Why was he not front and center in videos I saw on MTV in the 80's? All I ever saw was Rick? Never knew this beautiful, talented man was the voice of all these songs I love. He deserved more attention!
Any chance people can stop using the word “underrated” in connection with the band or the musicians? They were NOT underrated by anyone anywhere at anytime. They were world famous. They had repeated world-wide hits. Fans and critics loved them. Decades later their musical talents remain to be known and respected. They were “rated” just fine. They had money and fame and all the awards and rewards they earned. The Cars were - and are - awesome. And everyone knows it.
Was there a more riveting front man than Ben Orr? Doubtful that the Cars, despite the musical talent and genius songs, would have achieved half the fame/popularity without him.
The word riveting doesn’t come to mind when I watch him. Cars would have been less interesting without Okasik, even though Ben Orr was better signer, and the ladies would say better looking.
No way...there would be NO CARS....BENNY WAS OTHER WORLDLY n I intend to see him in the afterlife.....23 years gone....feels like yesterday.misd u so , Ben.😢
Elliot Easton and Benjamin Orr have this connection onstage that comes out visually as well as musically, as if they are separate! The Cars show many of their synergistic qualities. Robinson's drum work is a powerhouse. I just picked up "The Cars: Complete Greatest Hits", and it's totally cool to hear the studio cuts and then, as here- "Bye Bye Love" Live in the "Candy-O tour. Those who were at those gigs had a memorable experience. The Cars, with Ric Ocasek's diverse but intelligent punk writing like a Beatnik messenger to Hippy acres for gig with shades & double breasted suit. This band band is a precision focused Unit, both in studio and Live. "Let's Go!"
A lot of people used to think the Cars were a British group and Ben looks it here plus something about his beautiful enunciation…What I love about this footage is how he and and Elliot interact especially at the end. They do this in a lot of Cars videos and someone used to call them The Twins cuz Elliot being a lefty, he and Ben could stand so close and relate so intensely and it is sooo endearing…RIP Benjamin
This absolutely rocks... for me the measure of a band is how they perform live... and this is such a good performance... Great energy... I had no idea how many of the Cars classic tunes Ben Orr did the lead vocals... He was fantastic... I think he sang most of my favorite songs. Thanks for the post.
While Orr is getting all the attention, Easton is back there making magic. Sooooo underrated. And the incredible Hawkes probably is the most overlooked of all, yet his playing alone literally made their 'sound'. Damn that band was good.
Nah, Easton is no longer underated. He's a legend! This band were so much better than many of their contemporaries. I think U2 sucked by comparison. Can't compare the Edge with Elliot Easton, nor Ben Orr with poncy Bono. Just my opinion.
@@howardwalton1876 He was in the US Army around 1967 drafted for 18 months . Ben got a deferment got honorable discharged. Then, back to rock and rolling!
One of many things I like about The Cars was their ability to make their live concerts sound like the album. Ben has only slight variations in his voice while singing, the keyboard, drums and guitars all sound nearly the same.
@bushbeachlifestyle6721 I've been enjoying The Cars on RU-vid for the last few months (hunky says I'm obsessed). I got a Cars cd (not Candy-O) and I love all the live performances over the cd. I do need a new stereo, but waiting for a newer car. 😊
@rufusrose Back then, I don't think Easton got the credit he deserved for his guitar work because he didn't do a lot of lengthy, wanky, check-out-my-skills kind of solos like a lot of his contemporaries did. That wasn't what The Cars were about. But he's definitely an excellent guitarist.
The Musikladen tapes are some of the best Cars live performances. I dig the interaction between Eliot and Ben, a great rock duo, and those crazy Germans dug it as well.
Unbelievable performance. Great band and their early stuff especially was kick ass. Seriously how could anyone give this a thumbs down. If they don't love this then what do they love.
Growing up in Austin,Texas in the '70s and '80s, I have seen my share of live concerts. At the top of the list is The Cars at Southpark Meadows in 1984. Today that venue is box stores galore. It hurts and feels somewhat selfish to think we'll never get to see some of these bands again. But the memories will remain in our heads and in our hearts. Tom Petty, David Bowie, Ric Ocasek Benjamin Orr, Neil Peart. Local favorites like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender. The show's I have seen. Amazing. AC DC twice, first time front row blowing a hit off a doob at Angus who was right before me. The cloud turned blue in the spotlight as it engulfed him. He snarled smiled at me. Pat Benatar twice, the B-52's twice, Kate Pierson an arm length away in 1982. I stood before Todd Rundgren, the original Van Halen twice The Police twice. 80's bands like The Fixx, INXS, Adam Ant, the Go-Go's on and on. I saw Devo and Billy Joel the same night at different venues. Frisked to enter an Ozzy show. Robert Plant solo and again with Jimmy Page. Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks with an over sized Gypsy like bun of hair and sleeves that draped long flowing material as she waved both arms putting me into a trance. Heart and Aerosmith not holding back 1 oz on the vocals. Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, ZZ Top, Madonna. I could go on and on. Last count was over 80 big name shows, but in my mind it was this band that was the best that I've ever seen live. They were that good. Tight. Rush was a close 2nd. Still have a t-shirt from that show Heartbeat City tour. RIP those who rocked our world while they were here.
If I could be a rock star for one day, it would be as Ben Orr here. So damn cool! Also, am I the only one who dug how Elliot and Ben were interacting at the end of the song?
@@daytripper9222 They do the same thing during the France concert. That time, though, Benjamin has a smile that just lights up his face. So handsome. ^_^
This was mind blowing shit in 1979. Consider what was happening with disco still the dominant force in music. Punk was barely 3 years old. New Wave was just starting. The Cars were on the forefront of the New Wave movement. I listened to the established English bands (LZ, The Who, etc.), southern rock, etc, so when stuff like this came out I was blown away. Sounds a bit primitive today (I still like it quite a bit) but this sort of music had a profound impact. Wonder what sort of music will kill the Hip Hop/Rap vortex of sonic pain that we have been experiencing for the last 15-20 years?
I'm just not getting with primitive, but that's ok, I know why you are here. I feel that the music of The Cars has really stood the test of time. There's some Hip Hop that I listen to, Aesop Rock being my fave, and I listen to mostly college radio so I hear a bunch of new stuff. Love new stuff. That being said I'm not one to only listen to the music back from my young twenties, in fact I only just started to again recently but... I have to tell you guys that I saw The Cars in Chicago in 1979. Yes I did.
seriously this has to be one of the greatest bands of all time. i find them equally as impressive as floyd or zep or even rush. incredible, original and very talented!
i think they are a very influential band. The way they designed their presentations in videos is very "high concept". They were a smart bunch and had some awesome songs. They were also campy and satirical. There is a lot to engage the mind in what they did.
Thank you "Cars" for giving us so much great music through the years. Being in a top 40s band, rock bank , original band , we always had a set that we did top 40 rock.. and there was always a "Cars" song in that set.. it was always so fun playing your tunes and there was always more crowd response to your tunes than most any other.. love you guys and again thanks for the music...
Its an orangey sky, always with some other guy, its just a broken lullaby, bye bye love.......bye bye love......bye bye love.....bye bye love..miss you ben!!!!
Great!! A band that was much more original and tight then they are often given credit for. EE's lead work is right one. Country riffs played thru a LEs PAul w/ distortion makes for a rockin sound.
