Heartbeat City

Introduction:
checkered flag Main Page
checkered flag The Cars' Backgrounds
checkered flag The Cars' History
checkered flag Frequently Asked Questions

Music & Video:
checkered flag The Cars' Discography
(+ Info, Music Videos)

checkered flag Solo Discography
(+ Info, Music Videos)

checkered flag Video & DVD Releases

Other:
checkered flag Ben Orr Tribute
checkered flag Cars Links (Official & Fan Sites)
checkered flag Wedding Poem
checkered flag E-mail Kimberly

kimsites.net:
Personal Sites
Kimberly's Attic Oak Branch Woods
Fan Sites
Dream Valley - A Collector's Guide to My Little Pony We All Live in a Pokémon World...
Owned Fanlistings
Pokémon Ranger game series fanlisting Ash/Satoshi [Pokémon] fanlisting

Text ©1996, 2004-06 by Kim & Alan
This is a fan-made site; no copyright infringement intended; site contains no audio/video recordings or reprinted lyrics
BibliographyPhoto Credits

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)



I want to say 'thanks' to all of you who have visited "Heartbeat City". Thanks for your compliments and suggestions. I've been asked several questions also, and a lot of them have been the same. So, I've compiled a list of your most frequently asked questions (and the answers to them) for your convenience:


Q.Is the song that goes "Here in my car, I feel safest of all..." performed by the Cars? If not, who sings it?
A.NO!!!! This song, entitled "Cars" is NOT by the Cars. It is by new wave artist Gary Numan from his 1980 album "The Pleasure Principle."


Q.Why did the Cars break up?
A.Not knowing anyone in the band personally, I don't have specific details about what transpired before the Cars' break-up in 1987. All I do know is that there was tension between Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr.


Q.Where can I purchase The Cars 1984 "Heartbeat City" video album? Is it available on DVD?
A.In the mid-90's, the Heartbeat City video album on VHS could be special ordered at chain video stores (non-rental) such as Suncoast. As as far I know, it has not yet been released on DVD. You may be able to find a second hand VHS copy on ebay.com or online auctions or other sites selling music-related items. It is also available second hand on laserdisc, and can usually be found on ebay, as well as the players (thanks, William!).


Q.Where can I purchase Benjamin Orr's "The Lace" on CD?
A.The Lace was originally released on CD in 1986, and has since been out of print and never re-released. Try looking in second-hand record stores online as well as local stores in your area. Also try online auctions including ebay.com.


Q.My band has a demo tape we would like to send to Ric Ocasek. Do you have his contact information?
A.Ric Ocasek has his own official website: ricocasek.com. I know of no other contact info for him or any of the other surviving Cars members.


Q.Whatever happened to the never-released 1996 "The Cars' Prototypes: Raw Hits and Rarities" collection?
A.This project was cancelled for reasons unknown, and was replaced by the 1999 release, "The Cars Deluxe Edition."


Q.Where can I find guitar tablature (tabs) for Cars songs? Can I find them online?
A.*Cars tabs have been spotted in various places online...a search engine should lead you to them. Other sources in which to find tabs would be in a Cars songbook (one was made for each album I think) and they might be found in second hand record stores or music collectible shows.


Q.Do you have any info on the guitars, keyboards, etc. that the Cars used?
A.This question often comes from musicians looking to play Cars-style music. Not being a musician myself, I don't know much about the instruments they played.


Q.Where can I buy Cars' collectibles?
A.To begin, all Cars' merchandise with the exception of re-released music, can only be found on the second-hand market. Looking for Cars' collectibles is challenging and the chances of finding something are few and far between, so I can't list any one specific place where these items can be found. However, the types of places to look are antique stores/shows, music collectors' shows, second-hand record stores, and flea markets.


Q.Are there any videos of the Cars' in concert for sale?
A.The only official video release of the Cars in concert was "The Cars Live 1984-85" tape which is long since out-of-print. However, people record and sell bootleg copies of the Cars in concert from probably every tour. These can usually be found at collector's shows and are sometimes very expensive.


Q.Can you send me Cars music videos, concerts, etc. on VHS, DVD, mp3, etc...?
A.No, sorry, I can't. Please do not ask.


Q.Do you have any information on the re-release of Cars' videos and solo albums?
A.Ric Ocasek's first two solo albums, "Beatitude" and "This Side of Paradise" were re-released by Geffen Goldmine in Spring 1997. You can find them at most record stores or online record stores (most stores are selling them at clearance prices now).


Q.Are there any places I can discuss The Cars with other fans?
A.For links to other Cars fansites, including online groups and social media, please see the Links page.


Q.Are Ric Ocasek and Paulina Poriskova still married?
A.Yes, as far as I know, they are, however seeing as how I do not know either of them personally, I cannot provide any more details.


Q.Was Ben Orr married or did he have any children before he died?
A.Not much is known on Ben Orr's personal or family history. In 1997, I saw Ben carrying a small boy, about two years old, who looked just like him, (*Ben's son and namesake...never married the mother Edita). For information on Ben Orr that precedes 1997, please see Solo Projects (page 2). Note: this is just from my own observation (I've only met Ben twice). For first hand information, please visit: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-vikzone,

*Thanks Vikki for filling in some of the FAQ answers