Cheap Trick | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Combining a love for British guitar pop songcraft with crunching power chords and a flair for the absurd, Cheap Trick provided the necessary links between 60s pop, heavy metal, and punk. Led by guitarist Rick Nielsen, the bands early albums were filled with highly melodic, well-written songs that drew equally from the crafted pop of the Beatles, the sonic assault of the Who, and the tongue-in-cheek musical eclecticism and humor of the Move. A canny student of 60s rock, Nielsen first worked with bassist Tom Petersson in the band Fuse, who released one album in 1969 before dissolving. Nielsen and Petersson continued working together in several formats until they teamed with drummer Bun E. Carlos and vocalist Robin Zander to form the definitive lineup of Cheap Trick in 1975. After developing a cult following after three outstanding albums -- 1977s Cheap Trick and In Color and 1978s Heaven Tonight -- and relentless touring, Cheap Trick scored an unexpected hit with 1978s At Budokan, a live album originally issued only in Japan that became their international breakthrough. Glossier production and fuzzy creative direction sapped the bands spirit on most of their work of the 80s, despite the commercial success of 1988s Lap of Luxury and its Number One single "The Flame." However, after leaving the major labels behind with 1997s Cheap Trick, the band enjoyed a creative second wind, reaffirming the strength of their formula on-stage and in the studio, and 2006s Rockford demonstrated they were far from a spent force. They later signed with the successful country label Big Machine and released 2016s Bang, Zoom, Crazy … Hello within months of being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, kicking off a productive streak that saw them release three albums within 18 months. Their sound provided a blueprint for both power pop and arena rock; it also had a surprisingly long-lived effect on both alternative and heavy metal bands of the 80s and 90s, who often relied on the same combination of loud riffs and catchy melodies. Cheap Tricks roots lie in Fuse, a late-60s band formed by Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson in Rockford, Illinois. The group released an album on Epic in 1969; after it failed to gain any attention, the band relocated to Philadelphia and changed their name to Sick Man of Europe. The group toured Europe unsuccessfully in 1972 and returned to Illinois in 1973. Not long after their return to Rockford, Nielsen and Petersson changed their bands name once more -- this time to Cheap Trick -- and added drummer Bun E. Carlos and vocalist Randy "Xeno" Hogan to the lineup. Hogan was fired the following year, making room for ex-folksinger Robin Zander to join the group. Between 1975 and the bands first album in 1977, Cheap Trick toured constantly, playing over 200 concerts a year while occasionally opening for the likes of the Kinks, Kiss, Santana, AC/DC, and Queen. During this time, the band built up a solid catalog of original songs that would eventually comprise their first three albums; they also perfected their kinetic live show. Cheap Trick signed with Epic in 1976 and released their self-titled debut early the following year. The record sold well in America, yet it failed to chart. However, the group became a massive success in Japan, and the album went gold upon release. Later that year, the band released their second album, In Color. It backed away from the harder-rocking side of Cheap Trick, featuring slicker production and quieter arrangements that spotlighted the bands melodic skills instead. Due to their constant touring, the record made it into the U.S. charts, peaking at number 73. It became another gold-seller in Japan, however, where the musicians had become virtual superstars. Their Japanese concerts began selling out within two hours, and they packed the sizable Budokan Arena. Cheap Tricks concerts at Budokan were recorded for possible release, although the live album didnt appear until the bands third album, 1978s Heaven Tonight. That third album captured both the loud, raucous energy of Cheap Tricks debut and the hook-laden songcraft of In Color, leading to their first Top 100 single, "Surrender," which peaked at number 62. However, the live performances on At Budokan (1979) captured the bands energetic, infectious live show, resulting in their commercial breakthrough in America. The album stayed on the charts for over a year, peaking at number four and eventually selling over three million copies. Meanwhile, a live version of "I Want You to Want Me" became their first Top Ten hit. Later that year, the group released their fourth studio album, Dream Police, which followed the same stylistic approach as Heaven Tonight. It also followed At Budokan into the Top Ten, selling over a million copies and launching the Top 40 hit singles "Voices" and "Dream Police." In the summer of 1980, the group released an EP of tracks recorded between 1976-1979 called Found All the Parts. Following the recording of the George Martin-produced All Shook Up, Petersson left the group in the summer of 1980 to form a group with his wife, Dagmar. He was replaced by Jon Brant. Released toward the end of 1980, All Shook Up performed respectably, peaking at number 24 and going gold, yet the single "Stop This Game" failed to crack the Top 40. One on One, the groups seventh album and the first recorded with Brant, appeared in 1982. Although it peaked at number 39, the record was more successful than All Shook Up, eventually going platinum. Nevertheless, the group was entering a downhill commercial slide, despite the fact that its music was becoming increasingly polished. Next Position Please, released in 1983, failed to launch a hit single and spent only 11 weeks on the charts. Standing on the Edge (1985) and The Doctor (1986) suffered similar fates, as the group were slowly losing their creative spark. Petersson rejoined the band in 1988 and the group began work on a new record with the help of several professional songwriters. The resulting effort, Lap of Luxury, was a platinum Top 20 hit, featuring the number one power ballad "The Flame" and a Top Ten version of Elvis Presleys "Dont Be Cruel." Busted, released in 1990, wasnt as successful as Lap of Luxury, peaking at number 48 and effectively putting an end to the groups commercial comeback. Cheap Trick soldiered into the new decade by signing with Warner Bros. in 1994 and releasing Woke Up with a Monster, which peaked at number 123 and spent two weeks on the album chart. That same year, Epic released a sequel to At Budokan, aptly titled Budokan II. Compiled from the same shows as At Budokan, the record served as an an effective reminder of why the group had become so popular in the late 70s. In 1995, Cheap Trick asked to leave Warners roster after the labels chief executives, Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin, departed. The band then decided to go back to the basics, and several alt rock superstars who had been influenced by Cheap Trick gave the band opportunities to restore their reputation. The Smashing Pumpkins had them open their tour in 1995, and the group played several dates on the 1996 Lollapalooza Tour. That same year, the box set Sex, America, Cheap Trick appeared to positive reviews, and the band signed with the fledgling indie label Red Ant before setting to work on a new album. Early in 1997, the group released a Steve Albini-produced single on Sub Pop, which was followed by the eponymous Cheap Trick, their acclaimed debut for Red Ant, in the spring. Unfortunately, Red Ant filed for bankruptcy seven weeks after the albums release, sadly putting a sudden halt on the groups building momentum. On April 30, 1998, the group launched a four-night residency in Chicago, devoting each show to reprising one of their first four albums in its entirety. Those shows later yielded a 1999 live LP, Music for Hangovers, which the musicians issued on their own Cheap Trick Unlimited label. A