In 1991, Ric Okasek, former lead singer of the big-hit
band The Cars, released a now-unknown
album, "Fireball Zone." Currently out of print,
it has since vanished from stores. Ironically, it was
a perfectly good album, with very good songs including
"Come Back," "They Tried," "Over
and Over," and "All We Need Is Love."
Surprisingly, this album had two videos: "The Way
You Look Tonight" and "Rockaway." The
album cover is a touched up copy of one of the pictures
of Ric from the "Door To Door" album cover
with the artwork done by his wife, Paulina. When this
album was released, it was meant to be a new beginning
for Ric Ocasek musically with a media blitz on radio
programs including "Rockline" (7/22/91) where
Ric answered listener's question on the radio and had
high hopes for the album's success. Unfortunately, things
didn't work out the way he had expected.
There is one reference to Pynchon in the liner notes,
where Ocasek thanks a long list of people, including
Pynchon. Lots of the lyrics seem to reflect Pynchon
themes. For example, see the cut "all we need is
love." In it you find lyrics like "maybe you're
on a rocket" and "maybe you'd like a rainbow."
Lyrics
All We Need Is Love
maybe you're on a rocket
shooting for the moon and the stars
sometimes it ends up right in your pocket
or you just forgot who you are
maybe you're on a mission
trying to get a leg across
but nobody wants to listen
'cause everybody's getting lost
all we need is love
all we need is love
when it comes to push and shove
all we need is love
maybe you'd like a rainbow
forever up in the sky
or some kind of mythical figure
on which you could rely
maybe you'd like a reason
for keeping it all alive
better be ready change like the seasons
instead of keeping it all inside
maybe you're on a rocket
shooting for the moon and the stars
sometimes it ends up right in your pocket
or tapping on your reservoir
Information about this Pynchon connection submitted
by:
Bill Richardson
Loveland, Ohio
CD
Fireball Zone, 1991
Tracks
1 Rockaway 4:21
2 Touch Down Easy 4:11
3 Come Back 4:19
4 The Way You Look Tonight 4:38
5 All We Need Is Love 4:56
6 Over And Over 5:30
7 Flowers Of Evil 4:41
8 They Tried 3:52
9 Keep That Dream 4:25
10 Balance 4:40
11 Mister Meaner 4:49
12 Fireball Zone 4:24
The Group
Ric Ocasek Vocals, Keyboards, and Guitar
Larry Aberman Drums
Al Berry Bass
Richard Hilton Keyboards
Larry Mitchell Lead Guitar
Nile Rodgers Guitars
Dan Huff Guitars (#10, #11)
Mickey Currie Drums (#10, #11)
Steve Elson
Stan Harrison
Mat Collehon
Horns
Tawatha Agee
Funzi Thorton
Curtis King Jr.
Dennis Collins
Backing Vocals
Credits Copyright 1991 Repise Records
Produced By Nile Rodgers, and Ric Ocasek
Engineered By Jan Goldberger
Mastered By George Marino at Sterling Sound N.Y.C.
Written By Ric Ocasek except Touch Down Easy with Rick
Nowles
