RIP Ric Ocasek

The Cars were the most Classic Rock of the New Wave bands.  Their debut album is still perfect.  And they knocked out hooky singles and album tracks until the mid-80's.  Ric Ocasek wrote the band’s greatest hits, and sang on many of them. Away from the Cars, his solo records deserve a reappraisal. And he also had a side job during his Cars run, and without them Producing 3 Weezer albums, and many other new and established acts Suicide’s “Dream Baby Dream”). 

But Ocasek’s hooky genius starts and ends with the Cars. Start with their debut album. A perfect template of how New Eave would collide with Classic Rock. After that Heartbeat City is my 2nd fave. But you can’t go wrong with anything between the debut and that album. 
And their Greatest Hits album is a must. 

Here’s a few of my favorite Ocasek songs with and without the Cars that are worth checking out, beyond the big hits.

Emotion In Motion
True to You
Something To Grab For
Jimmy Jimmy
Rockaway
Dangerous Type
Candy-O
It’s All Can Do
Gimme Some Slack
I’m Not The One
Why Can’t I Have You
Touch and Go
Blue Tip