CHEAP TRICK
''THE COMPLETE EPIC ALBUMS COLLECTION, DISC FOUR (AT BUDOKAN THE COMPLETE CONCERT, DISC ONE)''
1979
2012
580:17
ABOUT THE BOX
By Joe Marchese, theseconddisc.com
“ELO kiddies, ELO kiddies, whatcha gonna do when the lights start shining?” went the musical question in the first song on Cheap Trick’s very first album. But one question, naturally, leads to another. Was the song title simply saying a British ‘elo in a cheeky salute? Or was it alluding to ELO, a.k.a. Electric Light Orchestra, the orchestral rock outfit founded by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood? Why the heck does the song sound more like Gary Glitter than those Brummies? And where did the boys from Illinois soak up all of those British influences anyway?
You’ll find plenty of questions, as well as deliciously satisfying answers, in the handy 13-album/14-CD cube helpfully entitled Cheap Trick: The Complete Epic Albums Collection (Epic/Legacy 88697 94193 2, 2012). Produced by Bruce Dickinson and mastered by Vic Anesini, this exclusive box set available from Sony’s PopMarket brings together the formidable 1977-1990 catalogue of one of America’s most electrifying rock bands. A full five albums (One on One, Standing on the Edge, The Doctor, Lap of Luxury and Busted) have been newly remastered expressly for this set, while Found All the Parts makes its U.S. CD debut and the “Authorized Version” of the Todd Rundgren-produced Next Position Please has its worldwide CD premiere. In addition, five albums have bonus tracks mirroring their most recent Legacy reissues, and the acclaimed At Budokan is presented in its complete 2-CD form. Indeed, this is a comprehensive anthology suitable for both longtime Cheap Trick fans as well as for new fans looking to build a library in one fell swoop.
Once Rick Neilsen and Tom Petersson lit The Fuse in the late 1960s, the stage was set for Cheap Trick. The Fuse didn’t burn for long, though, and the Chicago duo reunited to Philadelphia where they became Sick Men of Europe (presumably by way of South Street). Returning to Illinois in 1973, Neilsen and Petersson added drummer Bun E. Carlos and singer Randy “Xeno” Hogan to their band, finally becoming Cheap Trick. Hogan didn’t do the Trick, however, and was replaced in short order by Robin Zander. From 1975 onward, the band toured relentlessly, and in 1976 Cheap Trick was rewarded with an Epic Records recording contract. Producer Jack Douglas was tasked with the chore of bringing to record the band’s singular brand of rock: crunchy riffs on top of bright pop melodies, enlivened by eccentric, often dark humor and a subversive lyrical outlook. The result, 1977’s Cheap Trick, failed to chart in the U.S. but became a major seller in Japan, priming the band for worldwide success.
The quartet’s second album, 1978’s In Color, dented the charts at No. 73 but smoothed out the rough edges of the ’77 debut with a somewhat quieter, even more melodic approach. The magic finally arrived with Heaven Tonight (1978). Like In Color, it was produced by Tom Werman, but this time out, he found Cheap Trick’s sweet spot. Werman didn’t discourage the hook-filled songs inspired by the best of the British Invasion, but they were interpreted via a loud, tough and current sound. “Surrender” from Heaven Tonight became Cheap Trick’s first Top 100 single, and a calling card for the group. Heaven Tonight may be a great power pop album, but the emphasis is on the power. Another band that mastered the heavy-yet-light balance was The Move, and Cheap Trick made explicit its devotion to the quirky rock of Roy Wood with a cover of his “California Man.”
And the fans surrendered to 1979’s At Budokan, on which the aggressive playing is rewarded by the audience’s palpable fervor. The original Top 5-charting release was expanded by Legacy in 1998 from 10 tracks to the concert’s full 19 by incorporating material first aired on 1994’s Budokan II, and that 1998 set is the version included here. (A whopping 3-CD/1-DVD set from 2008 expanded the original album further with a second concert included.) Werman returned for the next studio effort, Dream Police, on which the production was as elaborate as At Budokan was raw. Then, in 1980, Cheap Trick released the four-track EP Found All the Parts, freeing from the band’s vaults three new compositions and a cover of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” This EP acknowledged the clear Beatles influence on the band, and this box set marks its very first time on American CD in its original form. So for All Shook Up, released later that year, Cheap Trick went to the source: none other than George Martin. Since his legendary run with the Fabs, Martin had produced a string of successful albums for America as well as albums by a crop of artists running the gamut from Neil Sedaka to Jeff Beck. Now, his imprimatur was bestowed on Neilsen and co., and although the album might have been crushed under the weight of its lofty expectations, it’s far more than a mere footnote in the group’s discography.
Hit the jump for much, much more on these Midwestern rock heroes and the new box set, including order link and album listing!
Roy Thomas Baker, well known for his work with Queen and The Cars, followed Martin as producer of 1982’s One on One, which introduced new bassist Jon Brant, but an even more eyebrow-raising match was yet to come. Todd Rundgren, known for his outré studio experimentation as well as for his own style of power pop, was familiar with Cheap Trick; Robert “Stewkey” Antoni of Rundgren’s first band The Nazz had briefly played in the embryonic Sick Men of Europe with the future Cheap Trick members. (Rundgren also shared the band’s enthusiasm for The Move; Roy Wood’s band had covered Todd’s “Open My Eyes” and Rundgren repaid the favor with his own take on “Do Ya.”) Neilsen recalled meeting Rundgren as far back as 1969, at which time Todd had actually advised the singer against working with his old bandmate Stewkey! For his part, Rundgren wasn’t concerned about stepping into the producer’s chair for the album that became Next Position Please: “My priority as a producer, first of all, is the material. Show me the music and then, of course, show me the money!” Joking aside, he added to author Paul Myers, “It’s entirely down to songs, though.” Engineer Chris Andersen told Myers, “There was just a great vibe in the studio, and a genuine camaraderie between Todd and the band.” In addition to his production duties, the multi-talented Rundgren also contributed guitars to the album and a song of his own, “Heaven’s Falling,” which was the kind of infectious power pop he seemingly could turn out with ease. The trouble began when Epic Records didn’t hear a single on the LP, even though Rundgren thought Robin Zander’s big, arena-ready “I Can’t Take It” was prime 45 material. Epic removed two of the proposed album’s tracks, “Don’t Hit Me with Love” and “Twisted Heart,” and ordered the band into the studio with Ian Taylor as producer for a cover of The Motors’ “Dancing the Night Away” and Neilsen’s own “You Say Jump.” The album’s “You Talk Too Much” and “Don’t Make Our Love A Crime” were relegated to bonus track status on subsequent cassette and CD editions of the album.
When Next Position Please was released in 1983, it managed a No. 61 chart placement but lacked staying power despite its tuneful melodies, bright production and brash spirit. In 2006, the band reconsidered the album, digitally issuing an “Authorized Edition” with all of the Rundgren tracks restored, and the two non-Todd tracks sequenced at the album’s conclusion. This “complete” 16-track version, thankfully, makes its CD debut as part of The Complete Epic Albums Collection, allowing the work of “kindred spirit” Rundgren, according to Bun E. Carlos, to shine fully.
Four more albums for Epic followed in the 1980s. 1985’s Standing on the Edge reunited the group with producer Jack Douglas and yielded the almost-Top 40 single “Tonight It’s You” but the album lacked a strong character even if Carlos pointedly was credited for “acoustic drums” on the album sleeve amidst the decade’s drum machine deluge. (Even Rundgren had been enamored of the Linn drum machine, with Carlos playing live drums to Rundgren’s programmed track on the previous LP.) 1986’s The Doctor, however, embraced the eighties ethos head-on, with synthesizer and drum machine overload on happily trashy songs like “Good Girls Go to Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere).” Certain charms aside, The Doctor (produced by Tony Platt) hasn’t aged as well as the band’s more successful albums. The harder-rocking Lap of Luxury (1988) followed, with a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and a phalanx of outside co-writers including Diane Warren on “Ghost Town.” Ironically, though, Cheap Trick scored its first No. 1 hit with Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham’s bombastic power ballad “The Flame,” brought to the group by album producer Richie Zito. The pop-metal sound of Lap of Luxury (with original bassist Petersson back in the fold) proved that Cheap Trick indeed had a place in the 1980s.
