hello Again (Extended Remix Version) 5:55
Hello Again (Dub Version) 6:11

SIDE B:
Hello Again (Single Version) 3:46

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 Hello Again U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #22
1984 Hello Again U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #20
1984 Hello Again U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #8

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra ‎– 966 929-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Art Direction – Carol Friedman
Design [Cover Design] – Jodee Stringham
Edited By – Andy Wallace (tracks: A1, A2) , Latin Rascals, The (tracks: A1, A2)
Engineer [Remix] – Chris Lord-Alge (tracks: A1, A2) , Tom Lord-Alge (tracks: A1, A2)
Photography [Cover] – James Wojcik
Producer – Cars, The , Robert John “Mutt” Lange*
Remix – Arthur Baker (tracks: A1, A2)
Written-By – Ric Ocasek

NOTES:
Special versions from the LP “HEARTBEAT CITY”

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi