Touch And Go

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track Touch and Go by The Cars from their 1980 album Panorama, a song that’s got the Zoo Freaks vibing with its quirky new wave energy. One juicy piece of trivia comes from the song’s distinctive sound: its jerky, stop-start rhythm was a bold experiment for the band, blending Ric Ocasek’s nervy vocals with Greg Hawkes’ futuristic synths. In a 1980 interview with Rolling Stone, Ocasek revealed the track was inspired by the tension of fleeting relationships, with the “touch and go” phrase capturing that fleeting, almost mechanical push-and-pull. The song’s production, handled by Roy Thomas Baker, was meticulous—Elliot Easton’s guitar riffs were layered to sound like they were bouncing off the walls, giving it that edgy, driving feel perfect for late-night radio spins.

Another cool tidbit about Touch and Go surfaced in a post on Jake Rudh’s X account in 2023, where he called Panorama an “under-appreciated gem” and highlighted the single’s chart success, peaking at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fans on the The Cars Fan Club Facebook group often rave about the song’s music video, a quirky early MTV staple featuring the band in surreal, minimalist sets that screamed 80s cool. Some Zoo Freaks might not know that Benjamin Orr’s bassline was recorded in multiple takes to get that pulsating groove just right, a detail Easton shared in a 2018 podcast with Classic Rock Revisited. It’s the kind of song that feels like cruising through a neon-lit city, and the Crew knows it’s a banger for keeping the airwaves alive.

The Cars got their start in Boston’s vibrant mid-70s music scene, born from the ashes of several local bands. Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, the band’s core, had been kicking around together since the late 60s, playing in various outfits like Milkwood before forming The Cars in 1976 with Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, and David Robinson. Their big break came when a demo of Just What I Needed got heavy airplay on Boston radio station WBCN, catching the ear of Elektra Records. By 1978, their self-titled debut album was a smash, blending punk’s raw edge with pop sensibilities and new wave’s synth sheen. Ocasek’s songwriting, with its blend of irony and heart, and Orr’s smooth vocals gave them a unique sound that made them radio darlings, setting the stage for hits like Touch and Go.

You can dive deeper into The Cars’ world on their official website, where you’ll find tour archives, discography, and merch for the true Zoo Freaks. Follow them on Facebook for throwback photos and fan discussions, or check out their Instagram for slick visuals of their album art and vintage live shots. On X, they share updates and nod to milestones, like a 2020 post celebrating their debut album’s recording. For fan communities, the The Cars Fan Club on Facebook is a lively spot where devotees swap stories, rare vinyl finds, and concert memories. There’s also CarsFanZine, a fan-run site with deep dives into the band’s history and discography, perfect for anyone obsessed with their new wave legacy.