The Complete Epic Albums Collection concludes with Cheap Trick’s first effort of the 1990s, Busted, which turned again to Diane Warren but also looked back to the inspiration of Roy Wood with a cover of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Tonight.” Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders joined in with vocals on “Walk Away” while Foreigner’s Mick Jones contributed guitar to “If You Need Me.” The album yielded a moderate radio hit with “Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love,” written by Neilsen, Zander and Petersson, but Cheap Trick and Epic soon parted ways.
In the ensuing 20+ years, Cheap Trick has continued to tour and record, offering a handful of new studio albums as well as choice live albums like 2009’s Sgt. Pepper Live, paying homage once again to The Beatles in the band’s typically high-octane fashion. But the albums contained within this checkerboard are without a doubt the core of the band’s great legacy. The box set, in addition to its truly superlative sound, also offers a 32-page booklet. It lacks any liner notes, but contains the personnel info, track listings and discographical annotation for every album included. Each title is housed in a mini-LP replica jacket. The new box joins an impressive line-up of similarly complete packages from artists as diverse as John Denver, Judas Priest, Dave Brubeck and the kiddies of ELO themselves! All of these boxes and many more can be purchased directly from Sony’s PopMarket. The Complete Epic Albums Collection, offering 14 discs of energetic pop and rock from Rockford, Illinois’ favorite sons, can be yours at the link below! And watch this space for a special video preview of The Complete Epic Albums Collection!
Cheap Trick, The Complete Epic Albums Collection (Epic/Legacy 88697 94193 2, 2012)
Albums Included:
Cheap Trick (Expanded Edition) (1977)
In Color (Expanded Edition) (1977)
Heaven Tonight (Expanded Edition) (1978)
At Budokan: The Complete Concert (1978/1998, 2 CDs)
Dream Police (Expanded Edition) (1979)
Found All the Parts EP (1980)
All Shook Up (Expanded Edition) (1980)
One on One (1982)
Next Position Please: Authorized Version (1983/2006)
Standing on the Edge (1985)
The Doctor (1986)
Lap of Luxury (1988)
Busted (1990)
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DISC ONE (56:44)
''CHEAP TRICK''
1977 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Elo Kiddies (Single Version) 03:41
2 Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School 04:44
3 Taxman, Mr. Thief 04:15
4 Cry, Cry (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 04:19
5 Oh, Candy 03:04
6 Hot Love 02:30
7 Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace (Terry Reid) 04:35
8 He's A Whore 02:42
9 Mandocello 04:46
10 The Ballad Of Tv Violence (I'm Not The Only Boy) 05:11
11 Lovin' Money (Previously Unreleased) 04:06
12 I Want You To Want Me (Previously Unreleased) 02:42
13 Lookout (Previously Unreleased) 03:28
14 You're All Talk (Previously Unreleased) (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:29
15 I Dig Go-Go Girls (Previously Unreleased) 03:03
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 4, 7, 14
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Cheap Trick's eponymous debut is an explosive fusion of Beatlesque melodic hooks, Who-styled power, and a twisted sense of humor partially borrowed from the Move. But that only begins to scratch the surface of what makes Cheap Trick a dynamic record. Guitarist Rick Nielsen has a powerful sense of dynamics and arrangements, which gives the music an extra kick, but he also can write exceptionally melodic and subversive songs. Nothing on Cheap Trick is quite what it seems. While the songs have hooks and attitude that arena rock was sorely lacking in the late '70s, they are also informed by a bizarre sensibility, whether it's the driving "He's a Whore," the dreamy "Mandocello," or the thumping Gary Glitter perversion "ELO Kiddies." "The Ballad of TV Violence" is about mass murder, while "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School" concerns pedophiles. All of it is told with a sense of humor, but it doesn't come off as cheap or smirking because of the group's hard-rocking drive and Robin Zander's pop-idol vocals. Even "Oh, Candy," apparently a love song on first listen, is an affecting tribute to a friend who committed suicide. In short, Cheap Trick revel in taboo subjects with abandon, devoting themselves to the power of the hook, as well as sheer volume and gut-wrenching rock & roll -- though the record is more musically accomplished than punk rock, it shares the same aesthetic. The combination of off-kilter humor, bizarre subjects, and blissful power pop made Cheap Trick one of the defining albums of its era, as well as one of the most influential. [The 1998 Epic/Legacy reissue of Cheap Trick features a different track sequence than the original and also adds several bonus tracks, many of which are previously unreleased.]
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocal
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DISC TWO (45:31)
''IN COLOR.''
1977 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Hello There 01:39
2 Big Eyes 03:05
3 Downed 04:08
4 I Want You To Want Me 03:08
5 You're All Talk (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:31
6 Oh Caroline 02:57
7 Clock Strikes Ten 02:56
8 Southern Girls 03:41
9 Come On, Come On 02:37
10 So Good To See You 03:34
11 Oh Boy 03:07
12 Southern Girls (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:01
13 Come On, Come On 02:03
14 You're All Talk (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:41
15 Goodnight 02:17
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 5, 12, 14
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Though Cheap Trick's second album, In Color, draws from the same stockpile of Midwestern barroom favorites as their debut album, it was produced by Tom Werman, who had the band strip away their raw attack and replace it with a shiny, radio-ready sound. Consequently, In Color doesn't have the visceral attack of its predecessor, but it still has the same sensibility and a similar set of spectacular songs. From the druggy psychedelia of "Downed" and the bubblegum singalong "I Want You to Want Me" to the "California Girls" homage of "Southern Girls," the album has the same encyclopedic knowledge of rock & roll, as well as the good sense to subvert it with a perverse sense of humor. Portions of the album haven't dated well, simply due to the glossy production, but the songs and music on In Color are as splendid as the band's debut.
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DISC THREE (52:01)
''HEAVEN TONIGHT''
1978 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Surrender 04:13
2 On Top Of The World 04:00
3 California Man (Roy Wood) 03:44
4 High Roller (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:57
5 Auf Wiedersehen (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:40
6 Takin' Me Back 04:50
7 On The Radio 04:30
8 Heaven Tonight (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 05:22
9 Stiff Competition 03:38
10 How Are You (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 04:12
11 Oh Claire (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 00:58
12 Stiff Competition 04:00
13 Surrender 04:50
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 , 11
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Trap Kit
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Jai Winding/Keyboards
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Heaven Tonight, like In Color, was produced by Tom Werman, but the difference between the two records is substantial. Where In Color often sounded emasculated, Heaven Tonight regains the powerful, arena-ready punch of Cheap Trick, but crosses it with a clever radio-friendly production that relies both on synthesizers and studio effects. Even with the fairly slick production, Cheap Trick sound ferocious throughout the album, slamming heavy metal, power pop, and hard rock together in a humongous sound. "Surrender," the definitive Cheap Trick song, opens the album with a tale about a kid whose parents are hipper than himself, and the remainder of the record is a roller coaster ride, peaking with the sneering "Auf Wiedersehen," the dreamily psychedelic title track, the roaring rocker "On Top of the World," the high-stepping, tongue-in-cheek "How Are You," and the pulverizing cover of the Move's "California Man." Heaven Tonight is the culmination of the group's dizzying early career, summing up the strengths of their first two albums, their live show, and their talent for inverting pop conventions. They were never quite as consistently thrilling on record ever again. [The 2006 Japanese edition includes bonus tracks.]
