Blab Music
Ric Ocaseks 1986 Solo Album This Side Of Paradise Turns 40, Highlighting a Cross-Genre Collaboration Network
On September 13, 2026, Ric Ocasek marked the 40th anniversary of his second solo studio album, This Side Of Paradise. Released in 1986 by Geffen Records during The Cars’ peak in the new‑wave scene, the record assembled a roster of musicians from the decade’s most iconic groups.
At its core, the project featured Ocasek’s long‑time Cars cohort—keyboardist Greg Hawkes, who handled keyboards and bass on most tracks and co‑wrote “Hello Darkness”; bassist Benjamin Orr, who added backing vocals on three songs; and guitarist Elliot Easton, who played on “True To You.” Production and drums were handled by Chris Hughes, former Adam and the Ants drummer and producer for Tears for Fears’ 1980s releases, tying the effort to the era’s electronic‑pop landscape.
The album also attracted a host of high‑profile collaborators. Guitarist Steve Stevens—then touring with Billy Idol—contributed to more than half the record. Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears added guitar to “Emotion In Motion.” Television’s Tom Verlaine, G.E. Smith of the Saturday Night Live Band, and Tony Levin—known for King Crimson and Peter Gabriel—each lent their talents, with Levin’s Chapman Stick on “Coming For You.” These alliances fused new‑wave, rock, and the emerging technology‑driven production aesthetic of the mid‑1980s.
The lead single, “Emotion In Motion,” dominated MTV rotations and became Ocasek’s only solo number‑one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, staying at the top for one week. Billboard data show the track peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100 and reached No. 8 in Australia, underscoring Ocasek’s capacity to translate the Cars’ commercial appeal into a solo context.
To support the release, Ocasek appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live during its 12th season. Joined by Hawkes and members of the SNL Band, he performed “Emotion In Motion” and “Keep On Laughin’,” and even took part in a sketch featuring Dana Carvey’s Church Lady character.
The album’s title nods to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 novel This Side Of Paradise, itself derived from a line in Rupert Brooke’s poem “Tiare Tahiti.” This literary allusion continued a pattern in Ocasek’s solo work, where he frequently drew on familiar titles and phrases.
Though a solo effort, the album remained firmly linked to The Cars’ legacy. Several tracks weave motifs from the band’s earlier catalog—for instance, “Coming For You” incorporates a musical phrase first heard in “Nightspots” from the Cars’ 1979 album Candy‑O. The record’s opening and closing sections feature distinctive studio effects, including a sample from the 1980 video game Missile Command and a synthesiser reprise of “True Love.”
Following the album’s release, The Cars followed up with Door To Door in 1987 before disbanding in 1988. The band reunited in 2011 for Move Like This and earned induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Ocasek passed away in New York in September 2019 at age 75; his death triggered a measurable uptick in sales and streaming of the Cars’ catalog.
Today, This Side Of Paradise is viewed as a key artifact of Ocasek’s work beyond The Cars. Its significance extends beyond the chart‑winning single to the impressive network of collaborators and the artist’s willingness to experiment with a studio palette distinct from the band’s signature sound.
The 40th anniversary provides a moment to revisit Ocasek’s solo legacy and his influence on mid‑1980s pop‑rock production. With no new releases or tours planned, the milestone could spark a surge in streaming activity and renewed interest in Ric Ocasek’s and The Cars’ broader catalog.
At its core, the project featured Ocasek’s long‑time Cars cohort—keyboardist Greg Hawkes, who handled keyboards and bass on most tracks and co‑wrote “Hello Darkness”; bassist Benjamin Orr, who added backing vocals on three songs; and guitarist Elliot Easton, who played on “True To You.” Production and drums were handled by Chris Hughes, former Adam and the Ants drummer and producer for Tears for Fears’ 1980s releases, tying the effort to the era’s electronic‑pop landscape.
The album also attracted a host of high‑profile collaborators. Guitarist Steve Stevens—then touring with Billy Idol—contributed to more than half the record. Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears added guitar to “Emotion In Motion.” Television’s Tom Verlaine, G.E. Smith of the Saturday Night Live Band, and Tony Levin—known for King Crimson and Peter Gabriel—each lent their talents, with Levin’s Chapman Stick on “Coming For You.” These alliances fused new‑wave, rock, and the emerging technology‑driven production aesthetic of the mid‑1980s.
The lead single, “Emotion In Motion,” dominated MTV rotations and became Ocasek’s only solo number‑one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, staying at the top for one week. Billboard data show the track peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100 and reached No. 8 in Australia, underscoring Ocasek’s capacity to translate the Cars’ commercial appeal into a solo context.
To support the release, Ocasek appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live during its 12th season. Joined by Hawkes and members of the SNL Band, he performed “Emotion In Motion” and “Keep On Laughin’,” and even took part in a sketch featuring Dana Carvey’s Church Lady character.
The album’s title nods to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 novel This Side Of Paradise, itself derived from a line in Rupert Brooke’s poem “Tiare Tahiti.” This literary allusion continued a pattern in Ocasek’s solo work, where he frequently drew on familiar titles and phrases.
Though a solo effort, the album remained firmly linked to The Cars’ legacy. Several tracks weave motifs from the band’s earlier catalog—for instance, “Coming For You” incorporates a musical phrase first heard in “Nightspots” from the Cars’ 1979 album Candy‑O. The record’s opening and closing sections feature distinctive studio effects, including a sample from the 1980 video game Missile Command and a synthesiser reprise of “True Love.”
Following the album’s release, The Cars followed up with Door To Door in 1987 before disbanding in 1988. The band reunited in 2011 for Move Like This and earned induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Ocasek passed away in New York in September 2019 at age 75; his death triggered a measurable uptick in sales and streaming of the Cars’ catalog.
Today, This Side Of Paradise is viewed as a key artifact of Ocasek’s work beyond The Cars. Its significance extends beyond the chart‑winning single to the impressive network of collaborators and the artist’s willingness to experiment with a studio palette distinct from the band’s signature sound.
The 40th anniversary provides a moment to revisit Ocasek’s solo legacy and his influence on mid‑1980s pop‑rock production. With no new releases or tours planned, the milestone could spark a surge in streaming activity and renewed interest in Ric Ocasek’s and The Cars’ broader catalog.
