The New Cars - It´s Alive (2006)

The New Cars were a band formed in 2005 with two of the original members of the 1970s/1980s new wave band The Cars. The band was composed of original Cars members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes, along with vocalist/guitarist Todd Rundgren, bassist Kasim Sulton, and drummer Prairie Prince. The band performed The Cars' classic songs, some new material, and selections from Rundgren's career. In 2005, rumors began circulating that Easton and Hawkes would be teaming with Todd Rundgren in a new Cars lineup, with Rundgren replacing The Cars original vocalists Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr. The rumors turned out to be true, with the revamped lineup calling themselves The New Cars. Two regular Rundgren collaborators, bassist Kasim Sulton and drummer Prairie Prince, replaced the late bassist Benjamin Orr and drummer David Robinson in the new lineup. Robinson, who retired from the music industry years before, was invited to join the group but amicably declined. Ocasek, who had opted out of any possibilities of a reunion, gave his blessing to Easton and Hawkes, saying, "I want Elliot and Greg to be happy". They released the album "It's Alive!" in 2006. The album contained 18 tracks, consisting of 15 live recordings (12 classic Cars songs, the new single "Not Tonight", and 2 Todd Rundgren songs), plus 3 new original studio tracks.

The band's first tour, the summer Roadrage Tour with Blondie kicked off May 12, 2006 in Mississippi. Rundgren referred to the project as "an opportunity... for me to pay my bills, play to a larger audience, work with musicians I know and like, and ideally have some fun for a year".

The New Cars played their last concert in September 2007. Rundgren resumed his solo career, and his 2009 solo tour featured Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince and Greg Hawkes as members of his backing band. A later Rundgren tour in 2010 featured band members Kasim Sulton and Prairie Prince. In 2010, Hawkes and Easton reunited with surviving Cars members Ric Ocasek and David Robinson for an album and tour.

 

 

01.  "Just What I Needed"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 4:11  

02.  "Let's Go"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 3:49  
03.  "Candy-O"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 2:49  
04.  "You Might Think"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 3:12  
05.  "My Best Friend's Girl"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 4:12 
06.  "I Saw the Light"  (Todd Rundgren)  - 3:02  
07.  "You're All I've Got Tonight"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 5:22    
08.  "Not Tonight"  (Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, Ric Ocasek, Todd Rundgren)  - 3:32  
09.  "Drive"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 4:04   
10.  "Moving in Stereo"  (Greg Hawkes, Ric Ocasek)  - 5:14  
11.  "Shake It Up"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 3:45  
12.  "Dangerous Type"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 4:24  
13.  "Bye Bye Love"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 5:01   
14.  "Open My Eyes"  (Todd Rundgren)  - 3:01  
15.  "Good Times Roll"  (Ric Ocasek)  - 4:54  
16.  "Not Tonight"  (Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, Todd Rundgren)  - 3:25  
17.  "Warm"  (Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, Todd Rundgren)  - 4:03  
18.  "More"  (Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, Todd Rundgren)  - 3:46 

 

Credits

Todd Rundgren – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
Greg Hawkes – keyboards, backing vocals
Kasim Sulton – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
Prairie Prince – drums, percussion
Kenny Aronoff - drums
Atom Ellis - bass guitar, background vocals, ukelele

Engineer – Mark Linett, Phillip Broussard

Engineer [Additional] – Danie Velasco, Richard Clayton
Executive Producer – Jeff Varner
Artwork By [Cover] – Robb Muller
Layout [Package], Design – Kurt Sievert
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – Todd Rundgren
Other [A & R Coordinator] – Marina Mena
Producer – Todd Rundgren, The New Cars

 

Notes

Genre: New Wave, Pop Rock
Length: 1:11:46

 

© 2006 Eleven Seven Records