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DISC FOUR (45:24)
''AT BUDOKAN THE COMPLETE CONCERT, DISC ONE''
1979
1 Hello There 02:41
2 Come On, Come On 02:59
3 Elo Kiddies 03:57
4 Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 06:03
5 Big Eyes 03:49
6 Lookout 03:11
7 Downed 04:38
8 Can't Hold On 06:13
9 Oh Caroline 02:59
10 Surrender 04:39
11 Auf Wiedersehen (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 04:08
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 4, 11
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Trap Kit
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhytm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
While their records were entertaining and full of skillful pop, it wasn't until At Budokan that Cheap Trick's vision truly gelled. Many of these songs, like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Big Eyes," were pleasant in their original form, but seemed more like sketches compared to the roaring versions on this album. With their ear-shatteringly loud guitars and sweet melodies, Cheap Trick unwittingly paved the way for much of the hard rock of the next decade, as well as a surprising amount of alternative rock of the 1990s, and it was At Budokan that captured the band in all of its power.
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DISC FIVE (36:43)
''AT BUDOKAN THE COMPLETE CONCERT, DISC TWO''
1979
1 Need Your Love (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 08:54
2 High Roller (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 04:28
3 Southern Girls (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:53
4 I Want You To Want Me 03:36
5 California Man 03:54
6 Goodnight 03:05
7 Ain't That A Shame (Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino) 05:02
8 Clock Strikes Ten 03:48
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 1, 2, 3, 7
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Trap Kit
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhytm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
While their records were entertaining and full of skillful pop, it wasn't until At Budokan that Cheap Trick's vision truly gelled. Many of these songs, like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Big Eyes," were pleasant in their original form, but seemed more like sketches compared to the roaring versions on this album. With their ear-shatteringly loud guitars and sweet melodies, Cheap Trick unwittingly paved the way for much of the hard rock of the next decade, as well as a surprising amount of alternative rock of the 1990s, and it was At Budokan that captured the band in all of its power.
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DISC SIX (64:08)
''DREAM POLICE''
1979 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Dream Police 03:50
2 Way Of The World (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:35
3 The House Is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems) (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 05:08
4 Gonna Raise Hell 09:16
5 I'll Be With You Tonight (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:49
6 Voices 04:17
7 Writing On The Wall 03:24
8 I Know What I Want 04:25
9 Need Your Love (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 07:35
10 The House Is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems) (Live Version) (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 06:16
11 Way Of The World (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:57
12 Dream Police (No Strings Version) 03:50
13 I Know What I Want (Live Version) 04:40
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Guitar (8 String), Guitar (12 String), Vocals
Jai Winding/Guest Artist, Keyboards, Organ, Piano
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
At Budokan unexpectedly made Cheap Trick stars, largely because "I Want You to Want Me" had a tougher sound than its original studio incarnation. Perversely -- and most things Cheap Trick have done are somehow perverse -- the band decided not to continue with the direct, stripped-down sound of At Budokan, which would have been a return to their debut. Instead, the group went for their biggest, most elaborate production to date, taking the synthesized flourishes of Heaven Tonight to extremes. While it kept the group in the charts, it lessened the impact of the music. Underneath the gloss, there are a number of songs that rank among Cheap Trick's finest, particularly the paranoid title track, the epic rocker "Gonna Raise Hell," the tough "I Know What I Want," the simple pop of "Voices," and the closer, "Need Your Love." Still, Dream Police feels like a letdown in comparison to its predecessors, even though it would later feel like one of the group's last high-water marks.
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DISC SEVEN (17:03)
''FOUND ALL THE PARTS (EP)''
1980
1 Day Tripper (Live Version) (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) 03:35
2 Can't Hold On (Live Version) (Rick Nielsen) 05:53
3 Such A Good Girl (Rick Nielsen) 03:02
4 Take Me I'm Yours (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:32
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
By James Chrispell
This EP consists of four cuts that hadn't found their way onto Cheap Trick's releases as of yet. Of note is their version of the Beatles' "Day Tripper." A nostalgic bit of history.
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DISC EIGHT (37:23)
''ALL SHOOK UP''
1980 (BONUS TRACK)
1 Stop This Game (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:54
2 Just Got Back 02:03
3 Baby Loves To Rock 03:15
4 Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try 03:28
5 World's Greatest Lover 04:49
6 High Priest Of Rhythmic Noise 04:10
7 Love Comes A-Tumblin' Down 03:06
8 I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends 03:49
9 Go For The Throat (Use Your Own Imagination) 03:02
10 Who D'king (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen) 02:15
11 Everything Works If You Let It (Single Version) 03:26
Tracks By Rick Nelsen, Except 1, 10
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Percussion
Additional personnel:
George Martin - Arranger On 1, 5, Piano
REVIEW/AMG
by Stewart Mason
Cheap Trick's first genuinely disappointing album (1979's Dream Police wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to the level of the first four), 1980's All Shook Up is pretty much a complete botch. Much of the blame belongs to producer George Martin, who, for all his brilliance, was simply a wrongheaded choice for these brash power poppers; his production style simply doesn't translate. Unfortunately, primary songwriter Rick Nielsen has to shoulder his portion of the blame as well: the band's sixth album in under four years shows that the guitarist is starting to run out of both hooks and interesting lyrics. Too many songs are based around half-baked braggadocio like "High Priest of Rhythmic Noise" and "World's Greatest Lover," without the snarky wit that elevated their earlier albums, and the tunes themselves are substandard boogie deficient in both head-bobbing riffs and singalong choruses. "Baby Loves to Rock" is a glad-handing rocker with a certain resemblance to T. Rex's classic string of hits, but it's not enough to save the album. [An Expanded edition of All Shook Up was released in 2006 with five bonus tracks.]
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DISC NINE (36:34)
''ONE ON ONE''
1982
1 I Want You 03:01
2 One On One 03:05
3 If You Want My Love 03:34
4 Oo La La La (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:14
5 Lookin' Out For Number One 03:39
6 She's Tight 02:58
7 This Time Around 04:31
8 Saturday At Midnight (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 02:58
9 Love's Got A Hold On Me (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 02:34
10 I Want Be Man 03:19
11 Four Letter Word (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:36
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 4, 8, 9, 11
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar, Vocals, Bass Guitar
Jon Brant/Backing Vocals, Bass GuitarBacking vocals, Bass guitar On 3, 6, 8
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Percussion
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tom Petersson left Cheap Trick following the George Martin-produced All Shook Up, and the band was somewhat left in a lurch, recording 1982’s One on One largely without a bassist; eventual replacement Jon Brant is on record and on the cover, but he’s obscured by a picture of Rick Nielsen, possibly because the guitarist handled the bulk of the basslines on the LP. In any case, One on One finds Cheap Trick rebounding from Martin with a slick, punchy, AOR record, hemmed in a bit by stiff sequenced rhythms -- you can almost feel Bun E. Carlos straining against the metronome -- but sparkling in its analog synths and pumped-up guitars. No, it’s not as ballsy as Cheap Trick’s best, but its glossy glimmer is appealing, a combination of heavy metal roar and new wave strut, and would be more so if the songs were just a bit tighter. Sometimes, Nielsen winds up knocking it out of the park -- the title track grinds nicely, “She’s Tight” is good and sleazy -- but there are several truly odd detours, usually when the group veers too strongly toward the new wave, like on the awkward, clanking “Saturday at Midnight” and the stiff Devo misinterpretation “I Want Be Man." These tracks accentuate the album’s 1982 artifact appeal, but ironically, are the things that kept it from being a blockbuster at the time.
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DISC TEN (57:30)
''NEXT POSITION PLEASE''
1983 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 I Can't Take It (Robin Zander) 03:26
2 Borderline 03:32
3 I Don't Love Her Anymore 03:49
4 Next Position Please 02:52
5 Younger Girls (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:13
6 Don't Make Our Love A Crime 03:42
7 3-D 03:36
8 You Talk Too Much 01:53
9 Y.O.Y.O.Y 04:52
10 Won't Take No For An Answer 03:11
11 Heaven's Falling (Todd Rundgren) 03:45
12 Invaders Of The Heart 03:58
13 Twisted Heart 04:14
14 Don't Hit Me With Love 03:21
15 You Say Jump 03:04
16 Dancing The Night Away (Garvey, McMaster) 04:55
Jon Brant/Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bun E. Carlos/Cymbals, Drums
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar
Todd Rundgren/Guitar
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Cheap Trick attempted to ride the new wave on 1982’s One on One, but wound up with a wipe-out, so they recovered by hiring Todd Rundgren, one of the few ‘70s album-rockers who proved that he knew how to negotiate the treacherous waters of the early ‘80s, for 1983’s Next Position Please. Rundgren wielded a heavy hand during his production, pushing Cheap Trick toward making a record that could easily be mistaken for a Utopia record -- so much so, the Todd composition, “Heaven’s Falling,” slips onto the second side without calling attention to itself. The bright surfaces with the guitars and keyboards melding so tightly with the vocal harmonies they’re inseparable, produce a sound that is uncannily reminiscent of Oops! Wrong Planet, but Rundgren also helps keep an eye on quality control, letting Robin Zander’s terrific “I Can’t Take It” open the album, coaxing the band to cover the Motors’ “Dancing the Night Away,” and editing Rick Nielsen’s best set of songs since Heaven Tonight. Next Position Please is still very much a new wave-era Cheap Trick album -- this is shiny surfaces, not kicks to the gut -- but it’s the best of the lot, and one of their best-ever albums.
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DISC ELEVEN (39:32)
''STANDING ON THE EDGE''
1985
1 Little Sister 03:55
2 Tonight It's You (Jon Brant, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zander) 04:45
3 She's Got Motion (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice) 03:19
4 Love Comes (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zandler) 04:39
5 How About You (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 02:56
6 Standing On The Edge (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 04:40
7 This Time Around (Jon Brant, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 04:31
8 Rock All Night (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 02:49
9 Cover Girl (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice) 03:40
10 Wild Wild Women (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 04:15
Jon Brant/Bass Guitar
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar
Mark Radice/Keyboards
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Mike DeGagne
Standing on the Edge's only highlight comes from the silvery-sounding "Tonight It's You," which peaked just outside the Top 40 at number 44 in the fall of 1985. Like 1983's Next Position Please, Standing on the Edge finds the band without any pizzazz or rock & roll exuberance. The tracks are dull and colorless, with only the single sporting any signs of enthusiasm from any of the band's members. Sleepers like "This Time Around," "How About You," and the ridiculous "Wild Wild Women" are subpar considering what Cheap Trick's capabilities are. Both Zander and Nielsen lack the cohesion that they usually have, and the writing comes off as weak and disregarded. Although Todd Rundgren tried his hardest to get 1983's Next Position Please off the ground, Cheap Trick opted for producer Jack Douglas this time around, whose efforts fared quite the same. It wasn't until 1988's Lap of Luxury that Cheap Trick was finally back on track, scoring their first number one hit with the dreamy-sounding ballad "The Flame."
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DISC TWELVE (39:30)
''THE DOCTOR''
1986
1 It's Up To You (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:46
2 Rearview Mirror Romance (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:29
3 The Doctor (Rick Nielsen) 04:00
4 Are You Lonely Tonight (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:44
5 Name Of The Game (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:13
6 Kiss Me Red (Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg) 03:33
7 Take Me To The Top (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:55
8 Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:22
9 Man-U-Lip-U-Lator (Rick Nielsen, Tony Platt, Robin Zander) 03:43
10 It's Only Love (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:41
Jon Brant/Bass
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Coral Gordon/Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Paul Klingberg/Keyboards
Dee Lewis/Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Rick Nielsen/Guitar
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
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DISC THIRTEEN (41:43)
''LAP OF LUXURY''
1988
1 Let Go (Rick Nielsen, Todd Cerney)04:24
2 No Mercy (Jon Lind, Jim Scott) 03:52
3 The Flame (Bob Mitcheell, Nick Graham) 05:35
4 Space (Mike Chapman, Holly Knight) 04:14
5 Never Had A Lot To Lose (Robin Zander, Tom Petersson) 03:21
6 Don't Be Cruel (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley) 03:06
7 Wrong Side Of Love (Rick Nielsen, Todd Cerney) 03:58
8 All We Need Is A Dream (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Gregg Giuffria) 04:16
9 Ghost Town (Rick Nielsen, Diane Warren) 04:08
10 All Wound Up (Robin Zander, Tom Petersson, Janna Allen) 04:44
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Percussion
REVIEW/AMG
by Steve Huey
Cheap Trick's comeback album is by no means a return to the creativity and vitality of their glory days. But even though Lap of Luxury is largely formulaic, the band's strongest collection of material in some time fills that late-'80s pop-metal formula quite well. Combining grandly romantic power ballads ("Ghost Town") with catchy hard rockers ("Never Had a Lot to Lose"), Lap of Luxury consistently delivers strong hooks and well-crafted songs, proving that Cheap Trick were still capable of outdoing many of the bands they helped inspire. The album produced two Top Five singles in a cover of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and the band's first number one hit, "The Flame."
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DISC FOURTEEN (46:15)
''BUSTED'
1990
1 Back 'n Blue (Robert A. Johnson, Rick Nielsen, Taylor Rhodes, Robin Zander) 04:39
2 I Can't Understand It (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:27
3 Wherever Would I Be (Diane Warren) 04:03
4 If You Need Me (Mick Jones, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:42
5 Can't Stop Falling Into Love (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:45
6 Busted (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:03
7 Walk Away (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) (Featuring Chrissie Hynde) 03:39
8 You Drive, I'll Steer (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:30
9 When You Need Someone (Nick Graham, R. Kelly, Rick Nielsen) 05:15
10 Had To Make You Mine (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:14
11 Rock 'n' Roll Tonight (Roy Wood) 04:54
Kim Bullard/Keyboards
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Mick Jones/Guitar
Russell Mael/Vocals (Background)
Rick Nielsen/Guitar
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Surely, Cheap Trick didn’t intend for the title of Busted, their 1990 sequel to their surprise 1988 commercial comeback Lap of Luxury, to be as prophetic as that of its predecessor, but this vacant, radio-ready rocker finds the group at an unquestionable nadir. It’s not just the sound -- although the shimmering skyscraper production admittedly does the group no favors, neutering Roy Wood’s “Rock N Roll Tonight,” turning its swing into a stiff martial march -- it’s the paucity of material that is so dispiriting, the group either turning in pastiches of their trademarks or surrendering completely to the whims of studio hacks, whose tunefulness eclipses that of Nielsen and Zander, this time around. Like The Doctor before it -- the only album to rival this as the band’s worst -- Busted captures every bad sonic hallmark of its year; it’s as cavernous as that 1986 disaster, thanks in large part to the gargantuan rhythm section, but at least it’s warmer and less reliant on cold synths than that garish misfire, which does make it an easier listen. Even so, the pounding arena rock of Busted remains a bumpy ride because the hollow sound only magnifies the hollowness of the band’s songs.
