The Cars - Ben Orr - Cruiser

[GETop5]

Cool video! Thanks!

[sadalite]

I noticed something weird in "You are the Girl" video. Close to the start the girl on the monitor is holding up calendar pages. Did anyone notice she actually holds up April 2000? Thats the month and year Ben found out about his cancer that robbed us of his talent. Life has some strange coincidences.

[progrockable]

....my shape is shapeless in your suit......!!! Great lyric.

[luv2aptnz]

Great song. Didn't get the credit it deserved

[fetishisticrose]

I'm surprised by everyone calling this 'rock'... back in the '80's ...there were a lot of haters...they called The Cars...synth-rock and said they were 'fakes' because of the special effects of the keyboard...and their use of drum machines...and synthesizers ...might be why album/c.d. 'Door to Door' did not score on the charts......BUT ,I am forever in love with this group ....All of them are true entertainers/musicians....I'm glad Ric Ocasek is back!

[PD2GETU]

@fetishisticrose The Cars are a one off band that can never be duplicated no matter how hard anyone tries . They have been in my heart since i was 8 , and i'm now 42 . Now i feel like a kid again with their new album !

[fetishisticrose]

@PD2GETU I totally agree ....I love that each of them don't try to upstage the others...while they perform you can see them occasionally smile at one another.

[jacquesL0711]

@PD2GETU ................ I can Relate . though I am 50. Seen there Debut Tour in Philadelphia... Opening* Band *. 'STARZ'...and 'Grotti Btothers'...[Pittsburgh PA, Band]. It was Really a Fresh Start for the 'CARS'. there Production was Simple as THEY are BUT PUT OUT SUCH FORCE and Have that CLEVER RIFFS N Lyrics/Voice that is Captivating.... Similar to the Psychedelic Furs...[Richard Butler]...UNIQUE Voice..... Peace Out...

[240ups]

I like the Orr voice too, but Ocasick is a great character rocker too. Two "OO'S" that could have had their own successful bands easily. The combination makes you go "OOOOOOOO"!

[DeclanTKatt]

This is my favorite Cars song, Ben is great singing... but you can totally tell Ric wrote the song's lyrics. They are so bizarre. "The screaming fish".... that's Ric.

[Krsna93]

Ben Orr is Immortal, Listen to his voice! No one else sings like that.

[THECARS7879]

@Krsna93  Ben Orr Cant be Copied in Music, your right

[angel74572]

BEN was cool fonzy was a fruit,compared to him..WORLD will miss you.GOD BLESS...

[Aus78Formula]

how much does that *tap tap* noise get stuck in your head!

[generalBlasto]

@Aus78Formula It's almost a march.

[vasarian]

Ben is the man! One of the coolest men in rock. Going to see The Cars next week and will surely miss him! Rock On Ben!

[JeffWeavil]

Miss ya, ya Monster!

[shadowman5216]

"THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE"

[Ticona2]

not many people these days know what a B side is, or should I say was? The cars were awesome, RIP Ben, will always miss your voice......

[tonebenderx]

Fantastic!  Orr was damn cool.

[DachshundAdvil]

Another brilliant gem. Priceless.

[serekithegreat]

One hell of a rock anthem, and no one barely played it when Shake It Up was released. When I heard it I was completely blown away by it's genius. I always thought Ocasek was on vocals, but now that I know that Orr was on vocals, it just adds to the mystique and aura of the song.

[bluedog101]

My favorite Cars song, EVER!!!

[serekithegreat]

@bluedog101 Mine too ! A masterpiece of rock & roll.

[19330131]

Just for the record. Ben's given name was Benjamin Orzechowski. He is of Czechoslovak and Russian Parentage. Born and grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. He was a great musician and a fine man, in all ways. Kira

[MEDYK1961]

@19330131 Orzechowski its Polish name.

[240ups]

He could have easily gone off and made his own way early on from The Cars. We are so lucky he didn't but we lost a great artist way too soon non the less.

[zenprole]

Um, yeah, The Cars were definitely studio-based. Remember that 'Private Affair With The Cars' contest on MTV? In the brief highlights, David Robinson looked *positively bored* on stage.

[QuasarDiamond]

Ben is the best.

[godparticles1]

In my view this is one of the top ten best tunes ever and the thing is most genius things are invisible to ost of the population or never get press tv coverage

[magilojoh]

In some pictures he bore a resemblance to Mikhail Baryshnikov...IMHO

[Gina97xls]

@magilojoh Benjamin was part Russian and Polish I think...

[magilojoh]

@Gina97xls I read something bout that but couldn't place where so thought I made it up in my head, but now you are my proof. Thanks.

[magilojoh]

@Gina97xls that would make sense with his looks and I also read his real name was a lengthy polish-russian sounding name. Beautiful man- inside and out.

[luv2aptnz]

This was one of my favorite Cars songs. Definitely underrated. Disappointing group in concert though. They played only 30 minutes and refused to play an encore. Fans were so mad they started tearing up the place.

[Gina97xls]

@luv2aptnz when was that? I went to two fantastic concerts! one of them was the Houston concert that is here on YouTube.... I loved them then and love them more now!

[luv2aptnz]

@Gina97xls I saw them in 1980 Omaha, NE. The music was good but they played for such a short time it was like they were doing us a favor appearing at all.

[pelle31]

Benjamin Orr passed away 10 years ago today. Thanks for the great music.

[IdahoAngler2]

Best song on that album for sure. Elliot Eastons solo at the end KILLS! I imagine a Marshall head/cabs, les Paul & a tube screamer just overdriven to the teeth. Phenominal guitar sound!!!!!!

[djwuakeen]

All this time i thought Ocasek sang lead on this tune. I love this song. it received a lot of airplay in the early 80's on KROQ here in L.A.

[24sarasmile]

I will always be in love with Ben....:) <3

[clintbronson5]

So funny! I had the CARS SHAKE IT UP 45 and not onced flipped it over?!? Now that I am older I have a HUGE pleasure for THE (early) CARS. I have to admit though that this song should have been on THE CARS or CANDY-O it fits better with those songs as oppose to the ( "cough") SHAKE IT UP=DRIVE=EMOTION TO MOTION

[ladybluluv]

Missin' you and lovin' you still Benjamin.

kisses and hugs

peace my friend

[unicron24]

what does screaming fish mean???

[drnrg31]

@unicron24 Screammy woman.LOL!! Don't try to decipher Ocasek's lyrical meanings.

[unicron24]

@drnrg31 thought so,,,thanks for the info..

[Valien4life]

@unicron24 ~ perhaps a psychedelic premonition of the talking fish on The Sopranos.  JK! :0) Yeah, like drnrg31 said, don't try to decipher.

[kgm0313]

*kisses* ill always love you ben

[zenprole]

They played this on their Fridays appearance ('81?).

[Diabolik771]

@zenprole Yes, I remember they played that show. I think they did 2 songs Hello again as well.

[Diabolik771]

@Diabolik771 Oops my mistake, they have them on youtube. Shake It up was one of them not Hello again.

[wetweasel56]

God must have hated it while Ben was here. Jealous God, you took him away because you couldn't stand to be away from him anymore. Admit it!

[unicron24]

any one know where i can get the bass tab? ive got the root beat but would like the details....???

[stillspooky]

@unicron24 I used to play the guitar part on the E string, while hammering the bass line with my remaining fingers, never wrote anything down though.

[unicron24]

@stillspooky sweet i'll try it...

[stardaddyo9]

"sucker punch is in your heart". i don't know what that means but sounds so damn cool

[JunkyardKid]

@stardaddyo9 It's that feeling you get when she dumps you and it comes at a complete surprize.

[stardaddyo9]

@JunkyardKid i had not considered that. thank you very much

[weiscoolful]

Y does the hot one have to die?!!!!!!!!!!!!! And is it greg that does the high parts? I think so.

[weiscoolful]

Y does the hot one have to die?!!!!!!!!!!!!! And is it greg that does the high parts? I think so.

[weiscoolful]

Y does the hot one have to die?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BenjaminOrrLegacy]

Yeah his son is a beautiful young man. Hes 15 now

[christoJihad2]

What a fantastic voice, one of the best vocal instruments in rock history. RIP Ben.......

[KarmicOmen]

Devastated when I heard he was sick -- crushed beyond that to hear he died. When Ben died he had a five year old little boy named Ben -- that I imagine to be just as adorable as his dad.

Okay, is it me or does anyone else hear Ric's voice in this song? For the longest time I got the vocalist wrong -- they sound nearly IDENTICAL -- especially live if you close your eyes and just listen.

[rob4713]

he died from pancreanic cancer, its a shame, he was only 53

[ladybluluv]

I miss Ben!

He was my favorite back in the 80's. I had a HUGE crush on him to say the least.

Such a wonderful talent and man.

[chippy783]

3 chords does it for me

[SuperJoeya]

awsome song love it

[juankenon]

I've had that synth line stuck in my head since like preschool, amazing track

[JunkyardKid]

best song on Shake it Up

[mybabba]

Is this the version from the album? It seems a tad slower to me and the vocal a little different.

[H00yaah]

Yes, this is the original version from the album. It sounds spot on to me. This song holds a direct parallel on my life when I would cruise down Westheimer in H-town back in the day. Memories...

[NPR150]

Never foreget the late Shift with this LP (on casette) before DRUG testing (BS) High times at work. Clocking out at Midnight. Seams I just got here, ah the drugs, wish you could have been there Ben. RIP

[yukseleyy]

RIP Ben

[sweenykim]

RIP BEN, WE MISS YOU!

[Rewipeslideass]

Ben bought a 9mm HK sub machine gun from a law enforcement dealer legalily many years ago. He didn't fuck around about protecting himself from goons. True story. I bought much from that store!!

[drinkabit2much]

Lifetime Cars fan, been to 3 concerts between 79 and 82, and I felt like the last to know Ben had died....So thanks for putting this one out....good work!

[julieswahn]

Where does this amzingness come from? I'll always be in awe of this lovely fellow. And band.

[PrepDogg]

song is damn funky,  I'll tell you what

[runehealing]

Tell the world why you're so glad.....

[DrakeDietrick]

Set aside...the SCREAMING FISHHHHHHHH...

[jimibrazi]

I think in the times of Ben Orr The Cars was much more rock'n roll. I like the Orr voice.

[TheMajorHawke]

@jimibrazi

agreed

[SS421982]

Ben....I remember buying the 1st Cars album while in Jr. High. I loved it, but before I even played it...I inspected the back cover and decided that Ben Orr was the coolest and my favorite. That indeed never changed, but intensified as I became a huge fan througout their career as well as Ben's solo.

[aaronmonkeylover]

i heard that Ben and Rik are both dead? How did they die.?

[yuffenough]

Ben died from Pancreatic Cancer, and Ric is still alive.

[pamphish]

It does sound like he says "stone red eyeballs reflect and glow", but it's really "chrome red eyeballs reflect and roll", quite a different image altogether. That's okay. Sometimes what you think you hear is more interesting! MOst of the time I can't tell what the hell they are saying in a song until I find the written lyrics.

[nuclearskull]

I know what ya mean about "lyrics" Imagine the horror of my embarassment as I had been singing "I gotta scratch my dick" to Electric Light Orchestra's's "Strange Magic".... Always READ THE LYRICS 1st!!!

[CRiteThruU]

"Stone red eyeballs - reflect & glow"

[pamphish]

C'mon baby, were you there? There song was so, so hot when it came out!

[DrakeDietrick]

"Set aside the screaming FISHHHHH"

[riflelarose]

Damn! I almost forgot this cool old tune; matter of fact-I didn't even know Ben Orr had passed! Great band, killer tune.

[CRiteThruU]

Benjamin Orr was, is and always will be the COOLEST human being on the face of the Earth. Rest in peace Ben, I'm missing you.

[yuffenough]

Ben Orr is cooler then me...

[CRiteThruU]

Ben Orr invented cool...

[ringostarr37]

I'm sure a lot of people are cooler than you......lol

[pamphish]

...yeah, but you're pretty damn cool for posting this.

[MrLeagueOJustice]

@yuffenough

I agree

[CoolCarlnTHEsouth]

@yuffenough

My hairstyle is a tribute to Ben Orr. He is way cooler than me, though.

[ringostarr37]

I agree with you, except for the exception of the Beatles. They are off the charts for cool. But the Cars are top the chart (of those who are on it).

[CRiteThruU]

Of course you think the Beatles are cooler...you're freakin RINGO STARR, man. Lol.

(yea, I agree - the Beatles are pretty damn cool, Ringo!)

[MrLeagueOJustice]

@CRiteThruU

I agree

[willminkorea]

Shake It Up was a fantastic album. The Cars came along at a bad time for rock- as far as album sales. They still did great stuff, all things considered.

[michet1995]

this song rocks

[drnrg31]

Very underestinmated song. It was the B-side of Shake It Up. It was early Cars sound, but should have become one of thier biggest hits. I mean they were The Cars and a song called Cruiser. Just now people are starting to upload it. Definately one of Ben's best. very nice presentation. If only....

[skipbreakfast]

I was a kid when my dad bought the "Shake It Up" single for me. I accidentally put the B-side on and heard this and was absolutely blown away.

[drnrg31]

You and me both. The melody was very haunting and the bass line is still one of a kind.

[drnrg31]

@clintbronson5 Back in 1982 every rock station played Cruiser once in a while. KROQ, KLOS, KMET. I was too young to buy the Shake It Up albume, but I my allowance covered 45s. Everytime I turned on the radio, Shake It Up was on, but Cruiser was the reason I bought the 45.

[clintbronson5]

@drnrg31 Yeah I can't believe that I have never heard this song till now. I love THE CARS but not the later ( commercial stuff ) songs. I feel both THE CARS & CANDY-O are their masterpieces along with this song of course. Thanks for the info drnrg31

[lespaulslut]

legend!!!! i love this guy!