band-authorized hits collection followed in 2000. By the dawn of the new millennium, Cheap Trick were still without a label, but had retained their loyal following by continually touring the world. Appropriately, another live set saw the light of day in 2001. Entitled Silver, the double-disc album (and companion DVD) documented the bands star-studded, career-spanning 25th anniversary show on August 28, 1999. The band also recorded another studio album, released in 2003 as Special One. It was followed in 2006 by Rockford, named in tribute to the bands hometown, and then The Latest in 2009. Cheap Trick also maintained a heavy touring ethic, canvassing America that summer alongside Def Leppard and releasing their tribute to the Beatles with Sgt. Pepper Live. In late 2015, Cheap Trick signed with powerhouse country label Big Machine Records, and their first album for their new sponsors, Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello, was released in April 2016. It was the first Cheap Trick release since the departure of drummer Bun E. Carlos from the band. Daxx Nielsen, Ricks son, became the groups new percussionist in 2010. Wasting no time, the band returned with their second album for Big Machine, the rollicking Were All Alright!, in June 2017. They had barely caught their breath when they were back with their first holiday album, Christmas Christmas, in October 2017. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 35 Title: Cheap Trick Released: 1977 Tracks: 15 Duration: 57:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 ELO Kiddies (03:41) 2 Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School (04:44) 3 Taxman, Mr. Thief (04:15) 4 Cry, Cry (04:22) 5 Oh, Candy (03:06) 6 Hot Love (02:30) 7 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (04:34) 8 He’s a Whore (02:42) 9 Mandocello (04:46) 10 The Ballad of T.V. Violence (I’m Not the Only Boy) (05:25) 11 Lovin Money (outtake) (04:09) 12 I Want You to Want Me (early version) (02:44) 13 Lookout (studio version) (03:30) 14 Youre All Talk (studio version) (03:31) 15 I Dig Go‐Go Girls (03:06) |
 | Album: 2 of 35 Title: In Color Released: 1977-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 31:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hello There (01:39) 2 Big Eyes (03:05) 3 Downed (04:00) 4 I Want You to Want Me (03:10) 5 You’re All Talk (03:30) 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) |
| In Color : Allmusic album Review : Though Cheap Tricks 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 doesnt 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 havent dated well, simply due to the glossy production, but the songs and music on In Color are as splendid as the bands debut. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 35 Title: Heaven Tonight Released: 1978 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Surrender (04:14) 2 On Top of the World (04:01) 3 California Man (03:44) 4 High Roller (03:58) 5 Auf Wiedersehen (03:42) 6 Takin’ Me Back (04:52) 7 On the Radio (04:30) 8 Heaven Tonight (05:21) 9 Stiff Competition (03:40) 10 How Are You / [Oh Claire] (05:15) |
| Heaven Tonight : Allmusic album Review : 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 Moves "California Man." Heaven Tonight is the culmination of the groups 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. [Epic/Legacys 1998 reissue adds outtakes of "Stiff Competition" and "Surrender."] | ||
 | Album: 4 of 35 Title: Dream Police Released: 1979 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:04:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dream Police (03:54) 2 Way of the World (03:38) 3 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (05:11) 4 Gonna Raise Hell (09:20) 5 I’ll Be With You Tonight (03:51) 6 Voices (04:22) 7 Writing on the Wall (03:26) 8 I Know What I Want (04:29) 9 Need Your Love (07:37) 10 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (live) (06:16) 11 Way of the World (live) (04:00) 12 Dream Police (no strings version) (03:53) 13 I Know What I Want (live) (04:44) |
| Dream Police : Allmusic album Review : 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 Tricks 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 groups last high-water marks. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 35 Title: All Shook Up Released: 1980 Tracks: 15 Duration: 55:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Stop This Game (03:56) 2 Just Got Back (02:05) 3 Baby Loves to Rock (03:16) 4 Can’t Stop It (but I’m Gonna Try) (03:30) 5 World’s Greatest Lover (04:51) 6 High Priest of Rhythmic Noise (04:12) 7 Love Comes A‐Tumblin’ Down (03:09) 8 I Love You Honey but I Hate Your Friends (03:50) 9 Go for the Throat (Use Your Own Imagination) (03:05) 10 Who D’King (02:20) 11 Everything Works If You Let It (03:29) 12 Day Tripper (live) (03:40) 13 Can’t Hold On (live) (05:56) 14 Such a Good Girl (03:06) 15 Take Me Im Yours (04:34) |
| All Shook Up : Allmusic album Review : Cheap Tricks first genuinely disappointing album (1979s Dream Police wasnt bad, it just wasnt up to the level of the first four), 1980s 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 doesnt translate. Unfortunately, primary songwriter Rick Nielsen has to shoulder his portion of the blame as well: the bands 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 "Worlds 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. Rexs classic string of hits, but its not enough to save the album. [An Expanded edition of All Shook Up was released in 2006 with five bonus tracks.] | ||
 | Album: 6 of 35 Title: One on One Released: 1982-04-30 Tracks: 11 Duration: 34:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Want You (03:02) 2 One on One (03:05) 3 If You Want My Love (03:35) 4 Oo La La La (03:14) 5 Lookin’ Out for Number One (03:43) 6 She’s Tight (02:58) 7 Time Is Runnin’ (02:20) 8 Saturday at Midnight (02:58) 9 Love’s Got a Hold on Me (02:36) 10 I Want Be Man (03:19) 11 Four Letter Word (03:38) |
| One on One : Allmusic album Review : 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. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 35 Title: Next Position Please Released: 1983 Tracks: 14 Duration: 50:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Can’t Take It (03:28) 2 Borderline (03:34) 3 I Don’t Love Here Anymore (03:51) 4 Next Position Please (02:51) 5 Younger Girls (03:14) 6 Dancing the Night Away (04:58) 7 You Talk Too Much (01:55) 8 3‐D (03:37) 9 You Say Jump (03:06) 10 Y.O.Y.O.Y. (04:54) 11 Won’t Take No for an Answer (03:13) 12 Heaven’s Falling (03:48) 13 Invaders of the Heart (04:00) 14 Dont Make Our Love a Crime (03:43) |
| Next Position Please : Allmusic album Review : 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. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 35 Title: Standing on the Edge Released: 1985 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Little Sister (03:55) 2 Tonight It’s You (04:46) 3 She’s Got Motion (03:17) 4 Love Comes (04:40) 5 How About You (03:00) 6 Standing on the Edge (04:44) 7 This Time Around (04:33) 8 Rock All Night (02:51) 9 Cover Girl (03:41) 10 Wild Wild Women (04:18) 11 Tonight It’s You (single edit) (03:31) |
| Standing on the Edge : Allmusic album Review : Standing on the Edges only highlight comes from the silvery-sounding "Tonight Its You," which peaked just outside the Top 40 at number 44 in the fall of 1985. Like 1983s 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 bands members. Sleepers like "This Time Around," "How About You," and the ridiculous "Wild Wild Women" are subpar considering what Cheap Tricks 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 1983s Next Position Please off the ground, Cheap Trick opted for producer Jack Douglas this time around, whose efforts fared quite the same. It wasnt until 1988s Lap of Luxury that Cheap Trick was finally back on track, scoring their first number one hit with the dreamy-sounding ballad "The Flame." | ||
 | Album: 9 of 35 Title: The Doctor Released: 1986 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 It’s Up to You (03:50) 2 Rearview Mirror Romance (04:33) 3 The Doctor (04:03) 4 Are You Lonely Tonight (03:47) 5 Name of the Game (04:17) 6 Kiss Me Red (03:37) 7 Take Me to the Top (04:01) 8 Good Girls Go to Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) (03:21) 9 Man‐U‐Lip‐U‐Lator (03:49) 10 It’s Only Love (04:45) |
| The Doctor : Allmusic album Review : If any one record sums up all the ludicrous indulgence of ‘80s record-making it’s The Doctor, Cheap Trick’s utterly botched ninth album. The band managed to navigate new wave with the assistance of Todd Rundgren, and even scored a slick AOR hit in 1985 with “Tonight It’s You,” but all their commercial instincts soured on The Doctor just as Rick Nielsen entered into a significant songwriting slump. Of the two problems, the former is the hardest to bear, as the very sound of The Doctor is egregiously unpleasant. Cluttered with cacophonic electronic drums and clanking with cheap overdriven synths, the record is cavernous and hollow, every instrument echoing endlessly in a fathomless digital stage. As sonic archaeology, this holds some interest, as it contains every bad record production idea of the mid-‘80s -- it’s as garish and ugly as its record cover -- but even then the relentless march is wearying, as its married to an exceedingly weak set of songs. Whenever Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander have a good idea -- the cheerful sleaze of “Good Girls Go to Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere),” the slow grind of “Take Me to The Top” -- the song is bludgeoned by Tony Platt’s production, making The Doctor a memorably unpleasant album. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 35 Title: Lap of Luxury Released: 1988-04-12 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Let Go (04:28) 2 No Mercy (03:57) 3 The Flame (05:38) 4 Space (04:16) 5 Never Had a Lot to Lose (03:23) 6 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 7 Wrong Side of Love (04:02) 8 All We Need Is a Dream (04:22) 9 Ghost Town (04:13) 10 All Wound Up (04:45) |
| Lap of Luxury : Allmusic album Review : Cheap Tricks 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 bands 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 Presleys "Dont Be Cruel" and the bands first number one hit, "The Flame." | ||
 | Album: 11 of 35 Title: Busted Released: 1990 Tracks: 18 Duration: 46:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Black ’n’ Blue (04:43) 2 I Can’t Understand It (03:30) 3 Wherever Would I Be (04:06) 4 If You Need Me (04:46) 5 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (03:49) 6 Busted (04:06) 7 Walk Away (03:43) 8 You Drive, I’ll Steer (04:34) 9 When You Need Someone (05:18) 10 Had to Make You Mine (03:16) 11 Rock and Roll Tonight (04:57) 12 Magical Mystery Tour (short version) (?) 13 Come On Christmas (single version) (?) 14 Stop That Thief (from “Another Way” original soundtrack) (?) 15 I Will Survive (from “Gradiator” original soundtrack) (?) 16 Big Bang (from Japanese version of “Busted”) (?) 17 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (radio mix) (?) 18 Magical Mystery Tour (the “Greatest Hits” version) (?) |
| Busted : Allmusic album Review : 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. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 35 Title: The Hits of Cheap Trick Released: 1991 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:07:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Want You to Want Me (03:44) 2 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 3 The Flame (05:38) 4 Ain’t That a Shame (05:15) 5 Cover Girl (03:43) 6 Dancing the Night Away (04:52) 7 Dont Make Our Love a Crime (03:43) 8 Come On, Come On (02:30) 9 Heaven Tonight (05:21) 10 Dream Police (03:51) 11 Need Your Love (07:38) 12 Hot Love (02:32) 13 Surrender (04:14) 14 Tonight It’s You (04:49) 15 She’s Tight (02:59) 16 If You Want My Love (03:36) |
| The Hits of Cheap Trick : Allmusic album Review : One from the rash of rash Cheap Trick summarizations that fell from the sky in the 90s, when the pop pros were prematurely put out to pasture. This collection is as hit-or-miss as any overview of a great bands oeuvre would be, but hey, its cheap. Some of the Rockford fours best bits reside here: rockers ("Shes Tight," "Surrender," "Cover Girl") and rollers ("Come On Come On," "Takin Me Back," "Tonight Its You"). "Kashmir"-copping cautionary-classic "Heaven Tonight" signifies one of the few instances whereupon Tricks death-disco mode doesnt implode (as in time-waster "Need Your Love"). Two bizarre oddities from Next Position Please exhibit Tricks cheap curio factor, including tack-on "Dont Make Our Love a Crime" (titles the best part), and the high-tech reading of the Motors heart-stopping dandy "Dancing the Night Away." "Youre All Talk" flat-out rules (Slash got on-stage for this gem at the anniversary gala documented on Silver). Ultimately, Hits of Cheap Trick enables you to shout along when Cheap Trick blasts a club or shanty near you, which is what a good comp should do. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 35 Title: Collection Released: 1991 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:10:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School (04:49) 2 I Want You to Want Me (03:10) 3 Clock Strikes Ten (02:58) 4 Hello There (01:42) 5 Surrender (04:14) 6 Ain’t That a Shame (live) (05:22) 7 Dream Police (03:54) 8 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (05:10) 9 I Know What I Want (04:25) 10 Stop This Game (03:56) 11 Day Tripper (live) (03:38) 12 If You Want My Love (03:36) 13 Next Position Please (02:55) 14 Standing on the Edge (04:43) 15 Good Girls Go to Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) (03:25) 16 The Flame (05:41) 17 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 18 California Man (03:44) |
 | Album: 14 of 35 Title: The Greatest Hits Released: 1991-10-01 Tracks: 28 Duration: 1:51:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hello There (01:41) 2 On Top of the World (04:01) 3 ELO Kiddies (03:41) 4 Hot Love (02:30) 5 Big Eyes (03:49) 6 Clock Strikes Ten (03:02) 7 California Man (03:44) 8 Stop This Game (03:57) 9 I Know What I Want (04:29) 10 Just Got Back (02:05) 11 The Doctor (04:03) 12 High Roller (04:28) 13 Gonna Raise Hell (09:20) 14 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (04:34) 15 Day Tripper (03:33) 1 Magical Mystery Tour (04:09) 2 Dream Police (03:51) 3 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 4 Tonight It’s You (04:47) 5 She’s Tight (02:58) 6 I Want You to Want Me (live) (03:38) 7 If You Want My Love (03:35) 8 Ain’t That a Shame (live) (05:10) 9 Surrender (04:14) 10 The Flame (05:38) 11 I Can’t Take It (03:28) 12 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (03:46) 13 Voices (04:22) |
| The Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : The greatest failing of Greatest Hits is the fact that much of Cheap Tricks best material didnt come near the charts. "I Want You to Want Me," "Surrender," and "Dream Police" either climbed the charts or scraped them, as did the fine singles "Aint That a Shame," "Voices," "If You Want My Love," and "Shes Tight," but many of their stone-cold classics -- including "Hes a Whore," "Oh, Candy," "Downed," "Southern Girls," "Auf Wiedersehen" -- werent successes. What were successes were pleasant arena rockers and power ballads like "Tonight Its You," "The Flame," and "Dont Be Cruel," and thats what forms the basis of Greatest Hits, along with an extraneous new rendition of the Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour." Casual fans who only want the hits will be satiated by this collection, but the album misses the point of Cheap Trick, and thereby doesnt work as either an introduction or retrospective. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 35 Title: Woke Up With a Monster Released: 1994-03-22 Tracks: 11 Duration: 48:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 My Gang (04:24) 2 Woke Up With a Monster (04:54) 3 You’re All I Wanna Do (04:04) 4 Never Run Out of Love (04:03) 5 Didn’t Know I Had It (04:55) 6 Ride the Pony (04:56) 7 Girlfriends (04:34) 8 Let Her Go (04:34) 9 Tell Me Everything (03:58) 10 Cry Baby (04:20) 11 Love Me for a Minute (04:13) |
| Woke Up With a Monster : Allmusic album Review : With the release of Woke Up with a Monster, Cheap Tricks first new music in four years, the band was in for a rude awakening of its own. The disc died on the vine, reaching a dismal number 123 on the U.S. charts and (with an almost audible sigh) retiring to the ignominious role of a cut-priced cutout, to be sold on convenience store countertops and in the discount bins of broken dreams. While it was a commercial bust, the music represents a reclamation of artistic ground ceded over the years. Some fans, in a zealous attempt to vindicate commercial indifference, rank this alongside Cheap Tricks first few albums -- its a weird thing about some Tricksters that each new release holds the vague promise of returning to the innocent power pop of their youth, and every catchy hook spurs on the belief that some holy grail of homecomings is forthcoming. Its not, get over it, and enjoy the music that they are making. Woke Up with a Monster is enjoyable in its own right; power pop with the emphasis on power, its the first Cheap Trick tape in some time that youd feel comfortable listening to in your car, loud with the windows rolled down. Robin Zanders voice has grown rougher over the years, but its well suited to the bands harsher sound. Sure they sound like the rejuvenated Aerosmith sometimes (e.g., "Girlfriends"), but if it aint Busted, dont fix it. Producer Ted Templeman, well-known for his work with Van Halen, helps Cheap Trick find middle ground between pop hooks and hard rock. Sometimes the elaborate production complements the melodies ("Woke Up With a Monster"); sometimes it masks the lack of one ("Ride the Pony"). If their power pop is a little over the top, underneath are some very good songs: "Didnt Know I Had It," "Tell Me Everything," "Youre All I Wanna Do." So, if you spot Woke Up with a Monster in a bargain bin, dont let it languish alongside Billy Joels Streetlife Serenade and Asias Alpha; give it a good home and enjoy these cheap tracks. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 35 Title: Sex, America, Cheap Trick Released: 1996 Tracks: 64 Duration: 4:28:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hello There (01:41) 2 ELO Kiddies (single version) (03:42) 3 Hot Love (02:32) 4 Oh, Candy (single version) (03:07) 5 Mandocello (04:46) 6 Lovin’ Money (04:09) 7 I Want You to Want Me (alternate version) (03:01) 8 Southern Girls (single version) (03:35) 9 So Good to See You (03:37) 10 Down on the Bay (live) (03:33) 11 Please, Mrs. Henry (live) (09:36) 12 Violins (live) (06:12) 13 Ballad of TV Violence (live alternate version) (04:52) 14 You’re All Talk (live) (03:56) 15 Fan Club (demo) (07:11) 1 Surrender (04:14) 2 High Roller (alternate version) (03:59) 3 On Top of the World (04:06) 4 Auf Wiedersehen (03:42) 5 I Want You to Want Me (live) (03:43) 6 Clock Strikes Ten (live) (03:56) 7 Dream Police (03:54) 8 Way of the World (03:39) 9 Gonna Raise Hell (09:20) 10 Voices (04:22) 11 Stop This Game (03:57) 12 Just Got Back (02:05) 13 Baby Loves to Rock (03:17) 14 Everything Works If You Let It (alternate version) (03:56) 15 World’s Greatest Lover (demo) (04:57) 16 Waitin’ for the Man / Heroin (live) (07:47) 1 Daytripper (04:18) 2 World’s Greatest Lover (04:51) 3 I Need Love (03:57) 4 I’m the Man (02:11) 5 Born to Raise Hell (02:46) 6 Ohm Sweet Ohm (02:50) 7 She’s Tight (02:58) 8 Love’s Got a Hold on Me (02:36) 9 If You Want My Love (alternate) (04:26) 10 Lookin’ Out for Number One (03:43) 11 Don’t Make Our Love a Crime (03:34) 12 All I Really Want (02:30) 13 I Can’t Take It (03:28) 14 Twisted Heart (04:17) 15 Invaders of the Heart (04:00) 16 Y O Y O Y O Y (07:29) 1 Tonight It’s You (04:47) 2 Cover Girl (03:42) 3 This Time Around (04:34) 4 A Place in France (03:52) 5 Funk #9 (The Doctor demo) (03:36) 6 Take Me to the Top (04:01) 7 Money Is the Route of All Fun (02:48) 8 Fortune Cookie (demo) (03:41) 9 You Want It (03:41) 10 The Flame (05:38) 11 Through the Night (04:19) 12 Stop That Thief (03:55) 13 I Know What I Want (04:45) 14 Had to Make You Mine (03:16) 15 I Can’t Understand It (03:30) 16 Can’t Stop Fallin Into Love (03:50) 17 Come On Christmas (07:30) |
| Sex, America, Cheap Trick : Allmusic album Review : Sex, America, Cheap Trick is a classic example of a botched box set. Spanning four discs and 64 songs, the box contains nearly all of the groups hit singles and an amazing amount of rarities -- a grand total of 30 outtakes, live tracks, demos, single versions, soundtrack songs, and B-sides. Despite all of the abundance of material, there are still a lot of essential items missing, as well as several odd inclusions. Many of the groups biggest hits and concert staples are present, but Cheap Trick classics like "Hes a Whore," "Downed," "Come On, Come On," "Taxman, Mr. Thief," "California Man," and several others are inexplicably absent. Furthermore, the final two discs bog down with slick radio-ready pop, even though they rescue all the highlights from the bands decidedly uneven 80s recordings. Still, the rarities -- particularly single versions of early tracks like "Oh, Candy" and "Southern Girls," demos like "Fan Club," and a ripping live set -- are usually worthy, even if they might have been better showcased on a double-disc rarities set. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 35 Title: Don’t Be Cruel Released: 1998 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hello There (01:40) 2 Surrender (04:14) 3 Oh Caroline (02:59) 4 Way of the World (03:39) 5 I Know What I Want (04:29) 6 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 7 ELO Kiddies (03:43) 8 California Man (03:45) 9 Oh Candy (03:06) 10 Come On, Come On (02:39) |
 | Album: 18 of 35 Title: Authorized Greatest Hits Released: 2000-10-17 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:06:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Want You to Want Me (03:45) 2 Ain’t That a Shame (live) (05:17) 3 Southern Girls (single version) (03:35) 4 Surrender (04:14) 5 Stop This Game (03:57) 6 Dream Police (03:54) 7 If You Want My Love (alternate version) (04:26) 8 Tonight It’s You (04:47) 9 Everything Works If You Let It (Full Length version) (03:56) 10 Mandocello (04:46) 11 I Can’t Take It (live) (03:33) 12 She’s Tight (02:58) 13 That 70’s Song (In the Street) (02:50) 14 Walk Away (03:43) 15 Can’t Stop Fallin Into Love (03:50) 16 The Flame (live) (06:48) |
| Authorized Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : This is an "authorized" greatest hits collection in the sense that the band picked the selections themselves. Its preferable to the 1991 Greatest Hits comp for its slightly greater length (16 songs) and better choice of material; the single version of "Southern Girls" makes it on this time around, for instance. Still, like that other album with "Greatest Hits" in the title, it misses a number of rockers that fans might rate among their best work. The only previously unreleased item is a live 1988 performance of "The Flame"; a live version of "I Cant Take It" and their rendition of "That 70s Song (In the Street)," the latter famed for its use as a television theme, are the only tracks recorded after 1990. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 35 Title: Special One Released: 2003-07-09 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Scent of a Woman (04:49) 2 Too Much (04:42) 3 Special One (04:17) 4 Pop Drone (04:43) 5 My Obsession (03:34) 6 Words (04:53) 7 Sorry Boy (04:25) 8 Best Friend (04:16) 9 If I Could (03:51) 10 Low Life in High Heels (02:49) 11 Hummer (04:24) 12 Supeshimeru Waso (04:21) |