WEBSITE
TO THE TOP
''THE COMPLETE EPIC ALBUMS COLLECTION, DISC FOUR (AT BUDOKAN THE COMPLETE CONCERT, DISC ONE)''
1979
2012
580:17
ABOUT THE BOX
By Joe Marchese, theseconddisc.com
“ELO kiddies, ELO kiddies, whatcha gonna do when the lights start shining?” went the musical question in the first song on Cheap Trick’s very first album. But one question, naturally, leads to another. Was the song title simply saying a British ‘elo in a cheeky salute? Or was it alluding to ELO, a.k.a. Electric Light Orchestra, the orchestral rock outfit founded by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood? Why the heck does the song sound more like Gary Glitter than those Brummies? And where did the boys from Illinois soak up all of those British influences anyway?
You’ll find plenty of questions, as well as deliciously satisfying answers, in the handy 13-album/14-CD cube helpfully entitled Cheap Trick: The Complete Epic Albums Collection (Epic/Legacy 88697 94193 2, 2012). Produced by Bruce Dickinson and mastered by Vic Anesini, this exclusive box set available from Sony’s PopMarket brings together the formidable 1977-1990 catalogue of one of America’s most electrifying rock bands. A full five albums (One on One, Standing on the Edge, The Doctor, Lap of Luxury and Busted) have been newly remastered expressly for this set, while Found All the Parts makes its U.S. CD debut and the “Authorized Version” of the Todd Rundgren-produced Next Position Please has its worldwide CD premiere. In addition, five albums have bonus tracks mirroring their most recent Legacy reissues, and the acclaimed At Budokan is presented in its complete 2-CD form. Indeed, this is a comprehensive anthology suitable for both longtime Cheap Trick fans as well as for new fans looking to build a library in one fell swoop.
Once Rick Neilsen and Tom Petersson lit The Fuse in the late 1960s, the stage was set for Cheap Trick. The Fuse didn’t burn for long, though, and the Chicago duo reunited to Philadelphia where they became Sick Men of Europe (presumably by way of South Street). Returning to Illinois in 1973, Neilsen and Petersson added drummer Bun E. Carlos and singer Randy “Xeno” Hogan to their band, finally becoming Cheap Trick. Hogan didn’t do the Trick, however, and was replaced in short order by Robin Zander. From 1975 onward, the band toured relentlessly, and in 1976 Cheap Trick was rewarded with an Epic Records recording contract. Producer Jack Douglas was tasked with the chore of bringing to record the band’s singular brand of rock: crunchy riffs on top of bright pop melodies, enlivened by eccentric, often dark humor and a subversive lyrical outlook. The result, 1977’s Cheap Trick, failed to chart in the U.S. but became a major seller in Japan, priming the band for worldwide success.
The quartet’s second album, 1978’s In Color, dented the charts at No. 73 but smoothed out the rough edges of the ’77 debut with a somewhat quieter, even more melodic approach. The magic finally arrived with Heaven Tonight (1978). Like In Color, it was produced by Tom Werman, but this time out, he found Cheap Trick’s sweet spot. Werman didn’t discourage the hook-filled songs inspired by the best of the British Invasion, but they were interpreted via a loud, tough and current sound. “Surrender” from Heaven Tonight became Cheap Trick’s first Top 100 single, and a calling card for the group. Heaven Tonight may be a great power pop album, but the emphasis is on the power. Another band that mastered the heavy-yet-light balance was The Move, and Cheap Trick made explicit its devotion to the quirky rock of Roy Wood with a cover of his “California Man.”
And the fans surrendered to 1979’s At Budokan, on which the aggressive playing is rewarded by the audience’s palpable fervor. The original Top 5-charting release was expanded by Legacy in 1998 from 10 tracks to the concert’s full 19 by incorporating material first aired on 1994’s Budokan II, and that 1998 set is the version included here. (A whopping 3-CD/1-DVD set from 2008 expanded the original album further with a second concert included.) Werman returned for the next studio effort, Dream Police, on which the production was as elaborate as At Budokan was raw. Then, in 1980, Cheap Trick released the four-track EP Found All the Parts, freeing from the band’s vaults three new compositions and a cover of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” This EP acknowledged the clear Beatles influence on the band, and this box set marks its very first time on American CD in its original form. So for All Shook Up, released later that year, Cheap Trick went to the source: none other than George Martin. Since his legendary run with the Fabs, Martin had produced a string of successful albums for America as well as albums by a crop of artists running the gamut from Neil Sedaka to Jeff Beck. Now, his imprimatur was bestowed on Neilsen and co., and although the album might have been crushed under the weight of its lofty expectations, it’s far more than a mere footnote in the group’s discography.
Hit the jump for much, much more on these Midwestern rock heroes and the new box set, including order link and album listing!
Roy Thomas Baker, well known for his work with Queen and The Cars, followed Martin as producer of 1982’s One on One, which introduced new bassist Jon Brant, but an even more eyebrow-raising match was yet to come. Todd Rundgren, known for his outré studio experimentation as well as for his own style of power pop, was familiar with Cheap Trick; Robert “Stewkey” Antoni of Rundgren’s first band The Nazz had briefly played in the embryonic Sick Men of Europe with the future Cheap Trick members. (Rundgren also shared the band’s enthusiasm for The Move; Roy Wood’s band had covered Todd’s “Open My Eyes” and Rundgren repaid the favor with his own take on “Do Ya.”) Neilsen recalled meeting Rundgren as far back as 1969, at which time Todd had actually advised the singer against working with his old bandmate Stewkey! For his part, Rundgren wasn’t concerned about stepping into the producer’s chair for the album that became Next Position Please: “My priority as a producer, first of all, is the material. Show me the music and then, of course, show me the money!” Joking aside, he added to author Paul Myers, “It’s entirely down to songs, though.” Engineer Chris Andersen told Myers, “There was just a great vibe in the studio, and a genuine camaraderie between Todd and the band.” In addition to his production duties, the multi-talented Rundgren also contributed guitars to the album and a song of his own, “Heaven’s Falling,” which was the kind of infectious power pop he seemingly could turn out with ease. The trouble began when Epic Records didn’t hear a single on the LP, even though Rundgren thought Robin Zander’s big, arena-ready “I Can’t Take It” was prime 45 material. Epic removed two of the proposed album’s tracks, “Don’t Hit Me with Love” and “Twisted Heart,” and ordered the band into the studio with Ian Taylor as producer for a cover of The Motors’ “Dancing the Night Away” and Neilsen’s own “You Say Jump.” The album’s “You Talk Too Much” and “Don’t Make Our Love A Crime” were relegated to bonus track status on subsequent cassette and CD editions of the album.
When Next Position Please was released in 1983, it managed a No. 61 chart placement but lacked staying power despite its tuneful melodies, bright production and brash spirit. In 2006, the band reconsidered the album, digitally issuing an “Authorized Edition” with all of the Rundgren tracks restored, and the two non-Todd tracks sequenced at the album’s conclusion. This “complete” 16-track version, thankfully, makes its CD debut as part of The Complete Epic Albums Collection, allowing the work of “kindred spirit” Rundgren, according to Bun E. Carlos, to shine fully.
Four more albums for Epic followed in the 1980s. 1985’s Standing on the Edge reunited the group with producer Jack Douglas and yielded the almost-Top 40 single “Tonight It’s You” but the album lacked a strong character even if Carlos pointedly was credited for “acoustic drums” on the album sleeve amidst the decade’s drum machine deluge. (Even Rundgren had been enamored of the Linn drum machine, with Carlos playing live drums to Rundgren’s programmed track on the previous LP.) 1986’s The Doctor, however, embraced the eighties ethos head-on, with synthesizer and drum machine overload on happily trashy songs like “Good Girls Go to Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere).” Certain charms aside, The Doctor (produced by Tony Platt) hasn’t aged as well as the band’s more successful albums. The harder-rocking Lap of Luxury (1988) followed, with a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and a phalanx of outside co-writers including Diane Warren on “Ghost Town.” Ironically, though, Cheap Trick scored its first No. 1 hit with Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham’s bombastic power ballad “The Flame,” brought to the group by album producer Richie Zito. The pop-metal sound of Lap of Luxury (with original bassist Petersson back in the fold) proved that Cheap Trick indeed had a place in the 1980s.
