The lace --- Benjamin Orr --- 1986 (Elektra)
While Ric Ocasek is the real solo star from the Cars, let's not forget the late Benjamin Orr, who, though he only got to release one solo album before his death in 2000, made a hell of a record. Hardly a bad track, a lot of it very Cars-like as you might expect, but with some pretty personal stuff on there too.
It kicks off with "Too hot to stop", a good boppy rocker very in the mould of the Cars, and indeed "In circles" is similar, but it's tracks like the mellow "Skyline", the sad "When you're gone" and the closer "This time around" that really point the way to the quality on this album. Unlike his Cars bandmate, Orr resists the urge to draft in some famous guests, and only Elliot Easton and Michael Landau make the cut.
Orr co-writes every track with Diane Grey Page, free of the influence of the Cars. "Spinning" is another great track, and "Stay the night", his only hit, but of course he'll always be remembered as the voice behind "Drive", one of the Cars' biggest hits. This album though, proves he had his own voice, and a singular talent.
RIP, Ben.
TRACKLISTING
1. Too hot to stop
2. In circles
3. Stay the night
4. Skyline
5. When you're gone
6. Spinning
7. Hold on
8. The lace
9. That's the way
10. This time around