| Special One : Allmusic album Review : Special One is Cheap Tricks first studio album in six years -- the longest stretch between albums in the bands history. Since rock essentially entered a deep-freeze state in 1997, not much has changed since the second LP entitled Cheap Trick and Special One, and the band sounds no older or younger with the passing years. That doesnt mean Cheap Trick sound fresh, though. If anything, they sound labored in a way few could have predicted: theyre doing precisely what fans and critics said they should have done by sticking to a fairly catholic power pop doctrine, but the end results arent particularly satisfying. Why? Special One is too self-conscious, too aware of the bands deserved but slightly oversold reputation as pop gods, so it winds up being something that delivers on the surface without ever resonating. It knows the form, but it doesnt deliver the substance, which is kind of shocking, since Cheap Trick are one of the bands that wrote the form. Special One is never embarrassing, the way that some of the groups late-80s efforts are to their core audience, but it never delivers the goods, either, and its hard to hear the group strain to reach the idealized heights that their fans believe they once reached effortlessly. It is not awful and theyve made far worse records, but in its deliberate exercise in good power pop taste, its too stilted and deliberate to make it satisfying, and for those who long for another Heaven Tonight, this is far from the mark. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 35 Title: The Essential Cheap Trick Released: 2004 Tracks: 36 Duration: 2:27:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 ELO Kiddies (single version) (03:42) 2 Hot Love (02:30) 3 He’s a Whore (02:42) 4 Mandocello (live) (feat. Billy Corgan) (05:11) 5 Clock Strikes Ten (03:02) 6 Southern Girls (single version) (03:35) 7 Downed (04:10) 8 Hello There (01:41) 9 Surrender (04:14) 10 California Man (03:44) 11 High Roller (03:58) 12 Auf Wiedersehen (03:42) 13 I Want You to Want Me (live) (03:43) 14 Ain’t That a Shame (live) (05:17) 15 Takin’ Me Back (04:52) 16 Dream Police (03:51) 17 Voices (04:22) 18 Gonna Raise Hell (live) (09:06) 1 Way of the World (03:38) 2 Stop This Game (03:57) 3 World’s Greatest Lover (04:51) 4 Everything Works If You Let It (full version) (03:55) 5 She’s Tight (02:58) 6 If You Want My Love (alternate, extra bridge version) (04:26) 7 I Can’t Take It (03:28) 8 Tonight It’s You (04:47) 9 This Time Around (04:34) 10 The Flame (05:38) 11 Had to Make You Mine (03:16) 12 I Can’t Understand It (03:30) 13 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (03:49) 14 Walk Away (03:43) 15 Woke Up With a Monster (04:54) 16 Hard to Tell (live) (03:45) 17 Say Goodbye (03:29) 18 Scent of a Woman (04:48) |
| The Essential Cheap Trick : Allmusic album Review : Since both fans and critics agree on what Cheap Tricks core canon is, from the first three albums to the highlights that follow, it seems like it would be a fairly easy job to assemble a good overview of the band. History has proven that theory wrong several times. 1991s Greatest Hits largely ignored the first three albums, the 1996 box set Sex, America, Cheap Trick was a rarities-filled extravaganza pitched at the converted, and while 2000s Authorized Greatest Hits was a notable improvement on the first compilation, it had some puzzling inclusions, including substituting alternate takes and live cuts for original single versions. So, there was a need for a new collection, one that got it right. Enter The Essential Cheap Trick, the bands installment of Sony/Legacys largely excellent Essential series. Spanning two discs and 36 tracks, it is the most generous hits collection yet assembled, but it still falls short of being a definitive overview. Again, there is a considerable problem of substituting alternate versions for the original studio versions; it is toned down from Authorized Greatest Hits, but when the fourth song in is a live version of "Mandocello" from 1998, with guest guitarist Billy Corgan, the momentum is knocked off-track immediately. Then, the song selection is a little idiosyncratic, which is often the case with artist-selected compilations, which The Essential Cheap Trick is. While the classic first three albums are represented well -- indeed, the entire first disc is devoted to 70s material (well, there are the two live tracks from 1998, but theyre of 70s songs) -- some fans will inevitably find a favorite or two missing, including "Oh, Candy," "Oh Caroline," "On Top of the World," and "How Are You?" The real problem is that the collection loses steam on the second disc, which covers the 80s and 90s. The band has chosen to bypass several charting singles for album tracks, which may frustrate some chart-bound listeners, but it does make for a disc thats stronger overall. Still, its hard to deny that the material on the second disc is simply not as good as that on the first, which makes this collection a bit too lopsided to be consistently enjoyable. Nevertheless, that first disc makes for very good listening (apart from the 98 tracks, that is) and, overall, it gives a good sense of the bands history, even if any of the first three albums and Live at Budokan remain the best introductions to the band. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 35 Title: Rockford Released: 2006-06-06 Tracks: 12 Duration: 41:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Welcome to the World (02:06) 2 Perfect Stranger (03:41) 3 If It Takes a Lifetime (04:22) 4 Come On Come On Come On (03:03) 5 O Claire (03:43) 6 This Time You Got It (04:01) 7 Give It Away (02:48) 8 One More (03:50) 9 Every Night and Every Day (03:12) 10 Dream the Night Away (03:14) 11 All Those Years (03:35) 12 Decaf (03:38) |
| Rockford : Allmusic album Review : Cheap Tricks recorded work has been so inconsistent for so long, bouncing back and forth between belabored attempts to reach radio and self-conscious returns to their classic early work, its kind of a shock to discover that 2006s Rockford is a good, solid Cheap Trick record. Scratch that -- its a very, very good Cheap Trick record, glistening with Beatlesque harmonies, sugary hooks and snarling guitars, and built on a set of songs that emphasize their strengths without seeming fussy or formulaic. They also dont seem tired or juvenile, either, nor do the band try to rock too hard or heavy, the way they did on the good but occasionally stilted Steve Albini-produced 1996 self-styled comeback, Cheap Trick. Albini is back for portions of Rockford, as is Jack Douglas, the producer behind their early masterworks, and 2000 rocks flavor of the month Linda Perry drops by for a single too -- but far from being a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup, its more that each producer/engineer/collaborator helps bring out a different aspect of Cheap Trick. Sure there are songs that serve up crunching hard rock along with a little bit of streamlined arena rock, but there are pop songs built upon the British Invasion, bittersweet ballads, even a little bit of disco-funk on "One More." When all these different sounds are put together, it does indeed add up to the most diverse album theyve made in many a moon, but since theres such a strong emphasis on melody, vocal harmonies, and guitar hooks, all wrapped up in three-minute songs, it also winds up as Cheap Tricks first genuine power pop album since their heyday, and their best album since Dream Police. After all these years and all those uneven albums, its a bit of a surprise to have the band deliver an album this good completely out of the blue but, as their catalog proves, Cheap Trick have never done things the easy way -- and its better to finally get a very, very good Cheap Trick record unexpectedly, some 27 years after the last good one, instead of not getting one at all. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 35 Title: Super Hits Released: 2007 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Surrender (04:14) 2 I Want You to Want Me (03:40) 3 The Flame (04:39) 4 Can’t Stop Falling Into Love (03:48) 5 Busted (04:04) 6 Oh, Candy (03:06) 7 It’s Only Love (04:46) 8 Way of the World (03:35) 9 Heaven Tonight (05:26) 10 If You Need Me (04:45) |
