Ric Ocasek lead singer of 'The Cars' dies at 75.

[nuckin_futz]

Ric Ocasek, Lead Singer of The Cars, Dead in New York at 75

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

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the rock band The Cars, died Sunday in New York at age 75.

 

Police said they received a call around 4 p.m. for an unconscious male at a townhouse on East 19th Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement sources confirmed the deceased was Ocasek.

 

Ocasek and his band were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2018. The institution described the band as "hook-savvy with the perfect combo of new wave and classic rock."

 

The band had 13 top-40 singles, including radio staples like "Good Times Roll" and "Just What I Needed," and Ocasek went on to a successful producing career after The Cars broke up in the late 1980s.

 

He was also known for his long-running marriage to the Czech supermodel Paulina Porizkova. She announced their separation in 2018 after 28 years of marriage. 

 

They listed the 19th Street residence for sale earlier this year for more than $15 million. 

 

(edit) There seems to be some age discrepancy with many sites listing him as only 70 years old. 

 

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Ahh man a few days after Eddie Money dies too. This is a bummer. IMO their debut album is one of the finest debut albums I have ever heard. Just packed with classic after classic.

 

Like this one .........

 

 

RIP and thanks a million for so many great tunes.

Edited September 16, 2019 by nuckin_futz

[Nuxfanabroad]

You're right, that debut was phenomenal. Thanks for the music & RIP

[sonoman]

Two greats gone in two days, RIP Ric. 

[Kragar]

[samurai]

One of the most underrated bands of the late 70s and early 80s.  Loved their music growing up.  

[RWMc1]

Crapola. Two distinctive voices gone in a couple of days RIP Ric.

 

[-DLC-]

That album INSTANTLY takes me back to a place and time.  Faces from the past pop into my head.  We used to throw big parties...my friend Steve had an amazing stereo with massive speakers, a pool table and a swimming pool.  We were set.  And every song on this album puts me right back there.  Thanks for the music, Ric...it was fantastic and you will be missed.  

 

Moving In Stereo was trippy and one of my favourites.

[ReggieBush]

Im 20 and know several of there songs basically by heart. Timeless classics.

 

RIP Mr. Ocasek

[Nuxfanabroad]

2 minutes ago, debluvscanucks said:

That album INSTANTLY takes me back to a place and time.  Faces from the past pop into my head.  We used to throw big parties...my friend had an amazing stereo with massive speakers, a pool table and a swimming pool.  We were set.  And every song on this album puts me right back there.  Thanks for the music, Ric...it was fantastic and you will be missed.  

 

Moving In Stereo was trippy and one of my favourites.

Side 2 really grew on me as the 80's rolled past.

 

I seem to remember Playland/PNE using "Good Times Roll" in a promotional way(was it summer of '79?), when the tune was new & fresh. Is this my memory playing tricks, because bands were quite reluctant then to use their hits/lyrics in such commercial ways?

 

It was so cool how people connected through music back then.

[nuckin_futz]

2 minutes ago, debluvscanucks said:

That album INSTANTLY takes me back to a place and time.  Faces from the past pop into my head.  We used to throw big parties...my friend had an amazing stereo with massive speakers, a pool table and a swimming pool.  We were set.  And every song on this album puts me right back there.  Thanks for the music, Ric...it was fantastic and you will be missed.  

 

Moving In Stereo was trippy and one of my favourites.

Just look at this track listing. It's absolutely goofy how good that record was...........

 

1.	"Good Times Roll"
2.	"My Best Friend's Girl"
3.	"Just What I Needed"
4.	"I'm in Touch with Your World"
5.	"Don't Cha Stop"

6.	"You're All I've Got Tonight"
7.	"Bye Bye Love"
8.	"Moving in Stereo"
9.	"All Mixed Up"

[-DLC-]

Me too, Nux (re side two).  Ha, as soon as I posted You're All I've Got Tonight started playing in my head.  

 

We 100% connected through music.  As I grew up as a teenager it was:  Beatles White Album, Stones (Mostly Sticky Fingers), Zappa, Cars, Bowie (Ziggy Stardust), Zeppelin (Everything), Pink Floyd (same), etc. then some other Canadian stuff...Max Webster, Goddo.  Music was EVERYTHING.  

