The Untold Truth Of The Cars 

Shake it up. !!!!

Just what I needed!!

Bye Bye Love

Since You're Gone...

I'm In Touch With Your World...!!!

Maybe he was underrated by Ocasek since he decided to split, but he was highly appreciated by the public. His songs are better known and loved than those sang by Ocasek.

Rick once said that Ben sang on all of the best songs, could be. Solid bass player too.

Yes they are. One of my all time favorite Bands

I’ve been on a Cars binge lately and can’t believe how young Benjamin was when he passed away - he seemed like a gentle soul, more so than the average “rocker”. I could be wrong but he was and will always be my favorite. Funny how when I was little I didn’t realize there were two singers, and when I did figure it out it I realized the popular flashy ones I liked (and were popular) in jr high and high school were sung by Rick, but the ones that stuck with me all these years and will always be in my memory are sung by Benjamin.

You can’t hold on too long ( it’s alright)

Love their albums

Drinking AND smoking are contributing factors to pancreatic cancer. My Mother passed from it. Very good insight. I loved being a teen/young adult in the 90’s, but The Cars were my favorite as a child. A small part of me wishes I could have been a teen in the late 70’s, and saw them live after Candy O. Ben’s songs (sang) are my favorite ever.

What?! Not Eddie too! How did I miss that? "I Wanna Go Back" indeed.

If I could walk on water 💦

Yes, both Icons of the late 70's - mid 80's.

If you like The Cars and Eddie Money...you are cool. 👍

and we're next...

@savage 069 ..... Yes, I agree with you 100%. Will miss those days.

I know, I thought the same thing

Ben’s voice, charisma was magic. Ric’s voice & presence never appealed to me.

Not when you’re 14 or and had it , the LP , for the first time in 78’ then Candy O comes out in 79’ and saw em on their first arena tour , first tour that combined half of their debut LP and half off Candy O with Nick Lowe opening up at the San Diego Sports Arena , only then did we even care as we didn’t pay attention until live in concert and saw Orr take over the first of 14 songs and 1 encore , 1.5 total time on stage if that ? Then we saw Candy O tour in about less than a year , then Panorama in 81 with The Motels all in San Diego and maybe 1 hour 15 minutes Panorama concert , fans were bent then we knew it was how the Cars rolled , they HATED live performances and Ric says so in many magazines and interviews where in the studio they “ were geeks with perfection “ - Greg Hawkes . Way to technical and quirky along with Rics shut in approach and Robinson’s bored look every time you seen him live or live clip , look at EE’s bio and he was the opposite always wanting to play live and long , same with Ben but they just couldn’t pull off the studio sound that my favorite Band of ALL - TIME wanted to give us , but it just never sounded the same , ever out of the studio versus today with auto tune on everywhere and no real talent any longer out there that Rivals the 70s - 80s punk / rock genre , you’ll never ever see this again and instead they push freaks at us now ... nope no new music here since Avenged 7Fold in 2013 and before that , nothing but memories and good ones . Nightspots You can’t hold on too long Almost ALL of Heartbeat City Cruiser Don’t tell me Know Other cuts Too difficult to bring that studio sound back in the day and even in the 87’ Door to Door with Strap Me in or Double Trouble was a tough sound to bring with Eastons solos had no edge live imo . And they had Roy Thomas Baker make em famous recording that debut LP in the UK . We Just wanted a better live show and was let down in live vs studio versions and the play lists . IMO . Thanks love all the Cars fans

True Cars fans who listen to their albums over and over again know there is a difference between Ric and Ben. Ben’s singing is melodic and sometimes rough, whereas Ric’s is hiccupy, erratic and sometimes deadpan. It’s not that difficult to tell the difference.

Great idea!! I may steal that from you!!

Yes Rick O wrote the hard songs for Ben. He admitted that. Ben Orr on vocals is some of the best post punk new wave music I’ve heard. Rick on vocals would lower your IQ. He sang his worst written songs.

LMAO !

Alan Brown - Shake it up?

That's their best song, my opinion 😎👍👌

That song changed everything.

Almost every 80s band took their sound from the Cars.

@Rusell Shaw I know what Anarch means. They should have been much, much bigger. But that probably would have ruined it for us true fans

John S I think their downside was that, even though they made great records, from what I hear, they weren’t really a great live band.