| Super Hits : Allmusic album Review : This budget-priced collection from Sony/BMG features a scant ten songs from Rockford, ILs greatest rock band. Super Hits lives up to its name by including Cheap Trick radio classics like "Surrender," "I Want You to Want Me," and "Way of the World, but the lack of key album cuts like "Mandocello," "ELO Kiddies," "Southern Girls," or "Dream Police" keeps this mini-anthology firmly entrenched in the "cheap" bin. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 35 Title: The Latest Released: 2009-06-23 Tracks: 13 Duration: 41:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sleep Forever (01:36) 2 When the Lights Are Out (03:26) 3 Miss Tomorrow (04:11) 4 Sick Man of Europe (02:07) 5 These Days (02:44) 6 Miracle (03:47) 7 Everyday You Make Me Crazy (01:17) 8 California Girl (02:47) 9 Everybody Knows (04:16) 10 Alive (03:36) 11 Times of Our Lives (03:59) 12 Closer, the Ballad of Burt and Linda (03:00) 13 Smile (04:12) |
| The Latest : Allmusic album Review : If calling their fifteenth studio album The Latest doesnt exactly suggest enthusiasm on the part of Cheap Trick, keep in mind that the band has never shown much enthusiasm for album titles anyway, titling two albums after their band and one after their hometown of Rockford, IL. The Latest follows 2006s Rockford by three years and does indeed offer the latest spin on the bands classic power pop, flowing naturally from that quite excellent back-to-basics set, offering another collection of 13 guitar-heavy pop tunes. After the brief, ominous opener "Sleep Forever," a misleading slice of spacy, hazy, mood rock fades away, Cheap Trick tear into the overlooked Slade gem "When the Lights Are Out," suggesting that The Latest will be a high-octane rock-fest, but apart from a handful of other moments -- including the raging "Sick Man of Europe" and the "Slow Down" revamp "California Girl" -- a lot of the record consists of thick Beatlesque psychedelia, an appealing shift in tactics that makes this something a little bit different than yet another Cheap Trick record. That said, reinvention isnt the order of the day, staying true to the spirit of their classic 70s trilogy is, and the band acquits themselves admirably, turning out a tight, tuneful collection of proudly unfashionable power pop. And if the best song here is a cover of Slades "When the Lights Are Out," well, it could be argued that the Moves "California Man" was the best song on Heaven Tonight, too. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 35 Title: One On One / Next Position Please Released: 2010 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:19:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Want You (03:01) 2 One on One (03:05) 3 If You Want My Love (03:36) 4 Oo La La La (03:14) 5 Lookin’ Out for Number One (03:41) 6 She’s Tight (02:57) 7 Time Is Runnin’ (02:19) 8 Saturday at Midnight (02:58) 9 Love’s Got a Hold on Me (02:35) 10 I Want Be Man (03:19) 11 Four Letter Word (03:38) 12 I Can’t Take It (03:28) 13 Borderline (03:35) 14 I Don’t Live Here Anymore (03:53) 15 Next Position Please (02:55) 16 Younger Girls (03:17) 17 Dancing the Night Away (04:58) 18 3D (03:38) 19 You Say Jump (03:08) 20 Y.O.Y.O.Y. (04:55) 21 Won’t Take No for an Answer (03:14) 22 Heaven’s Falling (03:48) 23 Invaders of the Heart (03:59) |
| One On One / Next Position Please : Allmusic album Review : 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. 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. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 35 Title: Original Album Classics Released: 2011 Tracks: 55 Duration: 3:50:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hello There (02:27) 2 Come On, Come On (03:18) 3 Lookout (03:01) 4 Big Eyes (03:56) 5 Need Your Love (08:57) 6 Ain’t That a Shame (05:17) 7 I Want You to Want Me (03:45) 8 Surrender (04:24) 9 Goodnight (03:11) 10 Clock Strikes Ten (04:03) 1 Dream Police (03:54) 2 Way of the World (03:38) 3 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (05:11) 4 Gonna Raise Hell (09:20) 5 I’ll Be With You Tonight (03:51) 6 Voices (04:22) 7 Writing on the Wall (03:26) 8 I Know What I Want (04:29) 9 Need Your Love (07:37) 10 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (live) (06:16) 11 Way of the World (live) (04:00) 12 Dream Police (no strings version) (03:53) 13 I Know What I Want (live) (04:44) 1 I Want You (03:02) 2 One on One (03:05) 3 If You Want My Love (03:37) 4 Oo La La La (03:14) 5 Lookin’ Out for Number One (03:45) 6 She’s Tight (02:58) 7 Time Is Runnin’ (02:20) 8 Saturday at Midnight (02:58) 9 Love’s Got a Hold on Me (02:35) 10 I Want Be Man (03:19) 11 Four Letter Word (03:38) 1 Let Go (04:28) 2 No Mercy (03:57) 3 The Flame (05:38) 4 Space (04:16) 5 Never Had a Lot to Lose (03:23) 6 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 7 Wrong Side of Love (04:02) 8 All We Need Is a Dream (04:22) 9 Ghost Town (04:13) 10 All Wound Up (04:45) 1 Black ’n’ Blue (04:43) 2 I Can’t Understand It (03:30) 3 Wherever Would I Be (04:06) 4 If You Need Me (04:46) 5 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (03:49) 6 Busted (04:06) 7 Walk Away (03:43) 8 You Drive, I’ll Steer (04:34) 9 When You Need Someone (05:18) 10 Had to Make You Mine (03:16) 11 Rock and Roll Tonight (04:57) |
 | Album: 26 of 35 Title: The Complete Epic Albums Collection Released: 2013-04-08 Tracks: 158 Duration: 10:19:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 ELO Kiddies (03:41) 2 Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School (04:44) 3 Taxman, Mr. Thief (04:15) 4 Cry, Cry (04:22) 5 Oh, Candy (03:06) 6 Hot Love (02:30) 7 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (04:34) 8 He’s a Whore (02:42) 9 Mandocello (04:46) 10 The Ballad of T.V. Violence (I’m Not the Only Boy) (05:25) 11 Lovin Money (outtake) (04:09) 12 I Want You to Want Me (early version) (02:44) 13 Lookout (studio version) (03:30) 14 Youre All Talk (studio version) (03:31) 15 I Dig Go‐Go Girls (03:06) 1 Hello There (01:41) 2 Big Eyes (03:09) 3 Downed (04:10) 4 I Want You to Want Me (03:10) 5 You’re All Talk (03:34) 6 Oh Caroline (02:59) 7 Clock Strikes Ten (03:02) 8 Southern Girls (03:43) 9 Come On, Come On (02:39) 10 So Good to See You (03:46) 11 Oh Boy (instrumental version) (03:10) 12 Southern Girls (demo) (03:03) 13 Come On, Come On (demo) (02:06) 14 You’re All Talk (live) (03:41) 15 Goodnight (live) (02:18) 1 Surrender (04:14) 2 On Top of the World (04:01) 3 California Man (03:44) 4 High Roller (03:58) 5 Auf Wiedersehen (03:42) 6 Takin’ Me Back (04:52) 7 On the Radio (04:33) 8 Heaven Tonight (05:25) 9 Stiff Competition (03:40) 10 How Are You? (04:21) 11 Oh Claire (01:10) 12 Stiff Competition (outtake) (04:03) 13 Surrender (outtake) (04:51) 1 Hello There (02:42) 2 Come On, Come On (02:59) 3 ELO Kiddies (03:57) 4 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (06:03) 5 Big Eyes (03:49) 6 Lookout (03:11) 7 Downed (04:38) 8 Cant Hold On (06:13) 9 Oh Caroline (02:58) 10 Surrender (04:39) 11 Auf Wiedersehen (04:09) 1 Need Your Love (08:54) 2 High Roller (04:27) 3 Southern Girls (03:53) 4 I Want You to Want Me (03:35) 5 California Man (03:54) 6 Goodnight (03:04) 7 Aint That a Shame (05:02) 8 Clock Strikes Ten (03:49) 1 Dream Police (03:54) 2 Way of the World (03:38) 3 The House Is Rockin (with Domestic Problems) (05:11) 4 Gonna Raise Hell (09:20) 5 Ill Be With You Tonight (03:51) 6 Voices (04:22) 7 Writing on the Wall (03:27) 8 I Know What I Want (04:30) 9 Need Your Love (07:40) 10 The House Is Rockin (with Domestic Problems) (live) (06:16) 11 Way of the World (live) (04:00) 12 Dream Police (no strings) (03:53) 13 I Know What I Want (live) (04:44) 1 Day Tripper (live, US Tour, 1979) (03:40) 2 Cant Hold On (live, Japan Tour, 1978) (05:56) 3 Such a Good Girl (studio, 1976) (03:06) 4 Take Me Im Yours (studio, 1977) (04:34) 1 Stop This Game (03:56) 2 Just Got Back (02:05) 3 Baby Loves to Rock (03:16) 4 Can’t Stop It (but I’m Gonna Try) (03:30) 5 World’s Greatest Lover (04:51) 6 High Priest of Rhythmic Noise (04:12) 7 Love Comes A‐Tumblin’ Down (03:09) 8 I