The Complete Epic Albums Collection concludes with Cheap Trick’s first effort of the 1990s, Busted, which turned again to Diane Warren but also looked back to the inspiration of Roy Wood with a cover of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Tonight.” Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders joined in with vocals on “Walk Away” while Foreigner’s Mick Jones contributed guitar to “If You Need Me.” The album yielded a moderate radio hit with “Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love,” written by Neilsen, Zander and Petersson, but Cheap Trick and Epic soon parted ways.
In the ensuing 20+ years, Cheap Trick has continued to tour and record, offering a handful of new studio albums as well as choice live albums like 2009’s Sgt. Pepper Live, paying homage once again to The Beatles in the band’s typically high-octane fashion. But the albums contained within this checkerboard are without a doubt the core of the band’s great legacy. The box set, in addition to its truly superlative sound, also offers a 32-page booklet. It lacks any liner notes, but contains the personnel info, track listings and discographical annotation for every album included. Each title is housed in a mini-LP replica jacket. The new box joins an impressive line-up of similarly complete packages from artists as diverse as John Denver, Judas Priest, Dave Brubeck and the kiddies of ELO themselves! All of these boxes and many more can be purchased directly from Sony’s PopMarket. The Complete Epic Albums Collection, offering 14 discs of energetic pop and rock from Rockford, Illinois’ favorite sons, can be yours at the link below! And watch this space for a special video preview of The Complete Epic Albums Collection!
Cheap Trick, The Complete Epic Albums Collection (Epic/Legacy 88697 94193 2, 2012)
Albums Included:
Cheap Trick (Expanded Edition) (1977)
In Color (Expanded Edition) (1977)
Heaven Tonight (Expanded Edition) (1978)
At Budokan: The Complete Concert (1978/1998, 2 CDs)
Dream Police (Expanded Edition) (1979)
Found All the Parts EP (1980)
All Shook Up (Expanded Edition) (1980)
One on One (1982)
Next Position Please: Authorized Version (1983/2006)
Standing on the Edge (1985)
The Doctor (1986)
Lap of Luxury (1988)
Busted (1990)
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DISC ONE (56:44)
''CHEAP TRICK''
1977 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Elo Kiddies (Single Version) 03:41
2 Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School 04:44
3 Taxman, Mr. Thief 04:15
4 Cry, Cry (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 04:19
5 Oh, Candy 03:04
6 Hot Love 02:30
7 Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace (Terry Reid) 04:35
8 He's A Whore 02:42
9 Mandocello 04:46
10 The Ballad Of Tv Violence (I'm Not The Only Boy) 05:11
11 Lovin' Money (Previously Unreleased) 04:06
12 I Want You To Want Me (Previously Unreleased) 02:42
13 Lookout (Previously Unreleased) 03:28
14 You're All Talk (Previously Unreleased) (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:29
15 I Dig Go-Go Girls (Previously Unreleased) 03:03
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 4, 7, 14
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Cheap Trick's eponymous debut is an explosive fusion of Beatlesque melodic hooks, Who-styled power, and a twisted sense of humor partially borrowed from the Move. But that only begins to scratch the surface of what makes Cheap Trick a dynamic record. Guitarist Rick Nielsen has a powerful sense of dynamics and arrangements, which gives the music an extra kick, but he also can write exceptionally melodic and subversive songs. Nothing on Cheap Trick is quite what it seems. While the songs have hooks and attitude that arena rock was sorely lacking in the late '70s, they are also informed by a bizarre sensibility, whether it's the driving "He's a Whore," the dreamy "Mandocello," or the thumping Gary Glitter perversion "ELO Kiddies." "The Ballad of TV Violence" is about mass murder, while "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School" concerns pedophiles. All of it is told with a sense of humor, but it doesn't come off as cheap or smirking because of the group's hard-rocking drive and Robin Zander's pop-idol vocals. Even "Oh, Candy," apparently a love song on first listen, is an affecting tribute to a friend who committed suicide. In short, Cheap Trick revel in taboo subjects with abandon, devoting themselves to the power of the hook, as well as sheer volume and gut-wrenching rock & roll -- though the record is more musically accomplished than punk rock, it shares the same aesthetic. The combination of off-kilter humor, bizarre subjects, and blissful power pop made Cheap Trick one of the defining albums of its era, as well as one of the most influential. [The 1998 Epic/Legacy reissue of Cheap Trick features a different track sequence than the original and also adds several bonus tracks, many of which are previously unreleased.]
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocal
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DISC TWO (45:31)
''IN COLOR.''
1977 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Hello There 01:39
2 Big Eyes 03:05
3 Downed 04:08
4 I Want You To Want Me 03:08
5 You're All Talk (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:31
6 Oh Caroline 02:57
7 Clock Strikes Ten 02:56
8 Southern Girls 03:41
9 Come On, Come On 02:37
10 So Good To See You 03:34
11 Oh Boy 03:07
12 Southern Girls (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:01
13 Come On, Come On 02:03
14 You're All Talk (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:41
15 Goodnight 02:17
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 5, 12, 14
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Though Cheap Trick's second album, In Color, draws from the same stockpile of Midwestern barroom favorites as their debut album, it was produced by Tom Werman, who had the band strip away their raw attack and replace it with a shiny, radio-ready sound. Consequently, In Color doesn't have the visceral attack of its predecessor, but it still has the same sensibility and a similar set of spectacular songs. From the druggy psychedelia of "Downed" and the bubblegum singalong "I Want You to Want Me" to the "California Girls" homage of "Southern Girls," the album has the same encyclopedic knowledge of rock & roll, as well as the good sense to subvert it with a perverse sense of humor. Portions of the album haven't dated well, simply due to the glossy production, but the songs and music on In Color are as splendid as the band's debut.
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DISC THREE (52:01)
''HEAVEN TONIGHT''
1978 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Surrender 04:13
2 On Top Of The World 04:00
3 California Man (Roy Wood) 03:44
4 High Roller (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:57
5 Auf Wiedersehen (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:40
6 Takin' Me Back 04:50
7 On The Radio 04:30
8 Heaven Tonight (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 05:22
9 Stiff Competition 03:38
10 How Are You (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 04:12
11 Oh Claire (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 00:58
12 Stiff Competition 04:00
13 Surrender 04:50
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 , 11
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Trap Kit
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Jai Winding/Keyboards
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Heaven Tonight, like In Color, was produced by Tom Werman, but the difference between the two records is substantial. Where In Color often sounded emasculated, Heaven Tonight regains the powerful, arena-ready punch of Cheap Trick, but crosses it with a clever radio-friendly production that relies both on synthesizers and studio effects. Even with the fairly slick production, Cheap Trick sound ferocious throughout the album, slamming heavy metal, power pop, and hard rock together in a humongous sound. "Surrender," the definitive Cheap Trick song, opens the album with a tale about a kid whose parents are hipper than himself, and the remainder of the record is a roller coaster ride, peaking with the sneering "Auf Wiedersehen," the dreamily psychedelic title track, the roaring rocker "On Top of the World," the high-stepping, tongue-in-cheek "How Are You," and the pulverizing cover of the Move's "California Man." Heaven Tonight is the culmination of the group's dizzying early career, summing up the strengths of their first two albums, their live show, and their talent for inverting pop conventions. They were never quite as consistently thrilling on record ever again. [The 2006 Japanese edition includes bonus tracks.]