@@geraldobrien7323 Gerald, they were a GREAT live band. Played and sounded superb. I saw then in '80 for their 3rd album tour and then in '84 . The performances were great Buuuuut they do NOT interact with the audience. No introductions to songs or story telling, or band member introductions. Just a quick "Thank You" and in to the next song. A very "sterile" feeling. Kind of left with a feeling that there was a "void" if you will. The "just keep it business" I understand was how Ocasek wanted it. So when "The New Cars" former with Todd Rundgren, Elliott Easton and Greg Hawkes. There was interaction with the audience and it felt "Right". I have a feeling Gerald that is what you might be talking about in terms of the Cars Live performances. That would be the ONLY thing I thought they could have done better on.

@@geraldobrien7323 ........I urge you to view concert footage of their lives performances and check it out. Also watch The New Cars and you will see what I mean

Oh please. If not for MTV you wouldn't have any idea. They're voices were virtually identical.

@@Jgeneraledger23 MTV 😂😂😂 if you needed MTV to decipher who's singing a lead vocal on a Cars song...then good for you. Glad it helped ya. Not so much for those of us who actually "listen" to the music. No slight on you. Really.

@@Jgeneraledger23 I heard them sing before there was MTV, they did have songs on the radio before that(in fact many of them sung by Benjamin Orr, like their first one "Just What I Needed"). Even though I was a kid, I had no issues telling they were not the same guy. Because they don't sound very much a like. And they have different styles.

PeteW. At the moment we’re focus on the passing of Ric Ocasek. But the whole band is as one in our memories. Yes Elliot Easton is great. And he’s one of the first guitarist in a band that I knew by name as a young kid, apart from Andy Taylor of Duran Duran.

His solo in Shake It Up is awesomely perfect. It helps make the song!

Exactly. And he could enhance a lesser Cars song like Touch and Go with a fantastic solo.

Who plays the guitar solo in My Best Friend's Girl? Is that Elliot as well? That solo is KILLER!

@@MonkyMonk729, Yup. That was E.E. I had the opportunity to ask him, and I recall, he played it on a heavily eq'd Les Paul.

I'm youth is slowly fading away..

Don't forget Eddie $, not as cool, but still...

Still both were talented human beings

IMO, this song is Ben Orr's best vocal.

@@kylerinaldi8362 My Orr fave is All Mixed Up

@JJ Scott Look up the official lyrics. You're WRONG.

thetubedude2011 at first I didn’t know Ben Orr was a singer. But hey I was a young kid. I figured it out in my late teens, when we finally got cable tv/ MTV. I can easily tell the difference now.

Agreed, Ben really made them and put them on the map. Not taking from RIC but the hits prove it.

Totally agree! Ric had a more “quirky” new-wave singing voice. Ben had a smooth-toned classic rock voice.

Agreed. Ben had a seriously unique croon

Well said, Eddie $ passed too 😔

@@the4bidden142 He took 1 🎟 to Paradise , left the other for Ric.

Oh brother someone always has to ruin it all by bringing in religious bs. This is supposed to be memorabilia for Rick Ocasek, nobody here wants to read about him heading for internal torment over his beliefs that are nobody's business anyway. Keep that crap to yourself!!

Benjamin Orr

@@davidellis5141 I told that comment to coworkers today, 👍

Gina Bayer I’m from So Cal ( born & raised). I used to love the south OC. Now it’s congested. I’m hoping to leave CA soon, but the weather still keeps me here. It’s a love/hate thing.

DChaveit415 I totally get it. I love Texas but I miss a few things. I there in March and walked the HB pier with my daughters and brought back so many memories

Mr. Jones I was born and raised in Huntington Beach. Raised my kids in Mission Viejo and Lake Forest. I lived in Riverside county for awhile too. My nephew is Joe Enfante the bassist for Roxann

Mr. Jones oh very cool! I was born in 65. When I was a young teen I had a boyfriend who lived in an apartment upstairs from Jacks surfboards in Huntington Beach and I loved sitting in the window people watching and watching the ocean. South Orange County got so congested and expensive and people were very stuck up and mean and I just needed to get away. I’m very humble and down to earth and people in Texas are nice and just like to have a good time. I do miss the ocean a lot. I was in California in March when my mom passed away. I miss my granddaughters in Murrieta

I met him in an Atlanta "club" in 1999 or 2000. He was with Derek St. Holmes and Pat Travers. They were very friendly and spoke with me and mostly my uncle. They had formed a band, Big People. Travers was eventually booted. I saw them perform right before Orr's death. He played bass but was obviously sick. He died shortly after.

Gina Bayer this is where we all get together to share our stories and memories The Cars made for us. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL Cars Fans.

VAL13C I saw Benjamin Orr just before he passed away when he was in a band called Big People

Gina Bayer that’s awesome. I don’t recall as a young kid The Cars coming to Phoenix Az. But I can see my self pogo dancing in the crowd to Cars music. Im a straight Male, but I always thought Ben Orr was a handsome dude. I envy his hair. Lol!!

