The 80's Never Ended: Vol. 1 The Cars

In the coming articles, I will (probably) clue you in to some fantastic tunes by these and many other bands that most people think never made it out of the Reagan era. For the pop-rock-new wave music junkie, these are indeed, happy days!

Up first, a band from Boston that took as it's namesake the primary product of Detroit's heyday output. "The Cars"

To be quite honest, The Cars were not strictly an 80's band. They made their recording debut in 1978 with their self-titled album. Their break through single, "Just What I Needed" peaked on the US charts at #27. Not bad, but bigger hits were to come in the mid-80s. Between their first spin on pop and rock radio stations to their peak in 1985, The Cars racked up 10 Top 40 singles including "My Best Friends Girl", "Let's Go", "Shake It Up", "You Might Think", "Magic", "Hello Again" and their biggest charting single "Drive" which peaked just shy of the top of the charts (#3) in 1984.

It is nearly impossible these days to turn on ANY classic rock or 80s themed radio station and not hear "The Cars" in any given hour. Their music had more staying power than the band, after their biggest album "Heartbeat City" was released in 1984, a "Greatest Hits" package was released in 1985. For any of those attuned to the inner working machines of the music industry can attest, a Greatest Hits package from a contemporary band, at the height of their career, is almost certainly a death nail.

Add another nail to the coffin when in 1986 fans were treated to the release of not one, but TWO solo LPs from the band's lead singers. Ric Ocasek was first out of the garage with his LP "This Side of Paradise", released in September of 1986. The LP spawned 2 singles, the best of which was "Emotion in Motion" which peaked at #15. It would be Ocasek's only Top 40 single sans "The Cars"

Weeks later, "The Cars" second lead singer, Benjamin Orr, released his solo LP titled "The Lace". Orr also hit the Top 40 with the single "Stay The Night". It too would be his sole charting single outside of  his work with "The Cars". 

Both singers seemed unable, or unwilling to chart new musical territory with their solo efforts, as nearly every song on their respective LPs could just as easily been credited to "The Cars" without raising an eyebrow among their fans. Both "Emotion in Motion" from Ocasek, and "Stay The Night" from Orr, could be dropped into the middle of their 1985 band effort "Heartbeat City" with no shock to the grooves of the LP.

While "The Cars" seemed to buck the "Greatest Hits" breakup trend for awhile (They released another LP post-Greatest Hits, called "Door to Door" in 1987), they soon succumbed to the rock and roll cliche' and disbanded in 1988 after placing just one more single into the Top 40, 1987's "You Are The Girl". Two other songs from the new LP failed to chart any higher that #74 ("Coming Up You" in 1988). So, it would seem that "The Cars" would spit, sputter and stall on the side of the highway near mile marker 1988, never to be heard from again.

Both Ocasek and Orr continued their solo careers with limited success, toured from time to time playing Car's tunes, and generally lived quiet and private lives. The remaining members of the band, Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards) and David Robinson (drums) all continued performing and touring with various bands, and occasionally, with Ocasek's backing band during his solo tours.

During the years following their disbanding, Ocasek was noted as saying that The Cars would "never reunite". For years, fans took him at his word. The final nail in the coffin occured, quite literally, in 2000 when Benjamin Orr succombed to pancreatic cancer, thus effectively ending any chance that the original Cars lineup could ever be assembled again.

Still, the music lived on. The opening cords of "My Best Friend's Girl" chimed a million times from car stereo speakers, Sony Walkman tape players, portable CD players and eventually MP3 players in the interveening years. All the while, the remaining members of "The Cars" grew restless. Eventually it seemed, there would be another Cars project. It nearly came in 2005.

While Orr was a vital part of the band and sang lead vocals on some of their biggest hits, it was Ocasek that penned the majority of The Cars songs. Surely, no new Cars project could proceed with him. Unless of course, the rest of the band could find an Ocasek-sound alike. Someone with rock-n-roll credentials. A singer/songwriter with similar pop/punk rock/new wave hits under his belt. Enter Todd Rundgren.

Rundgren had been a classic rock radio staple since the early 1970's with hits such as "Hello, It's Me", "I Saw The Light" and later in the 1980's with "Bang the Drum All Day". More importantly, as a record producer, he had worked with such rock acts as Badfinger, The Band, Grand Funk Railroad and Meat Loaf for the "Bat Out of Hell" LP. Quite an impressive resume' for an 80's pop band to browse as they pondered another run at the American Charts.

