For many,
Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr are
new wave personified, and it is nearly impossible to picture either doing any other style of music. But before the duo rose to prominence with the hit-making machine
The Cars, they were members of an obscure
folk outfit called
Milkwood.
Ocasek and
Orr (who at the time went by their original last names, Otcasek and Orzechowski) had been in bands together since the '60s, but it wasn't until the early '70s that they were in a band that achieved any substantial recognition, resulting in
Milkwood signing to the Paramount record label. Judging by the sound of their one and only release together, 1972's How's the Weather, the group (which featured a third member, Jas Goodkind) was heavily influenced by such outfits as
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and
America. When the album sunk without a trace shortly after release,
Milkwood disbanded, as
Ocasek and
Orr decided to return to their original love,
rock & roll, and subsequently formed one of the most successful rock bands of the late '70s/early '80s. Although there has been talk over the years of How's the Weather being reissued, the long out of print album has yet to have ever been released as a CD. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
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Red links represent a CD that is not currently available.