Tag: Benjamin Orr

Song Lyric Sunday — “Take What You Want”

Can you believe it? I almost forgot it’s Song Lyric Sunday! This week’s theme is the flip side of last weeks’s give/giving theme: take/taking.  I’ve got a perfect song for it, too.  The Cars’ “Take What You Want” video from their 1979 Musikladen performance has my favorite rock ‘n’ roll visual: Benjamin Orr’s “rock god” kick. ❤  This performance also has one of Elliot Easton’s best lead guitar solos. And, Ric Ocasek’s always cryptic lyrics include another one of my favorites:  “I live on emotion / And comic relief.”  I could wax rhapsodic about this song but could never match my friend sweetpurplejune (also a fan of the kick).  All I can say is, I hope you enjoy it at least half as much as I do!

 

“Take What You Want”
Take what you want
And leave what you don’t
Take what you want
And leave what you don’t
I’m painting a face
The color is dripping
Magnesium moments
In black fairy tales
I live on emotion
And comic relief
I put this one on you
Run, run, run like a thief
Am I all alone?
Am I all alone?
Salamander sunrise
Comes at 4:44
Lingerie madness
Don’t you kick down the door
Sweet Sarah’s so wild
Don’t you know why I’m losing your head
Down the dark alley
Where rumours are spread
The room is so dark
I’m catching on fire
I’m in love with your face
It’s so confused by desire
Am I all alone? Am I all alone?
I’m winding it up
It’s running back down
I’m winding it up
t’s running back down
So take what you want
And leave what you don’t
Take it
Take it
Take it
Songwriters: Ric Ocasek
Take What You Want lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

Re-blog: Author Interview: Joe Milliken of “Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars”

Publication is a mere 50 days away! I’m so excited to read this book. Joe Milliken has been chronicling the music scene for 20 years. He’s a fan, yes, but his writing is not that of a gushing fan-boy. He is objective, thoughtful, insightful, and respectful of his subjects and his sources. This interview gives you a peek at Mr. Milliken and his enigmatic subject, Benjamin Orr. (“Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars” is available for pre-order at https://www.benorrbook.com/.)

via Author Interview: Joe Milliken of “Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars”

Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars

You can well imagine that I’m chomping at the bit to read this book. After reading this review, I can barely contain myself. I’ve read some of Joe Milliken’s pieces on the rock world and particular musicians. You will not be disappointed if you BUY THIS BOOK. You can pre-order it through the publisher, Rowman & Littlefield.  https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538118658

sweetpurplejune's avatarREAD ~ ROCK ~ REVIEW

LetsGo.jpgWritten by Joe Milliken, 2018

Format: Book, 216 pages, 30+ photos

Published by Rowman & Littlefield

Website: http://www.benorrbook.com

Notable Quote: “Believe me, Benny just had this incredible electricity about him. He would walk into a room and whether they knew him or not, people just felt there was something special about this guy…. I swear that in the mid-sixties, Benny was like the Elvis Presley of Cleveland.” — Wayne Weston, friend and former bandmate.

My quick 2 cents: Between the unique writing style, the candid memories of many important people, and the generous number of previously unpublished photos, Benjamin Orr’s inspiring story comes to life in these pages. Buy it!

The full scoop:  Any retrospective on the late 1970s and 1980s HAS to include some focus on the new wave rock legends, The Cars. A debut album that stayed on the charts for 139 consecutive weeks, winners of the first…

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Song Lyric Sunday: “Drive” (or, Benjamin Orr’s voice)

OK….You know the saying “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” when someone judges you for day drinking? Well, as soon as I saw this theme ….. “it’s Sunday somewhere.” Song Lyric Sunday, that is; with a theme of Drive/Driving! Thank you, Helen Vahdati!

“Drive“
written by Ric Ocasek; sung by Benjamin Orr

Who’s gonna tell you when it’s too late
Who’s gonna tell you things aren’t so greatYou can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?Who’s gonna pick you up when you fall
Who’s gonna hang it up when you call
Who’s gonna pay attention to your dreams
Who’s gonna plug their ears when you scream

You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

Who’s gonna hold you down when you shake
Who’s gonna come around when you break

You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

You know you can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?

 

Because you can’t have too much  Benjamin Orr:

 

Three seems like overkill ( to you, maybe, but not to me or my pal sweetpurplejune), but I had to throw this one in for a change of pace. It’s really worth listening to.