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DISC FOUR (45:24)
''AT BUDOKAN THE COMPLETE CONCERT, DISC ONE''
1979
1 Hello There 02:41
2 Come On, Come On 02:59
3 Elo Kiddies 03:57
4 Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 06:03
5 Big Eyes 03:49
6 Lookout 03:11
7 Downed 04:38
8 Can't Hold On 06:13
9 Oh Caroline 02:59
10 Surrender 04:39
11 Auf Wiedersehen (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 04:08
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 4, 11
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Trap Kit
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhytm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
While their records were entertaining and full of skillful pop, it wasn't until At Budokan that Cheap Trick's vision truly gelled. Many of these songs, like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Big Eyes," were pleasant in their original form, but seemed more like sketches compared to the roaring versions on this album. With their ear-shatteringly loud guitars and sweet melodies, Cheap Trick unwittingly paved the way for much of the hard rock of the next decade, as well as a surprising amount of alternative rock of the 1990s, and it was At Budokan that captured the band in all of its power.
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DISC FIVE (36:43)
''AT BUDOKAN THE COMPLETE CONCERT, DISC TWO''
1979
1 Need Your Love (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 08:54
2 High Roller (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 04:28
3 Southern Girls (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 03:53
4 I Want You To Want Me 03:36
5 California Man 03:54
6 Goodnight 03:05
7 Ain't That A Shame (Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino) 05:02
8 Clock Strikes Ten 03:48
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 1, 2, 3, 7
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Trap Kit
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Rhytm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
While their records were entertaining and full of skillful pop, it wasn't until At Budokan that Cheap Trick's vision truly gelled. Many of these songs, like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Big Eyes," were pleasant in their original form, but seemed more like sketches compared to the roaring versions on this album. With their ear-shatteringly loud guitars and sweet melodies, Cheap Trick unwittingly paved the way for much of the hard rock of the next decade, as well as a surprising amount of alternative rock of the 1990s, and it was At Budokan that captured the band in all of its power.
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DISC SIX (64:08)
''DREAM POLICE''
1979 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 Dream Police 03:50
2 Way Of The World (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:35
3 The House Is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems) (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 05:08
4 Gonna Raise Hell 09:16
5 I'll Be With You Tonight (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:49
6 Voices 04:17
7 Writing On The Wall 03:24
8 I Know What I Want 04:25
9 Need Your Love (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 07:35
10 The House Is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems) (Live Version) (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson) 06:16
11 Way Of The World (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:57
12 Dream Police (No Strings Version) 03:50
13 I Know What I Want (Live Version) 04:40
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Mandocello, Vocals
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar, Bass Guitar, Guitar (8 String), Guitar (12 String), Vocals
Jai Winding/Guest Artist, Keyboards, Organ, Piano
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
At Budokan unexpectedly made Cheap Trick stars, largely because "I Want You to Want Me" had a tougher sound than its original studio incarnation. Perversely -- and most things Cheap Trick have done are somehow perverse -- the band decided not to continue with the direct, stripped-down sound of At Budokan, which would have been a return to their debut. Instead, the group went for their biggest, most elaborate production to date, taking the synthesized flourishes of Heaven Tonight to extremes. While it kept the group in the charts, it lessened the impact of the music. Underneath the gloss, there are a number of songs that rank among Cheap Trick's finest, particularly the paranoid title track, the epic rocker "Gonna Raise Hell," the tough "I Know What I Want," the simple pop of "Voices," and the closer, "Need Your Love." Still, Dream Police feels like a letdown in comparison to its predecessors, even though it would later feel like one of the group's last high-water marks.
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DISC SEVEN (17:03)
''FOUND ALL THE PARTS (EP)''
1980
1 Day Tripper (Live Version) (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) 03:35
2 Can't Hold On (Live Version) (Rick Nielsen) 05:53
3 Such A Good Girl (Rick Nielsen) 03:02
4 Take Me I'm Yours (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:32
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Vocals
Robin Zander/Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
By James Chrispell
This EP consists of four cuts that hadn't found their way onto Cheap Trick's releases as of yet. Of note is their version of the Beatles' "Day Tripper." A nostalgic bit of history.
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DISC EIGHT (37:23)
''ALL SHOOK UP''
1980 (BONUS TRACK)
1 Stop This Game (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:54
2 Just Got Back 02:03
3 Baby Loves To Rock 03:15
4 Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try 03:28
5 World's Greatest Lover 04:49
6 High Priest Of Rhythmic Noise 04:10
7 Love Comes A-Tumblin' Down 03:06
8 I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends 03:49
9 Go For The Throat (Use Your Own Imagination) 03:02
10 Who D'king (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen) 02:15
11 Everything Works If You Let It (Single Version) 03:26
Tracks By Rick Nelsen, Except 1, 10
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Percussion
Additional personnel:
George Martin - Arranger On 1, 5, Piano
REVIEW/AMG
by Stewart Mason
Cheap Trick's first genuinely disappointing album (1979's Dream Police wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to the level of the first four), 1980's All Shook Up is pretty much a complete botch. Much of the blame belongs to producer George Martin, who, for all his brilliance, was simply a wrongheaded choice for these brash power poppers; his production style simply doesn't translate. Unfortunately, primary songwriter Rick Nielsen has to shoulder his portion of the blame as well: the band's sixth album in under four years shows that the guitarist is starting to run out of both hooks and interesting lyrics. Too many songs are based around half-baked braggadocio like "High Priest of Rhythmic Noise" and "World's Greatest Lover," without the snarky wit that elevated their earlier albums, and the tunes themselves are substandard boogie deficient in both head-bobbing riffs and singalong choruses. "Baby Loves to Rock" is a glad-handing rocker with a certain resemblance to T. Rex's classic string of hits, but it's not enough to save the album. [An Expanded edition of All Shook Up was released in 2006 with five bonus tracks.]
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DISC NINE (36:34)
''ONE ON ONE''
1982
1 I Want You 03:01
2 One On One 03:05
3 If You Want My Love 03:34
4 Oo La La La (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:14
5 Lookin' Out For Number One 03:39
6 She's Tight 02:58
7 This Time Around 04:31
8 Saturday At Midnight (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 02:58
9 Love's Got A Hold On Me (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 02:34
10 I Want Be Man 03:19
11 Four Letter Word (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:36
Tracks By Rick Nielsen, Except 4, 8, 9, 11
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar, Vocals, Bass Guitar
Jon Brant/Backing Vocals, Bass GuitarBacking vocals, Bass guitar On 3, 6, 8
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Percussion
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tom Petersson left Cheap Trick following the George Martin-produced All Shook Up, and the band was somewhat left in a lurch, recording 1982’s One on One largely without a bassist; eventual replacement Jon Brant is on record and on the cover, but he’s obscured by a picture of Rick Nielsen, possibly because the guitarist handled the bulk of the basslines on the LP. In any case, One on One finds Cheap Trick rebounding from Martin with a slick, punchy, AOR record, hemmed in a bit by stiff sequenced rhythms -- you can almost feel Bun E. Carlos straining against the metronome -- but sparkling in its analog synths and pumped-up guitars. No, it’s not as ballsy as Cheap Trick’s best, but its glossy glimmer is appealing, a combination of heavy metal roar and new wave strut, and would be more so if the songs were just a bit tighter. Sometimes, Nielsen winds up knocking it out of the park -- the title track grinds nicely, “She’s Tight” is good and sleazy -- but there are several truly odd detours, usually when the group veers too strongly toward the new wave, like on the awkward, clanking “Saturday at Midnight” and the stiff Devo misinterpretation “I Want Be Man." These tracks accentuate the album’s 1982 artifact appeal, but ironically, are the things that kept it from being a blockbuster at the time.