Gina Bayer I’m now looking up the band Big People. Thanks for that info. I didn’t know about that.

VAL13C you’re pretty funny. I live in Texas now. My oldest daughter lives in Maricopa, AZ. I left Cali in 2008. I saw quite a few bands back in the day. Aerosmith, KISS, AC/DC, Eddy Money, ZZ Top, Joe Walsh, several others

Sweet Jesus man.

That's sad

@@appletree8441Is it though? Or could it be that you're sad?

@@appletree8441 Why?

@mike derocco ... No shit! Idiot.

That's so weird there's no record of them in Tulsa at that time, I had a friend who saw them at the Lloyd Noble in Norman, it says they played there in 1987 but there's no way that was the one he saw because he was backstage and open the door and saw a shitload of Elliot Easton Dean's and I'm pretty sure he stopped playing those by 87 but I can't find anything else is no way you can remember maybe the date or something or the Venue?

I finally found it you saw them August 9th 1979 at the Tulsa Assembly Center, damn you're lucky how many people can say they saw the Cars in the 70s

@@JudasPriest82 Dang you're good. I looked every search possible. Knew ticket stub lost with time. Started questioning myself. Yes they were awesome. I remember the sit up and take notice for everyone. The Assembly Center, I wasn't sure about where. Civic center was another venue. Our son would take our Cars tapes and listen. My name is Cindy so my husband would always say Cindy-O. Thank you for a wonderful memory with now a timestamp. I recently lost my husband Jan 8 this year. We fortunately had 42 years. Back in the day Tulsa had many great bands we saw during those days. The Cars was an all time favorite, especially feeling part of the beginning. That next day though seriously finding an album or cassette was a scavenger hunt. Hearing they have been a sellout today, really was even more alluring. Knowing every one sold more than likely was there and the Cars were going to be big. Thank you so much for the blast. Have a wonderful time in life, your a very kind person!

@@JudasPriest82 Meant to say also I was off on my year. I thought we had seen them before we both graduated. He had, I hadn't. Got it half right. Sorry if that made it harder. Btw how did you finally run into it. You must be a Cars super fan yourself... Obviously. Again thank you! "Let The Good Times Roll"

@Moon Goddess I Googled it as much as I could and then I'd finally just went to a set list website typed in The Cars Oklahoma, they played here more than a few times after the show you went to, and so sorry to hear about your husband that's terrible but kudos to him Cindy O is clever, I'll think of that everytime I listen to that song from now on, I'm only 29 years old and the Cars are my favorite band right now, I'm doing so much research on them it's unbelievable

@Sharon Jensen Amen

Me Too JoJo

When it was truly a music video channel. I want my (old school) MTV!

Carol Canuso I remember not having cable, and all the kids at school talking bout music videos on MTV. I envied in jealousy and hate. And would cry to my parents “I want my MTV”!! Two month later for my birthday I had MTV. Mom and Dad had already planned on getting it way before all my crying. They just wanted to surprise me. Best birthday everrr. Like totally.

That's beautiful , I didn't have a lot growing up, I guess I was surprised as well?

Me too. There was also a show on regular t.v. called "Friday Night Videos." Another called "Night Flight." I think the first music video I ever seen was "Beat it" by MJ. Better days my friends. RIP Ric and Ben.

August377 oh yeah, Friday Night Videos. I once canceled a blind date with a beautiful girl, I was told. Because Tiffany was gonna premiere her “I Think Were Alone Now” video. I was 16yrs old. I also saw Duran Duran’s A View to a Kill video for the first time on FNV. Yes The 80s were the total rad, Like for Sure you know. RIP, Ric Ocasek and Eddie Money.

Oh yea miss those days

Yep,Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass, in the,70's,and early eighties were the best.

The Rat!

@@suncookrocks Yeaaah! Goodtimes!, Do you remember Spit? the punk rock venue?

@@lisaellis9749 Sure do! Lansdowne Street

@Alan Brown Lots of songwriters are not the frontmen though I would say Ric was A frontman. Ben was usually the one who was front and center in the live set up, even when he wasn't singing lead. Ben sang enough songs to be a co-frontman and frankly he was better at it and more than that he really enjoyed performing, unlike Ric who didn't particularly like playing live and esp didn't like touring.

Gloria Woodie makes you wonder whose gonna be next. Scary and sad at the same time. In the world of entertainment, the same goes for actors.

75 isn't exactly young.

Yes, sadly, Tom Petty, Eddie Money and now Rick O. RIP Guys