The green light was given, Rundgren joined as lead singer and second guitarist with original members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes. The "new" band was christened "The New Cars" and released a live/greatest hits CD in 2006 titled "It's Alive"

The CD contained live renditions of such "Cars" staples as "Just What I Needed", "You Might Think" and "My Best Friend's Girl" along with 2 solo Rundgren tracks, "I Saw The Light" and "Open My Eyes" as well as 3 new studio tracks. The lead single was "Not Tonight" and hit the radio airwaves in March of 2006.

The track featured the "classic" Cars sound and can best be described as a younger sister to "You're All I Got Tonight". In fact, if it were not for the modern-day references to "E-Mail", "Blackberry" and the current high gas prices, the track could be passed off as an out-take from a 1978 Cars recording session. The musicianship on the track is flawless and is a testament to the fact that Easton and Hawkes had spent the post-breakup years performing as session musicians and touring live, all the while performing Cars material at any given oportunity.

Of the other 2 new tracks, "Warm" is the most retro-Cars sounding. In song structure and chord progressions, it closely resembles other Car's ballads such as "Looking For Love" and "Drive" from the 1985 LP "Heartbeat City".

Although an enjoyable album to listen to, nostalgia aside, fans were tepid and sales were not strong. Reportedly, the album sold less than 150,000 copies despite generally positive critical reviews and a two year long tour.

Perhaps the most important historical note for this album was the change in attitude of former Car's lead singer Ric Ocasek. During a personal appearance on a late night talk show, Ocasek was asked if he "would like to put anyone on notice". He replied with "Todd Rundgren". Rumors on the internet fueled the fire with Cars fans for an eventual reunion.

For once, the rumors on the internet proved to be true, and the Cars reformed to release a new album titled "Move Like This" in 2011. Joining Easton and Hawkes,now former members of "The New Cars" was original lead vocalist Ric Ocasek and Drummer David Robinson.The late Benjamin Orr (bass guitar and vocals) was not replaced. In his absence, the group decided it was best to not bring in an outside person, instead, the bass guitar parts were played or pogrammed by Easton and producer Jackknife Lee.

As early as October of 2010, progress was complete enough on the new CD to release 60 second clips of new songs on the band's FaceBook page. "Sad Song", one of the songs previewed, was chosen as the lead single and peaked inside the American Top 20 Rock Tracks Chart.

When the CD was finally released on May 10th 2011, it debuted at #7 on the Billboard Album Charts and received positive reviews.

The musical influences on the album can be clearly tied to early Cars music as opposed to the last effort together "Door to Door" in 1988. Gone is the techno-flavored synth dance pop in favor of pop/punk crunchy guitar chords and tight drumming, supported by tastefully placed keyboard melodies.

Of the 10 tracks, "Sad Song", "Blue Tip" and "Keep On Knocking" were either released as singles, or performed live on television appearances to support the album. 

Whether the reunion lasts beyond this album and tour is anyone's guess. For the time being, car stereos and MP3 players around the world are once again being turned up to full throttle with Car's music.....with one tire in the present and one firmly planted in the fertile pop/punk heyday of one of Boston's most gifted bands, The Cars.

For a complete "Cars" experience, track down these CDs and these pivotal tracks:

"The Cars"1978 - Features "Just What I Needed" & "My Best Friend's Girl"

"Candy-O"1979 - Features "Let's Go"

"Panorama"1980 - Features "Touch and Go"

"Shake It Up"1981 - Features "Since You're Gone", "I'm Not The One" & "Shake It Up

"Heartbeat City"1984 - Features "You Might Think", "Magic", "Hello Again" & "Drive"

"Greatest Hits" 1985 - Features new track "Tonight She Comes"

"The Lace"(Benjamin Orr solo LP) 1986 - Features "Stay The Night"

"This Side of Paradise"(Ric Ocasek solo LP) 1986 - Features "Emotion In Motion"

"Door To Door"1987 - Features "You Are The Girl"

"It's Alive"( As "The New Cars") - 2006 - Features "Not Tonight" & LIVE "Greatest Hits"

"Move Like This"2011 - Features "Blue Tip", "Sad Song" & Keep On Knocking"