Cheap Trick - Complete Epic Albums Collection (MP3) (2012)

Cheap Trick - Complete Epic Albums Collection (MP3) (2012)


Genre: hard rock, power-pop, remastered | 13Albums | mp3 320 kbps | 1472 MB
ELO kiddies, ELO kiddies, whatcha gonna do when the lights start shining? went the musical question in the first song on Cheap Tricks 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? Youll 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 brings together the formidable 1977-1990 catalogue of one of Americas 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 didnt 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 didnt 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 bands 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, 1977s Cheap Trick, failed to chart in the U.S. but became a major seller in Japan, priming the band for worldwide success.

The quartets second album, 1978s 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 Tricks sweet spot. Werman didnt 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 Tricks 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 1979s At Budokan, on which the aggressive playing is rewarded by the audiences palpable fervor. The original Top 5-charting release was expanded by Legacy in 1998 from 10 tracks to the concerts full 19 by incorporating material first aired on 1994s 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 bands 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, its far more than a mere footnote in the groups discography.

Roy Thomas Baker, well known for his work with Queen and The Cars, followed Martin as producer of 1982s 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 outre studio experimentation as well as for his own style of power pop, was familiar with Cheap Trick; Robert Stewkey Antoni of Rundgrens first band The Nazz had briefly played in the embryonic Sick Men of Europe with the future Cheap Trick members. (Rundgren also shared the bands enthusiasm for The Move; Roy Woods band had covered Todds 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 wasnt concerned about stepping into the producers 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, Its 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, Heavens Falling, which was the kind of infectious power pop he seemingly could turn out with ease. The trouble began when Epic Records didnt hear a single on the LP, even though Rundgren thought Robin Zanders big, arena-ready I Cant Take It was prime 45 material. Epic removed two of the proposed albums tracks, Dont 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 Neilsens own You Say Jump. The albums You Talk Too Much and Dont 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 albums 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. 1985s Standing on the Edge reunited the group with producer Jack Douglas and yielded the almost-Top 40 single Tonight Its You but the album lacked a strong character even if Carlos pointedly was credited for acoustic drums on the album sleeve amidst the decades drum machine deluge. (Even Rundgren had been enamored of the Linn drum machine, with Carlos playing live drums to Rundgrens programmed track on the previous LP.) 1986s 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) hasnt aged as well as the bands more successful albums. The harder-rocking Lap of Luxury (1988) followed, with a cover of Elvis Presleys Dont 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 Grahams 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 Tricks 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 Foreigners Mick Jones contributed guitar to If You Need Me. The album yielded a moderate radio hit with Cant 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 2009s Sgt. Pepper Live, paying homage once again to The Beatles in the bands typically high-octane fashion. But the albums contained within this checkerboard are without a doubt the core of the bands 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.

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)

Cheap Trick

01 ELO Kiddies - 3:41

02 Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School - 4:44

03 Taxman, Mr. Thief - 4:16

04 Cry, Cry - 4:23

05 Oh, Candy - 3:07

06 Hot Love - 2:30

07 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace - 4:35

08 Hes a ~censored~ - 2:43

09 Mandocello - 4:47

10 The Ballad of T.V. Violence [Im Not the Only Boy] - 5:25

11 Lovin Money [Outtake] - 4:10

12 I Want You to Want Me [Outtake] - 2:45

13 Lookout [Outtake] - 3:30

14 Youre All Talk [Outtake] - 3:32

15 I Dig Go-Go Girls [Outtake] - 3:06

Total duration: 57:13

In Color

01 Hello There - 1:41

02 Big Eyes - 3:09

03 Downed - 4:11

04 I Want You to Want Me - 3:12

05 Youre All Talk - 3:35

06 Oh Caroline - 2:59

07 Clock Strikes Ten - 3:03

08 Southern Girls - 3:44

09 Come On, Come On - 2:39

10 So Good to See You - 3:46

11 Oh Boy - 3:10

12 Southern Girls [Demo] - 3:04

13 Come On, Come On [Demo] - 2:06

14 Youre All Talk [Live] - 3:41

15 Goodnight [Live] - 2:19

Total duration: 46:19

Heaven Tonight

01 Surrender - 4:16

02 On Top of the World - 4:02

03 California Man - 3:45

04 High Roller - 3:58

05 Auf Wiedersehen - 3:42

06 Takin Me Back - 4:53

07 On the Radio - 4:33

08 Heaven Tonight - 5:25

09 Stiff Competition - 3:40

10 How Are You? - 4:22

11 Oh Claire - 1:11

12 Stiff Competition [Outtake] - 4:03

13 Surrender [Outtake] - 4:52

Total duration: 52:43

Cheap Trick at Budokan: The Complete Concert [CD1]

01 Hello There - 2:42

02 Come On, Come On - 2:59

03 ELO Kiddies - 3:57

04 Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace - 6:03

05 Big Eyes - 3:49

06 Look Out - 3:12

07 Downed - 4:39

08 Cant Hold On - 6:13

09 Oh Caroline - 2:59

10 Surrender - 4:39

11 Auf Wiedersehen - 4:09

Total duration: 45:22

Cheap Trick at Budokan: The Complete Concert [CD2]