[Caboose]

Now who's gonna drive me home

[RWMc1]

I had all of their albums but this one from 2011 although I've listened to it. They were definitely a part of the soundtrack of my life.

 

[Nuxfanabroad]

Candy-O had a few cool tracks too, but that first album was a Monster to follow up...

[-DLC-]

9 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

Just look at this track listing. It's absolutely goofy how good that record was...........

 

1.	"Good Times Roll"
2.	"My Best Friend's Girl"
3.	"Just What I Needed"
4.	"I'm in Touch with Your World"
5.	"Don't Cha Stop"

6.	"You're All I've Got Tonight"
7.	"Bye Bye Love"
8.	"Moving in Stereo"
9.	"All Mixed Up"

Funny how that was one of those albums (there were many back then) that you could put on, start to finish and it was ALL GOOD.  Just one song after another....kept getting better.

 

Is this the right time to say "they don't make 'em like that anymore?".   

 

 

[Westcoasting]

30 minutes ago, debluvscanucks said:

That album INSTANTLY takes me back to a place and time.  Faces from the past pop into my head.  We used to throw big parties...my friend Steve had an amazing stereo with massive speakers, a pool table and a swimming pool.  We were set.  And every song on this album puts me right back there.  Thanks for the music, Ric...it was fantastic and you will be missed.  

 

Moving In Stereo was trippy and one of my favourites.

One of the greatest debut albums ever! One album that you play both sides and every song is fantastic

[Westcoasting]

24 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

Just look at this track listing. It's absolutely goofy how good that record was...........

 

1.	"Good Times Roll"
2.	"My Best Friend's Girl"
3.	"Just What I Needed"
4.	"I'm in Touch with Your World"
5.	"Don't Cha Stop"

6.	"You're All I've Got Tonight"
7.	"Bye Bye Love"
8.	"Moving in Stereo"
9.	"All Mixed Up"

Absolutely a great classic  An album to kick Disco to the curb and back to rock music!

[nuckin_futz]

9 minutes ago, Nuxfanabroad said:

Candy-O had a few cool tracks too, but that first album was a Monster to follow up...

"Let's Go" "It's All I Can Do" and "Dangerous Type" were my faves off that one.

 

8 minutes ago, debluvscanucks said:

Funny how that was one of those albums (there were many back then) that you could put on, start to finish and it was ALL GOOD.  Just one song after another....kept getting better.

 

Is this the right time to say "they don't make 'em like that anymore?".   

 

 

That album was all killer no filler.

 

Sadly, I think you're right that they don't make them like that anymore. A song like "Moving in Stereo" would be considered a deep cut. Nowadays most people just buy the one or 2 songs they have heard off Itunes and that's it. You never hear the deep cuts. It's a shame.

 

 

[Nuxfanabroad]

5 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

"Let's Go" "It's All I Can Do" and "Dangerous Type" were my faves off that one.

 

That album was all killer no filler.

 

Sadly, I think you're right that they don't make them like that anymore. A song like "Moving in Stereo" would be considered a deep cut. Nowadays most people just buy the one or 2 songs they have heard off Itunes and that's it. You never hear the deep cuts. It's a shame.

 

 

I think Fast Times At Ridgemont H gave that tune a lil' 80's boost too. Cameron Crowe(Almost Famous was based on his story) picked some great 70's tunes for that iconic flick.

[Captain Canuck #12]

9 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

"Let's Go" "It's All I Can Do" and "Dangerous Type" were my faves off that one.

 

That album was all killer no filler.

 

Sadly, I think you're right that they don't make them like that anymore. A song like "Moving in Stereo" would be considered a deep cut. Nowadays most people just buy the one or 2 songs they have heard off Itunes and that's it. You never hear the deep cuts. It's a shame.

 

 

And Moving in Stereo faded right into All Mixed Up, with no gap between songs.  That's something else you can't get today without having whole albums, as opposed to buying just the individual songs.