Cars vs Duran Duran

[randy]

Here we have two bands that many love to bash because they made it to the mainstream. However ,had they not made it to the mainstream we would not be listening to many of the other bands we love. They made it possable for other bands to breakthrough as well as being inspirations for other bands to form.

I remember The Cars first album just coming out and it had a huge impact , at least in New England. Everyone owned it. Everyone played it non stop. I noticed on an earlier thread that most people here seemed to catch on to them with Candy O , which we thought was pretty lame in comparison to their debut. (Still some classic songs on it though--Dangerous Type in particular.)

Duran Duran hit it big later with videos and MTV. Some great early songs and videos for sure , but I dont think they were nearly as impactful. After all , The Cars broke through WITHOUT video.

Opinions???

[ekahob]

I remember driving in my car and playing The Cars first record (on 8-track) for my girlfriend and telling her they were going to be huge. Roy Thomas Baker produced the record which is why the vocals are multi-layered like Queen's who he also produced. Rumor had it he mixed the record through small automobile speakers so that it would sound good in a car.

Duran Duran were great for their night remixes. They were the first ones to introduce me to the concept of remixes.

I think the Cars first record holds up better today than Duran Duran's first.

[buffalochipz]

A friend's dad owned the Candy-O LP which we would listen to nonstop while sorting through baseball cards, shooting pool etc. We always thought the lyric from Let's Go, "She's so beautiful now, she doesn't wear her shoes" was one of the dumbest ever. The bizarre Shoo Be Doo also had an affect on my 11 year old head--I'd never heard anything like it.......and then the way it kicked right into the title track without a pause. Awesome.

So, yeah I'd have to choose the Cars over Duran. Too many annoying juinor high girls were into DD which didn't help.

[fritzb]

I agree with the comments so far. I was a big fan of both groups back in the day. In both cases I bought their 2nd albums first, but picked up their debuts a week or two later cause I liked them so much.

Comparing the two group from their complete body of work, I would have to say that The Cars are the stronger act. With the exception of "Door To Door" which was a much weaker effort IMHO, all of the other Cars albums are great from start to finish. Unlike many of their contemporaries who only had one or two songs on an album fit to listen to, I always listened to whole album sides with The Cars.

As for Duran Duran, their first 2 albums were great. "Rio" is a true classic. But to be perfectly honest, they lost me with "Seven And The Ragged Tiger" and it only got worse from there.

[buffalochipz]

Anyone ever heard the solo album that Cars keyboard player Greg Hawkes put out? Just wondering what it sounded like and if he sang on it.

[retroman]

I remember the cars in Grade 9. They were, with The Knack, the year's hottest band in 1979-1980. Duran Duran's first album is very original and very driving. Rio is more mature. Two different bands representing two different sides of New Wave: US and UK!

[retroman]

Hey BuffaloChips, you gotta listen to The Wedding Album. Beautiful.It is an album of New Wavers growing up and getting ready for their 30's. Heck, now we are looking at the 40's!Their new album should be great. Their first single for the original Fab 5 since '86 is on the Queer Eye for The Straight Guy soundtrack just released! It is called Sunrise.

[bpdp3]

buffalochipz--

I have Greg Hawkes solo lp - - it's pretty much like all the keyboard parts of their songs, without the songs. All intstrumental. Not as engaging as Eno, but OK. As an amateur keyboardist I enjoy it, but would tell you to proceed accordingly...

Elliot Easton's solo lp, Change no Change, is very interesting - - Jules Shear does some work on it. That's song-oriented and the vocals are better than you'd expect.

[fritzb]

I always wondered about those solo records. I have a copy of Ben Orr's album "The Lace" (1986), which actually spawned a minor hit "Stay The Night". There are a few other decent tunes on it too.

[oneno]

I have greg hawkes solo "Niagra Falls" as well as his 12" "Jet Lag" the 12 was great very electro pop fun.I also have the Modern Lovers, made up of Jonathan Richman, Jerry Harrison, Dave Robinson pretty decent but different than you'd expect. I thought Bad brains 1983's Rock for Light, which was produced by Ric Ocasek was harsh but exciting. But I have to agree the cars first which came out when I was junior in HS was pure gold.

[KYYX4ever]

i just have to chime in...

retroman put it well in saying the cars & DD represented the 2 sides of new wave. myself, i like both groups, particularly the early output from both, but they are completely different.

the cars were more New Wave Rock, but totally cool. the album with "Living in Stereo" was BRILLIANT (what was the name of hat one? "the cars" ? ).definately more rock-n-guitars, for sure. that remains, even to this day, one of the most catchy, listenable tapes ever. cool RayBans-wearing attitude much!

Duran were just as cool, but Brits. no RayBans there. but the attitude ! the clothes, the looks, the hooks...true, all the young girls were into them, which i knew spoiled DD for some of the more serious music fans; but they were firmly a part of the new wave attitude, just like the cars were. however, in my opinion, these 2 represented 2 different sides of new wave, and it is difficult to compare them.

[2Nu]

I must concur since I recall hearing both The Cars and DD getting airplay on AOR stations back in the early 80's, in particular on 'I95' (95.1) in Conn. In retrospect it seems incongruous having heard "It's All I Can Do" and "Girls On Film" played on the same rotation. [8)]

[Dave]

I too began listening to Candy-O, got hooked and bought their debut soon after. A lot of people must have been in the same boat because their debut peaked in the Billboard charts *after* Candy-O.

I was into Duran Duran with their debut (Girls on Film, Planet Earth) in 1981, when New Romantic was new and interesting. But for some reason, I got bored with Rio quickly and tired of them altogether(even though they did have many very good songs like Reflex afterwards).

Remember, the Cars peaked just as Duran Duran was coming onto the scene.

[DearGod]

Ummmmmm

I'd totally have to go with Duran Duran

Girls on Film was HOT!!!!!

[Quite Life]

------------------------------R H E
The Cars------002 000 302 7 12 2
Duran Duran--000 120 303 9 13 1


WP Nick Rhodes 14-9
LP Rick Ocasek 8-8

Roger Taylor with the walk off with 2 out in the bottom of the ninth