01 Need Your Love - 8:54

02 High Roller - 4:28

03 Southern Girls - 3:53

04 I Want You to Want Me - 3:36

05 California Man - 3:55

06 Goodnight - 3:05

07 Aint That a Shame - 5:02

08 Clock Strikes Ten - 3:50

Total duration: 36:43

Dream Police

01 Dream Police - 3:54

02 Way of the World - 3:39

03 The House Is Rockin [With Domestic Problems] - 5:12

04 Gonna Raise Hell - 9:20

05 Ill Be with You Tonight - 3:52

06 Voices - 4:22

07 Writing on the Wall - 3:27

08 I Know What I Want - 4:31

09 Need Your Love - 7:40

10 The House Is Rockin [With Domestic Problems] [Live] - 6:16

11 Way of the World [Live] - 4:01

12 Dream Police [No Strings Version] - 3:53

13 I Know What I Want [Live] - 4:44

Total duration: 64:52

[EP] Found All the Parts

01 Day Tripper [Live] - 3:40

02 Cant Hold On [Live] - 5:57

03 Such a Good Girl - 3:06

04 Take Me Im Yours - 4:35

Total duration: 17:18

All Shook Up

01 Stop This Game - 3:57

02 Just Got Back - 2:05

03 Baby Loves to Rock - 3:17

04 Cant Stop It But Im Gonna Try - 3:31

05 Worlds Greatest Lover - 4:52

06 High Priest of Rhythmic Noise - 4:13

07 Love Comes A-Tumblin Down - 3:09

08 I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends - 3:51

09 Go for the Throat [Use Your Imagination] - 3:05

10 Who DKing - 2:20

11 Everything Works If You Let It - 3:29

Total duration: 37:49

One on One [Remastered]

01 I Want You - 3:02

02 One on One - 3:05

03 If You Want My Love - 3:36

04 Oo La La La - 3:14

05 Lookin Out for Number One - 3:42

06 Shes Tight - 2:58

07 Time Is Runnin - 2:19

08 Saturday at Midnight - 2:58

09 Loves Got a Hold on Me - 2:35

10 I Want Be Man - 3:19

11 Four Letter Word - 3:38

Total duration: 34:28

Next Position Please [The Authorized Version]

01 I Cant Take It - 3:29

02 Borderline - 3:36

03 I Dont Love Here Anymore - 3:53

04 Next Position Please - 2:56

05 Younger Girls - 3:17

06 Dont Make Our Love a Crime - 3:45

07 3-D - 3:39

08 You Talk Too Much - 1:57

09 Y.O.Y.O.Y. - 4:56

10 Wont Take No for an Answer - 3:14

11 Heavens Falling - 3:49

12 Invaders of tThe Heart - 4:02

13 Twisted Heart - 4:18

14 Dont Hit Me with Love - 3:25

15 You Say Jump - 3:08

16 Dancing The Night Away - 4:59

Total duration: 58:22

Standing on the Edge [Remastered]

01 Little Sister - 3:55

02 Tonight Its You - 4:48

03 Shes Got Motion - 3:23

04 Love Comes - 4:42

05 How About You - 3:00

06 Standing on the Edge - 4:44

07 This Time Around - 4:34

08 Rock All Night - 2:51

09 Cover Girl - 3:42

10 Wild Wild Women - 4:18

Total duration: 39:55

The Doctor [Remastered]

01 Its Up to You - 3:51

02 Rearview Mirror Romance - 4:32

03 The Doctor - 4:04

04 Are You Lonely Tonight - 3:47

05 Name of the Game - 4:17

06 Kiss Me Red - 3:38

07 Take Me to the Top - 4:02

08 Good Girls Go to Heaven [Bad Girls Go Everywhere] - 3:22

09 Man-U-Lip-U-Lator - 3:48

10 Its Only Love - 4:46

Total duration: 40:06

Lap of Luxury [Remastered]

01 Let Go - 4:28

02 No Mercy - 3:57

03 The Flame - 5:40

04 Space - 4:16

05 Never Had a Lot to Lose - 3:25

06 Dont Be Cruel - 3:09

07 Wrong Side of Love - 4:03

08 All We Need Is a Dream - 4:23

09 Ghost Town - 4:14

10 All Wound Up - 4:46

Total duration: 42:22

Busted [Remastered]

01 Back n Blue - 4:43

02 I Cant Understand It - 3:30

03 Wherever Would I Be - 4:06

04 If You Need Me - 4:46

05 Cant Stop Fallin into Love - 3:50

06 Busted - 4:06

07 Walk Away - 3:43

08 You Drive, Ill Steer - 4:34

09 When You Need Someone - 5:18

10 Had to Make You Mine - 3:16

11 Rock n Roll Tonight - 4:57

Total duration: 45:50