Heartbeat City is a great pop album. Played the shit out of it that summer. That was the start of my two cassette a week habit, I bought Heartbeat City and 1984 the same day. My brother won a copy of Shake It Up by calling in to the old WGCL, Cleveland's big pop station at the time. I had to settle for Tommy Tutone 2 when I called in.
I remember reading that most of Heartbeat City was done on the Fairlight, and David Robinson wasn't happy about his drums being replaced by the Fairlight. Ocasek kind of took over. Kind of the beginning of the end, much like when Sting took over during Synchronicity. Lead singer disease, anyone?
During the Door To Door sessions, Orr wanted his collaborator (and longtime girlfriend) to get co-writing credit, and Ocasek said no. Orr got pissed, and supposedly had his own bus during the last tour.
I saw the Cars in '87, and yeah, easily one of the most boring shows I've seen. Very structured, no surprises. I don't even remember who opened.
I like the first two Ocasek solo albums. Steve Stevens is on This Side Of Paradise, the second one. Ocasek usually had the Cars' Greg Hawkes on keys, so some of the material was familiar sounding.
The solo on Tonight She Comes is perfect.