If you were trying to design a band perfectly suited for the transition from the ’70s into the ’80s, you might end up with The Cars.
Rock guitars. New Wave synthesizers. Impossibly catchy songs. And standing at the center of it all was Ric Ocasek.
In this special Stuck in the ’80s memorial episode, we remember Ric Ocasek, who died in 2019 at age 75, and celebrate the music he created as the principal songwriter and one of the unmistakable voices of The Cars.
Ric Ocasek and The Cars Enter the ’80s
The Cars were already stars before our favorite decade arrived. Their 1978 debut gave us “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Good Times Roll.”
But the band proved to be just as comfortable in the ’80s.
Albums including Panorama and Shake It Up kept The Cars on rock radio, with the latter producing the title track and “Since You’re Gone.”
Then came 1984’s Heartbeat City.
“You Might Think,” “Magic” and MTV
If The Cars were built for ’80s radio, they were equally well suited for MTV.
“You Might Think” became one of the era’s most memorable videos, with Ocasek appearing as everything from a fly to King Kong while pursuing model Susan Gallagher. The clip won the first-ever Video of the Year award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1984.
Heartbeat City also produced “Magic,” “Hello Again,” “Drive” and the title track.
And while bassist Benjamin Orr sang lead on “Drive,” Ocasek wrote the song — another reminder of how central his songwriting was to The Cars’ identity.
More Than The Cars
Ocasek’s influence extended well beyond his own band.
He released solo albums and became a respected record producer, working with artists including Weezer, Bad Brains and Guided by Voices.
His production work helped connect the New Wave era he helped define with generations of alternative-rock bands that followed.
In other words, even when you weren't listening to The Cars, there was a decent chance you were listening to a band influenced by them.
In this Ric Ocasek memorial episode, we look back on his life, his songs and the wonderfully strange presence that made him unlike any other rock star of his era.
Tall. Skinny. Sunglasses seemingly attached permanently to his face.
And responsible for a ridiculous number of great songs.
Ric Ocasek was exactly what we needed.
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