Love You Honey but I Hate Your Friends (03:50) 9 Go for the Throat (Use Your Own Imagination) (03:05) 10 Who D’King (02:20) 11 Everything Works If You Let It (03:29) 1 I Want You (03:02) 2 One on One (03:05) 3 If You Want My Love (03:35) 4 Oo La La La (03:14) 5 Lookin’ Out for Number One (03:43) 6 She’s Tight (02:58) 7 Time Is Runnin’ (02:20) 8 Saturday at Midnight (02:58) 9 Love’s Got a Hold on Me (02:36) 10 I Want Be Man (03:19) 11 Four Letter Word (03:38) 1 I Can’t Take It (03:28) 2 Borderline (03:34) 3 I Don’t Love Here Anymore (03:51) 4 Next Position Please (02:51) 5 Younger Girls (03:14) 6 Dont Make Our Love a Crime (03:43) 7 3‐D (03:37) 8 You Talk Too Much (01:55) 9 Y.O.Y.O.Y. (04:54) 10 Won’t Take No for an Answer (03:13) 11 Heaven’s Falling (03:48) 12 Invaders of the Heart (04:00) 13 Twisted Heart (04:17) 14 Dont Hit Me With Love (03:24) 15 You Say Jump (03:06) 16 Dancing the Night Away (04:58) 1 Little Sister (03:55) 2 Tonight It’s You (04:47) 3 She’s Got Motion (03:17) 4 Love Comes (04:40) 5 How About You (03:00) 6 Standing on the Edge (04:44) 7 This Time Around (04:34) 8 Rock All Night (02:51) 9 Cover Girl (03:41) 10 Wild Wild Women (04:17) 1 It’s Up to You (03:50) 2 Rearview Mirror Romance (04:33) 3 The Doctor (04:03) 4 Are You Lonely Tonight (03:47) 5 Name of the Game (04:17) 6 Kiss Me Red (03:37) 7 Take Me to the Top (04:01) 8 Good Girls Go to Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) (03:21) 9 Man‐U‐Lip‐U‐Lator (03:49) 10 It’s Only Love (04:45) 1 Let Go (04:28) 2 No Mercy (03:57) 3 The Flame (05:38) 4 Space (04:16) 5 Never Had a Lot to Lose (03:23) 6 Don’t Be Cruel (03:09) 7 Wrong Side of Love (04:02) 8 All We Need Is a Dream (04:22) 9 Ghost Town (04:13) 10 All Wound Up (04:45) 1 Black ’n’ Blue (04:43) 2 I Can’t Understand It (03:30) 3 Wherever Would I Be (04:06) 4 If You Need Me (04:46) 5 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (03:49) 6 Busted (04:06) 7 Walk Away (03:43) 8 You Drive, I’ll Steer (04:34) 9 When You Need Someone (05:18) 10 Had to Make You Mine (03:16) 11 Rock and Roll Tonight (04:57) |
 | Album: 27 of 35 Title: The 70s: Cheap Trick Released: 2013-08-29 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Clock Strikes Ten (02:59) 2 Surrender (04:14) 3 Taxman, Mr. Thief (04:15) 4 Downed (04:10) 5 I Want You to Want Me (03:37) 6 Lookout (03:01) 7 Voices (04:22) 8 Loser (demo) (04:39) 9 Dream Police (03:53) 10 Heaven Tonight (05:25) |
 | Album: 28 of 35 Title: The Classic Albums 1977–1979 Released: 2013-11-29 Tracks: 49 Duration: 3:21:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hot Love (02:30) 2 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (04:34) 3 He’s a Whore (02:42) 4 Mandocello (04:46) 5 The Ballad of T.V. Violence (05:11) 6 ELO Kiddies (03:41) 7 Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School (04:44) 8 Taxman, Mr. Thief (04:15) 9 Cry, Cry (04:22) 10 Oh, Candy (03:06) 1 Hello There (01:39) 2 Big Eyes (03:05) 3 Downed (04:00) 4 I Want You to Want Me (03:10) 5 You’re All Talk (03:30) 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) 1 Surrender (04:14) 2 On Top of the World (04:01) 3 California Man (03:44) 4 High Roller (03:58) 5 Auf Wiedersehen (03:42) 6 Takin’ Me Back (04:52) 7 On the Radio (04:30) 8 Heaven Tonight (05:21) 9 Stiff Competition (03:40) 10 How Are You (04:14) 1 Hello There (02:27) 2 Come On, Come On (03:18) 3 Lookout (03:01) 4 Big Eyes (03:56) 5 Need Your Love (08:57) 6 Ain’t That a Shame (05:17) 7 I Want You to Want Me (03:45) 8 Surrender (04:24) 9 Goodnight (03:11) 10 Clock Strikes Ten (04:03) 1 Dream Police (03:54) 2 Way of the World (03:38) 3 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (05:11) 4 Gonna Raise Hell (09:20) 5 I’ll Be With You Tonight (03:51) 6 Voices (04:22) 7 Writing on the Wall (03:26) 8 I Know What I Want (04:29) 9 Need Your Love (07:37) |
 | Album: 29 of 35 Title: The Epic Archive, Vol. 1 (1975–1979) Released: 2015-07-31 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:03:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come On, Come On (Ardent Studios demo) (02:04) 2 Southern Girls (Ardent Studios demo) (03:03) 3 Taxman, Mr. Thief (Ardent Studios demo) (06:17) 4 You’re All Talk (early studio version) (03:30) 5 I Want You to Want Me (early studio version) (02:42) 6 Lookout (studio version) (03:29) 7 I Dig Go‐Go Girls (outtake) (03:05) 8 Oh Boy (instrumental version) (03:08) 9 You’re All Talk (live at the Whiskey) (03:41) 10 Goodnight (live at the Whiskey) (02:18) 11 Stiff Competition (alternate version) (04:02) 12 Surrender (alternate version) (04:52) 13 Ain’t That a Shame (live) (03:09) 14 Dream Police (no strings version) (03:52) 15 Stiff Competition (live at Budokan) (04:33) 16 How Are You (live at Budokan) (03:56) 17 Top of the World (live at Budokan) (05:33) |
 | Album: 30 of 35 Title: The Epic Archive, Vol. 3 (1984–1992) Released: 2015-11-27 Tracks: 16 Duration: 58:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Up the Creek (a cappella intro) (03:49) 2 Little Sister (alt. Jack Douglas mix) (03:53) 3 She’s Got Motion (alt. Jack Douglas mix) (03:21) 4 Tonight It’s You (single version) (03:31) 5 How About You (alternate version) (02:36) 6 It’s Only Love (single version) (03:30) 7 Mighty Wings (03:51) 8 The Flame (single version) (04:40) 9 Don’t Be Cruel (Big New mix) (03:09) 10 All We Need Is a Dream (alternate version) (03:48) 11 Money (That’s What I Want) (from the motion picture ‘Caddyshack II’) (03:15) 12 You Want It (from the motion picture ‘Say Anything’) (03:40) 13 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (radio mix) (03:48) 14 Big Bang (Japanese version of ‘Busted’) (03:44) 15 Magical Mystery Tour (the Greatest Hits version) (04:09) 16 I Will Survive (from the motion picture ‘Gladiator’) (03:43) |
 | Album: 31 of 35 Title: The Epic Archive, Vol. 2 (1980–1983) Released: 2015-11-29 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:08:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Day Tripper (live, EP version) (03:38) 2 Such a Good Girl (EP version) (03:03) 3 Take Me I’m Yours (EP version) (04:33) 4 Oh Boy (vocal version) (03:33) 5 Loser (demo) (04:39) 6 The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) (live at the LA Forum) (06:15) 7 Way of the World (live at the LA Forum) (03:58) 8 World’s Greatest Lover (single version) (04:22) 1 Everything Works If You Let It (single version) (03:28) 2 Reach Out (from “Heavy Metal” original soundtrack) (03:34) 3 I Must Be Dreamin’ (from “Heavy Metal” original soundtrack) (05:36) 4 If You Want My Love (demo) (04:33) 5 Saturday at Midnight (super new dance re‐mix) (06:20) 6 Dancing the Night Away (short version) (03:49) 7 Spring Break (from Spring Break original soundtrack) (03:02) 8 Get Ready (from Spring Break original soundtrack) (03:29) |
 | Album: 32 of 35 Title: Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello Released: 2016-04-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heart on the Line (04:19) 2 No Direction Home (03:44) 3 When I Wake Up Tomorrow (03:27) 4 Do You Believe Me? (04:45) 5 Blood Red Lips (02:58) 6 Sing My Blues Away (03:26) 7 Roll Me (02:57) 8 The In Crowd (03:51) 9 Long Time No See Ya (02:54) 10 The Sun Never Sets (04:00) 11 All Strung Out (03:18) |
| Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello : Allmusic album Review : In 2016, Cheap Trick were finally elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is often a double-edged sword for a working band. While the induction represents a powerful acknowledgment of their legacy, its also an honor most often bestowed on bands that are well past their golden era. The timing is especially touchy for Cheap Trick, since 2016 also marks the release of Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello, the groups first release for Big Machine Records, a label that previously specialized in country product. Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello sounds like an album that was designed to convince listeners of two things: first, that Cheap Trick are far from a spent force; and second, that they are still rockin regardless of their new corporate sponsors. While ultimately this album shows both points are accurate, it hardly captures Cheap Trick at their best. Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello often rocks hard, but the poppy, Beatlesque side of their musical personality gets pushed to the side on most of these songs. (Though it makes its presence known on "The Sun Never Sets" and "When I Wake Up Tomorrow.") The material also leans to the slick side, perhaps thanks to producer Julian Raymond co-writing ten of these 11 songs, as he did on several tracks of 2009s The Latest. (In Nashville, its widely believed most problems are easily solved by bringing in another songwriter.) The album also marks Cheap Tricks first set without longtime drummer Bun E. Carlos. Their new timekeeper, Daxx Nielsen (son of guitarist Rick Nielsen), is a strong player, but the album lacks some of the humor and bonhomie Carlos brought to the band. All this said, as a band Cheap Trick still connect on Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello. Rick Nielsens tough but slightly twisted hard rock guitar figures remain satisfying. Robin Zanders voice is in good shape, and although his range is a bit narrower than in his youth, hes still plenty commanding. (His Brian Ferry affectations on the cover of "The In Crowd" are pretty funny, too.) And bassist Tom Petersson and Daxx Nielsen hold down the bottom end with style and focus. Anyone who was hoping Cheap Trick would pull an unexpected triumph out of their bag (as they did with 2006s Rockford) is out of luck. But almost 40 years after they released their self-titled debut, Cheap Trick can still make a solid and entertaining hard rock record. If that doesnt sound like much, compare Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello with the current work of their late-70s peers and youll see what a fine surprise that is. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 35 Title: We’re All Alright! Released: 2017-06-16 Tracks: 13 Duration: 44:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 You Got It Going On (03:11) 2 Long Time Coming (03:12) 3 Nowhere (02:45) 4 Radio Lover (02:46) 5 Lolita (03:16) 6 Brand New Name on an Old Tattoo (03:32) 7 Floating Down (03:49) 8 She’s Alright (03:39) 9 Listen to Me (03:13) 10 The Rest of My Life (04:18) 11 Blackberry Way (03:13) 12 Like a Fly (03:22) 13 If You Still Want My Love (04:23) |
| We’re All Alright! : Allmusic album Review : Back in Cheap Tricks late-70s through mid-80s heyday, it was standing operating procedure for a working band to crank out an album roughly once a year. Things are a good bit different in the 21st century, but Cheap Trick havent lost the ability to deliver on a tight schedule. A mere 13 months after Rockford, Illinois favorite sons dropped their first album for Nashville powerhouse Big Machine Records, 2016s Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello, theyve knocked out a follow-up, Were All Alright!, and it manages to best the previous long-player for sheer rock action and sense of fun. Like Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello, Were All Alright! is a different animal than the bands best work; this dials back on their Beatles-influenced power pop moves, and puts the focus on the bands hard rock action (which has gotten harder since Daxx Nielsen replaced Bun E. Carlos behind the drum kit). And with producer Julian Raymond (who was also behind the controls for Bang, Zoom) on hand, the playful eccentricity thats always marked Cheap Tricks best music doesnt get as much of a hearing. But while this isnt a purists Cheap Trick album, its a lot of fun in spite of that. The bandmembers sound like theyre having a blast on these sessions, with Rick Nielsens guitar roaring at every turn, bassist Tom Petersson and drummer Nielsen holding down the backbeat like theyre joined at the hip, and vocalist Robin Zander sounding playfully horny on numbers like "Listen to Me," "Nowhere," "Long Time Coming," and "You Got It Going On." If Bang, Zoom sounded like it was carefully worked over to prove the veteran band could still cut the mustard, Were All Alright! feels like the band rolled in and knocked this out with plenty of sweat and little fuss. Though the skillful harmonies and turn-on-a-time performances are a long way from sloppy, this is lively in a way that documents a truly great rock band in its element, and its been some time since Cheap Trick have made a record that was as howling-along enjoyable as this one. If youre looking for a great hard rock album for the summer of 2017, dont look now, but Cheap Trick have delivered the fast n loud blast that you need. | ||
 | Album: 34 of 35 Title: Christmas Christmas Released: 2017-10-20 Tracks: 12 Duration: 39:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Merry Christmas Darlings (03:44) 2 I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (03:35) 3 I Wish It Was Christmas Today (03:14) 4 Merry Xmas Everybody (03:17) 5 Please Come Home for Christmas (03:29) 6 Remember Christmas (03:00) 7 Run Rudolph Run (03:58) 8 Father Christmas (03:55) 9 Silent Night (03:56) 10 Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) (02:07) 11 Our Father of Life (03:16) 12 Christmas Christmas (02:16) |
| Christmas Christmas : Allmusic album Review : Its hard to say just what was hampering Cheap Tricks productivity in the first decade of the new millennium, but ever since they signed with Big Machine Records, theyve become surprisingly prolific. Released in 2017, Christmas Christmas, the veteran bands first seasonal album, is their third full-length release in a span of just 18 months, and while many acts toss off Christmas albums with the care and enthusiasm that six-year-olds display when cleaning their rooms, Cheap Trick have offered up a full-bodied set of Yuletide rock & roll that doesnt spare the volume or the muscle. Christmas Christmas only features three original songs, but Cheap Trick have avoided many of the clichéd seasonal numbers that usually fill up these releases, instead opting for Yuletide numbers from for-real rockers. The Pride of Rockville, Illinois tear through Roy Wood and Wizzards "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," Slades "Merry Xmas Everybody," the Ramones "Merry Christmas (I Dont Want to Fight Tonight)," and the Kinks "Father Christmas," and they embolden each one with the big guitars and swaggering beat they deserve. The group turns down the tempo for more measured but still passionate takes on Charles Browns "Please Come Home for Christmas" and Harry Nilssons "Remember Christmas"; Robin Zanders performance on the latter works the number for all its tear-inducing emotional power. And if "Our Father of Life" suggests that serious songs of faith are not Cheap Tricks strongest suit, the other two originals, "Merry Christmas Darlings" and the title cut, show they can rock around the Christmas tree with the best of em. If you want some no-fooling rock & roll with big guitars and plentiful melodic hooks for your holiday get-together, give Christmas Christmas a try; its a Cheap Trick album first and a seasonal souvenir second, which means you might even be tempted to spin it well into the New Year. | ||
 | Album: 35 of 35 Title: Greatest Hits: Japanese Single Collection Released: 2018-04-13 Tracks: 21 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Want You to Want Me (?) 2 Clock Strikes Ten (?) 3 Surrender (?) 4 California Man (?) 5 Voices (?) 6 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (?) 7 Dream Police (?) 8 Everything Works If You Let It (?) 9 Stop This Game (?) 10 (Love Comes) A Tumblin’ Down (?) 11 If You Want My Love (?) 12 Dancing the Night Away (?) 13 Tonight It’s You (?) 14 Mighty Wings (from “Top Gun” original soundtrack) (?) 15 The Flame (?) 16 Don’t Be Cruel (?) 17 Stop That Thief (original soundtrack) (?) 18 Ghost Town (?) 19 Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love (?) 20 Wherever Would I Be (?) 21 Ain’t That a Shame (live at Budokan, single version) (?) |