Ric Ocaseks 40-Year-Old Solo Album This Side Of Paradise Marks a Milestone in 1980s New-Wave History
Forty years after its debut, Ric Ocasek’s second solo studio album, This Side Of Paradise, re‑enters the spotlight on September 13 2026. Released on that very day in 1986 by Geffen Records, the record arrived while The Cars were still a dominant force in the new‑wave arena.
The album’s personnel list reads like a who’s‑who of mid‑decade rock. Three Cars members—Greg Hawkes on keyboards and bass, Benjamin Orr on backing vocals, and Elliot Easton on guitar for “True To You”—joined Ocasek, who wrote every track and handled most guitar parts. Production was overseen by Chris Hughes, best known for his work with Tears for Fears, who also played drums. Steve Stevens, then a key collaborator with Billy Idol, contributed to more than half of the songs. Roland Orzabal added guitar to the single “Emotion In Motion,” while Tom Verlaine of Television, G.E. Smith of the Saturday Night Live Band, and Tony Levin—whose background spans King Crimson and Peter Gabriel—appeared on the record as well.
“Emotion In Motion” was the album’s flagship single. It gained heavy rotation on MTV and topped the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for a single week. In Australia the track reached No. 8, according to Noise11. The success came on the heels of The Cars’ string of hits such as “You Might Think,” “Magic,” and “Tonight She Comes,” and it remains the only No. 1 single Ocasek earned as a solo artist or band member.
Musically, This Side Of Paradise blends new‑wave sensibilities with rock and the technology‑driven production style that defined the mid‑1980s. The opening track incorporates sound effects from the 1980 video game Missile Command, a French‑speaking female voice, and the theme of “Look In Your Eyes.” The final song fades into a synthesiser reprise of “True Love.” Several tracks reference earlier material: “Coming For You” borrows a motif from the Cars’ 1979 song “Nightspots,” and “True Love” features a nylon‑string guitar performance by Steve Stevens, an unusual choice for a guitarist primarily known for his electric work.
Ocasek promoted the album on television, most notably as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live during its 12th season. He performed “Emotion In Motion” and “Keep On Laughin’” with Hawkes and members of the Saturday Night Live Band, and appeared in a sketch with Dana Carvey’s Church Lady character. The album’s title derives from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 novel This Side of Paradise, itself taken from a line in Rupert Brooke’s poem “Tiare Tahiti.”
Following This Side Of Paradise, The Cars released Door To Door in 1987 before disbanding in 1988. The group reunited in 2011 for Move Like This and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Ric Ocasek passed away in New York on September 15 2019 at age 75. His death triggered a surge in sales and streaming of The Cars’ catalog, underscoring the lasting influence of his work.
The 40‑year anniversary of This Side Of Paradise underscores Ocasek’s willingness to broaden his songwriting and production beyond the core Cars lineup. The album remains a key document of his solo career, showcasing the collaborative network he assembled and the stylistic breadth he explored while the band was still at its commercial peak.
