Customer Reviews

The Cars Live - Musikladen 1979 [VHS]

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Although certain Cars fans favor the "Heartbeat City" era, I suspect that a high percentage of Cars lovers lean toward their first couple albums, from 1978 and '79 respectively, as their favorites. The concert performance contained herein was recorded for the German pop music series Musikladen in late 1978, and although The Cars received notoriously unflattering reviews from the British press on this European tour, every track is performed with a lot of energy and conviction anyway--it barely feels at all like they're merely going through the motions. The only time that technological primitiveness seems to be a problem is with the pompous, overloud syndrums at the beginning of "Good Times Roll"--the syndrums were kept in check on the studio version--and if this was the best they could do in a live setting, they should have just been smart & ditched them altogether instead of feeling the need to recreate the studio version so exactingly. As for the camera work, it's very tastefully done--Elliot Easton was a great lead guitarist and thankfully both he and synth player Greg Hawkes are given solid coverage so you can actually watch what they do. Hawkes' performance with various devices on "I'm In Touch With Your World" is impressive and highly amusing, plus it's interesting to see him switch to guitar making for a 3 guitar attack on "Take What You Want". Hawkes usually looks incredibly stiff and hopelessly nerdy on stage, but what the hell, it's pretty amusing--it's probably just what came naturally to him. Ben Orr had a total command on playing bass guitar, and he's in great voice here, plus he kind of serves as the "front man". Ric Ocasek's stage presence is ultra-collected--he never smiles or speaks to the audience (it's no surprise to learn that Ric hated touring)--and when matched with his confident performance, not to mention his sunglasses, it provides a certain mysteriousness which is quite fitting for a guy like Ocasek. The background vocals leave a little to be desired, but still, it's not a huge gripe. Don't come to this DVD expecting "Jurassic Park"-style sound & visuals--the sound quality, although mono, is real good sounding mono, and the picture quality is very good as well. Plus, there are no weak tracks in the entire concert. Although others have complained about the audio & picture quality, I must say I feel the lack of gloss and relative 'lo-fi'-ness to be a refreshing change of pace. If you prefer gloss and polish, then go listen to the Cars' studio albums.

In addition to the concert, you get a 40+ minute interview segment with all 5 Cars members together, and it's a major addition. Although there is a slight sense of awkwardness from time to time, Easton, Ocasek, and David Robinson are all in great spirit and display cool personalities that are impossible to dislike. Easton had long hoped for a Cars reunion and he's clearly delighted to be with his old band-mates again. And Ocasek once again comes across as mysterious yet with a solid dose of whimsy--he has a way of being amusingly evasive. Hawkes, true to form, is pretty quiet, as is Orr. It's obvious that they all knew Ben Orr was nearing the end, and indeed, he died just a few months or so after the interview took place--this probably had a lot to do with the idea of bringing the full band together one last time, but either way, I think it's really great that they did so before it was too late.

If you're a bonafide Cars fanatic, I can't imagine you'd think this is anything less than a supremely enjoyable DVD. Even medium-level fans ought to find it worthwhile.

As a longtime fan of The Cars, I was very happy to see this DVD released. It's divided into two main segments, the 1979 German TV show performance and a very recent (this summer?) interview with all five members, sitting together and talking about the old times: interesting, and sometimes amusing, recollections of their early live dates, how they met one another, album cover art, how they never seemed to play into the whole "rock star" image and kept their feet on the ground and remained a Boston-based band. Sadly, Benjamin Orr appears very ill and weak, and therefore says the least. But he smiles quite a bit and offers some nice comments. As epected, Ric Ocasek seems to do a lot of the talking, although guitarist Elliot Easton really seems the most open, relaxed and talkative. They seem to genuinely enjoy being in each other's company again. Especially touching is Easton's claim that he was "very proud" of the work he - and the band did - and then he looks over to the other four and says "I'm very proud of these guys". For a band with an image/reputation as somewhat cold and aloof, this interview goes a long, long way to change that. The performance footage itself is great. Yes, a little rough. Not the best sound in the world, but their playing is energetic and great to watch, especially Easton, Orr and Hawkes. Ben Orr certainly had a wonderful stage presence. Dressed all in black leather with shaggy hair, sleepy eyes and all, he LOOKED like a cool rock bassist. Easton's guitar work is exceptional, especially on "My Best Friend's Girl", where he nails the solo (notes AND tone) from the recording. I recommend this DVD to anyone who was ever into The Cars...you'll really enjoy it.

1. Good Times Roll
2. Bye Bye Love
3. Nightspots
4. I'm In Touch With Your World
5. My Best Friend's Girl
6. Candy-O
7. You're All I've Got Tonight
8. Take What You Want
9. Since I Held You
10. Don't Cha Stop
11. Just What I Needed

I can't accurately explain why, but this is my all-time favorite recorded performance of any band ever - better than STOP MAKING SENSE, better than GIMME SHELTER, etc. It's just the presense of the Cars, circa 1979, that is somehow...hypnotic? Uncanny? I don't know. It's just that each member had a presence that was somehow so extremely different from the other, that each managed to work out their own, individual brand of appeal. I love the way Ric Ocasek wanders around indifferently (and dig those praying mantis sunglasses!), the way David Robinson plays the drums with a goofy-yet-precise rock n' roll manner, the way Greg Hawkes diplays his endearing, not-of-this-earth new wave preening (often directly at the camera), the way Elliot Easton tosses off his Kinks-like riffing (complete with eye squints, gaping mouth, and glossy stare), and the way Ben Orr (the greatest voice of the era and my sentimental favorite) exudes the ideal sensibility, a combination of arrogant swagger and artsy sensitivity. The Cars have unfortunately faded in reputation, yet this dvd monumentalizes all that was great about them, a group of great musicians who all brought something unique to the band, giving it a one-of-a-kind chemistry. As a humourous plus, the Musikladen audience seems every bit as "out there" and indifferent as Ocasek! Sure, the interview that is included on the disc is tinged with melancholy (especially when Ocasek pats the visibly ailing Orr on the shoulder...), yet it's an invaluable document. Let's hope Rhino continues to maintain the legacy of The Cars - they've done a stellar job so far.