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DISC TEN (57:30)
''NEXT POSITION PLEASE''
1983 (BONUS TRACKS)
1 I Can't Take It (Robin Zander) 03:26
2 Borderline 03:32
3 I Don't Love Her Anymore 03:49
4 Next Position Please 02:52
5 Younger Girls (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:13
6 Don't Make Our Love A Crime 03:42
7 3-D 03:36
8 You Talk Too Much 01:53
9 Y.O.Y.O.Y 04:52
10 Won't Take No For An Answer 03:11
11 Heaven's Falling (Todd Rundgren) 03:45
12 Invaders Of The Heart 03:58
13 Twisted Heart 04:14
14 Don't Hit Me With Love 03:21
15 You Say Jump 03:04
16 Dancing The Night Away (Garvey, McMaster) 04:55
Jon Brant/Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bun E. Carlos/Cymbals, Drums
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar
Todd Rundgren/Guitar
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Cheap Trick attempted to ride the new wave on 1982’s One on One, but wound up with a wipe-out, so they recovered by hiring Todd Rundgren, one of the few ‘70s album-rockers who proved that he knew how to negotiate the treacherous waters of the early ‘80s, for 1983’s Next Position Please. Rundgren wielded a heavy hand during his production, pushing Cheap Trick toward making a record that could easily be mistaken for a Utopia record -- so much so, the Todd composition, “Heaven’s Falling,” slips onto the second side without calling attention to itself. The bright surfaces with the guitars and keyboards melding so tightly with the vocal harmonies they’re inseparable, produce a sound that is uncannily reminiscent of Oops! Wrong Planet, but Rundgren also helps keep an eye on quality control, letting Robin Zander’s terrific “I Can’t Take It” open the album, coaxing the band to cover the Motors’ “Dancing the Night Away,” and editing Rick Nielsen’s best set of songs since Heaven Tonight. Next Position Please is still very much a new wave-era Cheap Trick album -- this is shiny surfaces, not kicks to the gut -- but it’s the best of the lot, and one of their best-ever albums.
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DISC ELEVEN (39:32)
''STANDING ON THE EDGE''
1985
1 Little Sister 03:55
2 Tonight It's You (Jon Brant, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zander) 04:45
3 She's Got Motion (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice) 03:19
4 Love Comes (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zandler) 04:39
5 How About You (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 02:56
6 Standing On The Edge (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 04:40
7 This Time Around (Jon Brant, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 04:31
8 Rock All Night (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 02:49
9 Cover Girl (Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice) 03:40
10 Wild Wild Women (Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Mark Radice, Robin Zandler) 04:15
Jon Brant/Bass Guitar
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Rick Nielsen/Guitar
Mark Radice/Keyboards
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Mike DeGagne
Standing on the Edge's only highlight comes from the silvery-sounding "Tonight It's You," which peaked just outside the Top 40 at number 44 in the fall of 1985. Like 1983's Next Position Please, Standing on the Edge finds the band without any pizzazz or rock & roll exuberance. The tracks are dull and colorless, with only the single sporting any signs of enthusiasm from any of the band's members. Sleepers like "This Time Around," "How About You," and the ridiculous "Wild Wild Women" are subpar considering what Cheap Trick's capabilities are. Both Zander and Nielsen lack the cohesion that they usually have, and the writing comes off as weak and disregarded. Although Todd Rundgren tried his hardest to get 1983's Next Position Please off the ground, Cheap Trick opted for producer Jack Douglas this time around, whose efforts fared quite the same. It wasn't until 1988's Lap of Luxury that Cheap Trick was finally back on track, scoring their first number one hit with the dreamy-sounding ballad "The Flame."
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DISC TWELVE (39:30)
''THE DOCTOR''
1986
1 It's Up To You (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:46
2 Rearview Mirror Romance (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:29
3 The Doctor (Rick Nielsen) 04:00
4 Are You Lonely Tonight (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:44
5 Name Of The Game (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:13
6 Kiss Me Red (Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg) 03:33
7 Take Me To The Top (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:55
8 Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:22
9 Man-U-Lip-U-Lator (Rick Nielsen, Tony Platt, Robin Zander) 03:43
10 It's Only Love (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:41
Jon Brant/Bass
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Coral Gordon/Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Paul Klingberg/Keyboards
Dee Lewis/Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Rick Nielsen/Guitar
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
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DISC THIRTEEN (41:43)
''LAP OF LUXURY''
1988
1 Let Go (Rick Nielsen, Todd Cerney)04:24
2 No Mercy (Jon Lind, Jim Scott) 03:52
3 The Flame (Bob Mitcheell, Nick Graham) 05:35
4 Space (Mike Chapman, Holly Knight) 04:14
5 Never Had A Lot To Lose (Robin Zander, Tom Petersson) 03:21
6 Don't Be Cruel (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley) 03:06
7 Wrong Side Of Love (Rick Nielsen, Todd Cerney) 03:58
8 All We Need Is A Dream (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Gregg Giuffria) 04:16
9 Ghost Town (Rick Nielsen, Diane Warren) 04:08
10 All Wound Up (Robin Zander, Tom Petersson, Janna Allen) 04:44
Robin Zander/Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Rick Nielsen/Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tom Petersson/Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bun E. Carlos/Drums, Percussion
REVIEW/AMG
by Steve Huey
Cheap Trick's comeback album is by no means a return to the creativity and vitality of their glory days. But even though Lap of Luxury is largely formulaic, the band's strongest collection of material in some time fills that late-'80s pop-metal formula quite well. Combining grandly romantic power ballads ("Ghost Town") with catchy hard rockers ("Never Had a Lot to Lose"), Lap of Luxury consistently delivers strong hooks and well-crafted songs, proving that Cheap Trick were still capable of outdoing many of the bands they helped inspire. The album produced two Top Five singles in a cover of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and the band's first number one hit, "The Flame."
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DISC FOURTEEN (46:15)
''BUSTED'
1990
1 Back 'n Blue (Robert A. Johnson, Rick Nielsen, Taylor Rhodes, Robin Zander) 04:39
2 I Can't Understand It (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 03:27
3 Wherever Would I Be (Diane Warren) 04:03
4 If You Need Me (Mick Jones, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:42
5 Can't Stop Falling Into Love (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:45
6 Busted (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:03
7 Walk Away (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) (Featuring Chrissie Hynde) 03:39
8 You Drive, I'll Steer (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander) 04:30
9 When You Need Someone (Nick Graham, R. Kelly, Rick Nielsen) 05:15
10 Had To Make You Mine (Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander) 03:14
11 Rock 'n' Roll Tonight (Roy Wood) 04:54
Kim Bullard/Keyboards
Bun E. Carlos/Drums
Mick Jones/Guitar
Russell Mael/Vocals (Background)
Rick Nielsen/Guitar
Tom Petersson/12-String Bass Guitar
Robin Zander/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Surely, Cheap Trick didn’t intend for the title of Busted, their 1990 sequel to their surprise 1988 commercial comeback Lap of Luxury, to be as prophetic as that of its predecessor, but this vacant, radio-ready rocker finds the group at an unquestionable nadir. It’s not just the sound -- although the shimmering skyscraper production admittedly does the group no favors, neutering Roy Wood’s “Rock N Roll Tonight,” turning its swing into a stiff martial march -- it’s the paucity of material that is so dispiriting, the group either turning in pastiches of their trademarks or surrendering completely to the whims of studio hacks, whose tunefulness eclipses that of Nielsen and Zander, this time around. Like The Doctor before it -- the only album to rival this as the band’s worst -- Busted captures every bad sonic hallmark of its year; it’s as cavernous as that 1986 disaster, thanks in large part to the gargantuan rhythm section, but at least it’s warmer and less reliant on cold synths than that garish misfire, which does make it an easier listen. Even so, the pounding arena rock of Busted remains a bumpy ride because the hollow sound only magnifies the hollowness of the band’s songs.
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