The Cars or The Police. Which of these singers did you prefer as a singer

[ArnoldLayne]

Last edited Thu Sep 17, 2015, 05:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Benjamin Orr, Sting or Rick Ocacek.

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. When I think of the Cars I think of Ric n/t

But we lost Ben far too young.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Both are from the Cars (don't know why you mentioned The Police).

I thought Benjamin Orr had a better voice, Ric Ocasek perhaps more effective for their particular genre. Sadly, Orr passed away (cancer).

Cars first two albums were real favorites of my wife and I - when we just started dating! Just What I Needed is our song!

[ArnoldLayne]

3. I know I just wanted to know which one. But now I will

Add Sting to the mix.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Ah! Apples and Oranges - Sting's voice so distinctive - defined the Police.

But I actually liked the first two Cars albums better than anything by the Police (heresy, I know!)

[OriginalGeek]

16. Not heresy here

And I love the Police. I just love the Cars even more.

As for OP's question, I ain't picking. Love both singers.

[Miles Archer]

12. Yep, both sang the songs best suited to their voice.

One of my favorites is "Good Times Roll"...couldn't imagine Orr singing that any more than I could imagine Ocasek singing "Drive."

Ocasek had a Bryan ferry-ish oddity to his voice that was the perfect match for his material. As a "traditional" vocalist, Orr left him in the dust.

[Cheese Sandwich]

5. I always thought sting was the singer of the Police

I'm so lost why>

[Dr. Strange]

6. I wish Andy Summers had gotten to sing more.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. Andy Summers is a musical genius.

He has classical and jazz chops, and so does Sting.

The Cars were OK, but their music was not complex enough to hold my interest. I STILL listen to Sting and The Police, especially the last two albums, Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity. And some of Sting's solo stuff. I saw them on the Synchronicity tour and when they broke up shortly thereafter, I was very disappointed. There were lots of weird rhythms and of course those killer bass lines of Sting's, and Andy's unobtrusive guitar playing. As a musician, those weirdnesses were captivating, but reproducing them would probably be quite difficult.

I found out from watching the recent documentary movie "Can't Stand Losing You" based on Andy Summers' autobiography, that at one time in the 60s he was in The Animals. Yes, as in Eric Burdon and the Animals. The band dynamic seems to be that Sting and Stewart fight all the time like close in age brothers, and since Andy is 9 years older than Sting, that he has to be the one that stops their fighting. Andy's in his 70s.

[progressoid]

9. Love Copeland's rhythms.

Influenced by living in North Africa as a child IIRC.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

10. Yes, very cool. He was a CIA brat.

[mackerel]

8. Both bands but I'll always have a special place in

my heart for The Cars. I first heard them when I was in high school. A friend took me to their concert for my 18th birthday. I'd pick Orr's voice mostly cuz he's Czech. LOL

[ArnoldLayne]

11. The Cars are my favorite of the 2 also

but I do like The Police alot.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Orr

A little smoother, however, as someone who has a lot of affectation in his singing style, i like Ocasek too. Thing is, they knew which songs Ben should sing and which songs Ric should sing. Since Ocasek wrote so many of the songs, he was going for what sounded best and not being possessive.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. One Other Thought On The Cars

Elliot Easton is the most underrated guitar player in the history of rock. There is nothing he can't do on guitar, you can sing his solos because they're mini-tunes within the tune, and hardly anyone would know who you meant if you mentioned his name.

[hifiguy]

19. Agreed on Easton.

A player's player. But not flashy or a spotlight hog. He always served the song, and impeccably.

[Tikki]

15. The Cars....

Ben Orr. Such an awesome voice and styling.
Robin Zander, a great voice, also.

Tikki

[OriginalGeek]

17. well now that was a pretty cheap trick

[hifiguy]

18. Ocasek, Sting, Orr

in that order.

Generally liked the Cars a bit more than the Police.

A fave: