Well, what do we have here, another money-making deal from old-time new wavers trying to make a buck? I checked out the ticket prices for some of these shows, and it sure does look like a cash cow to me. Good seats are running about $65.00 a ticket. This is a little steep, but you have to figure you are getting Blondie and The Cars - or, this time around, The New Cars. Sans Ric Ocasek, and with the passing of Benjamin Orr from cancer, how could there be any possible dream of the real Cars? But as they say, you must look to the future and leave the past behind.

After seeing them live in the eighties, I was a little skeptical when I found out they were reforming. I love the old tunes with those traditional basic chords and melodies--why ruin a burnt memory? Well, it has happened: the new CD “It’s Alive” will be released in the coming month. The CD has no new tracks, and only two original members - Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes - but they sure as hell got a great replacement for Ocasek in Todd Rundgren.

Todd is a legend in the music industry, lauded as both a musician and producer. He has impeccable credentials: he’s worked with Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, Meatloaf, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, Hall and Oates and many others. I had the pleasure of meeting Todd back in the day at an Alice Cooper show, and his double album “Todd” is still one of my favorites. Well, the time has come to check the new CD out. First off, this is a live CD of the best of The Cars done by The New Cars. Rundgren’s vocals are a perfect fit with The New Cars, sounding very close to those of Ocasek. The music has been given some modifications to bring the sound up to date. The production is A+, and you still get a great feeling hearing these songs.

“Candy-O” is fantastic, and if you did not know ahead of time that Todd was singing, you never would. Easton and Hawkes have not missed a beat, and bringing in Rundgren as vocalist was a match made in heaven. He brings “Best Friend’s Girl,” “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight”, “Shake it Up” and my favorite Cars track “Dangerous Type” to life. They also included Todd’s smash hit “I Saw the Light” on the disc. The only disappointment for me was “Drive,” which I thought should have been left off the disc in honor of Benjamin Orr. Orr’s vocals on this track will never be forgotten and are irreplaceable.

The new CD is fun to listen to and enjoyable, but can we expect new material without the expert writing ability of Ric Ocasek? I guess we will wait and see. In the meantime, pick up “It’s Alive” and bring back some great memories.