I have been a Cars fan since the early 80s, and The Cars are a band that sounds fresh every time one hears them. FM radio has beat the hell out of the early hits, but the albums themselves reveal all kinds of hidden jems (esp. "Heartbeat City" and, IMHO, "Door to Door.")

I wish I could tell you that I purchased this DVD for the performance, but I would be lying. I actually bought it for the interview segment with the band members, especially the late Benjamin Orr.

The live stuff is great sound-wise, but otherwise kinda boring. The classics are there, but aside from some occasional interaction between Ben Orr and Elliot Easton, it's not terribly exciting.

It is great to see the band members discuss making music during the interview, and despite his frail condition, Orr still contributed witty and insightful comments. Aside from a very nice write-up in Rolling Stone, I believe that rock music in general doesn't realize the talent that died with Ben Orr.

I would say this DVD is a great addition to any hard-core Cars fan's collection (I was happy to find it after years of looking). It is a nice glimpse into a band that was very original and was an integral part of the late 70s and early-to-mid-80s. The uninitiated Cars fan who knows only the stuff from "Heartbeat City" and "The Wedding Singer" soundtrack might wind up scratching his or her head, however.


Enjoy!

tc

This is a very rare and very old piece of concert footage from The Cars' one and only European tour in 1979. The concert takes place in a small club, showcasing the band at their best. Unfortunately, there is a down side to placing older video footage onto the DVD format. As noted on the package, there are "technical anomalies inherent in historic footage." What this translates to is intermittent horizontal lines that appear throughout the duration of the concert. If you can get past that, then it's a great show.

Bonus material includes a CD sampler and lengthy interview with the band. The interview, while quite interesting, is somewhat tough to watch as Ben Orr is sadly in the advanced stages of cancer. Still, it's great to see the entire group reassembled after all this time for a really entertaining discussion of the band, their history, and their music. A thoroughly enjoyable DVD for a very reasonable price. A must have for all fans!

This DVD is a must have for all Cars fans and is sure to make Cars fans out of newcomers as well. The recent tragic passing of vocalist/bassist Benjamin Orr to pancreatic cancer makes this release extra special for those of us who followed the band, and who continue to long after their breakup in 1988. The live portion shows exactly why they were immensely popular and are regarded as excellent musicians to this day. Their sound was tight, and their musicianship professional. The never released song "Take what you want" is a true testament to the abilities of guitarist Elliot Easton to rock with the best of them. Ben's vocals are at their very best, hitting every note perfectly. Pay special attention to Greg Hawkes performance during "I'm in touch with your world" as he creates every single background sound manually, without the help of synthesizers. Ric's cool stage presence and excellent lyrics make every song fun to listen to. David Robinson's drumming is often overlooked when compared to the likes of Terry Bozzio and Neil Peart, but his performance is tight, concise, and extremely skilled every time, placing him in my top 5 all-time favorite drummers. A bonus for the DVD version is an interview conducted during the summer of 2000 with the entire band. It was truly great to see the guys back together to dicuss their career, though Ben is visibly ill at this point and says very little. My only complaint is that Rhino advertises the DVD as containing a "rare scrapbook with memorabilia" which just does not exist. Buy this DVD!!!

Sound and picture quality aside, anybody who liked The Cars' music (especially the early material) will get a kick out of this disc. The live performance supports the claim that the band members were great musicians and entertainers.

The interview was a good insight into the background of the band members and how the band came into being. Many fans will be glad that this interview happened before the tragic passing of Benjamin Orr (who was clearly very ill when this was filmed).

Whilst the picture and sound quality aren't up there with the more modern recordings, the true fans will buy this for what's on the disc and not the format it was recorded in.

Buy it!

I bough this DVD the week it was released. Back in the late seventies, I was a rock-n-roll musician who played covers, including numerous Cars songs. Naturally, this DVD intrigued me. My first viewing left me disappointed. It sounded too live - not at all lush and produced like the vinyl. By the third viewing - I loved this DVD because it features what I loved about the band: the exceptional musicianship of each player. Without a doubt, these guys created the perfect synergy of being cool and making serious music. This concert was recorded before the Cars became famous, so they appear hungry, unpretentious and out-for-fun. The camera close-ups of Elliot's guitar playing, Greg's ARP Omni Synthesizer and Ben's cool vocals are energetic. The 45 minute interview is fun. The viewer will gain some insight into the personal nature of each player along with fun stories from their good old touring days.

A fun and fascinating video ...

There are more and more '60s and '70s concert videos hitting the market and much of it has crappy audio quality - by today's standards. But what do you expect?! The great thing about this Cars DVD is you can imagine seeing these guys in a small nightclub in 1979. You see that the talented musicianship and quirky-catchy songwriting was there early in the band's career. The fascinating reunion interview provides some useful insights on how they all came together and worked creatively.

I saw The Cars at the SF Cow Palace after their second album and they were polished to a sheen by then. This 1979 video shows they were far from a creation of the studio. - Paul Harrar