Cheap Trick
On April 2, 1978, Cheap Trick performed at Tokyo's Budokan Hall before a wildly enthusiastic audience. The show was recorded with the idea of releasing a live album for the Japanese market. From their second studio album, "In Color," they launched into "I Want You To Want Me." The studio version of this song is good, but it comes off relatively lifeless when compared to this version. With most live recordings, the audience is only heard screaming or applauding, augmented and abated by random comments from the artist. Here, the audience contributes a vocal part. There is an unbridled joy. The band and the audience are in top form. It was one of those rare moments when magic struck. "Live at Budokan" eventually sold over three million copies and was Cheap Trick's best seller.
Cheap Trick hardly looked like a conventional '70s Rock band. Well, half the band did. It was the other two: drummer Bun E. Carlos (Brad Carlson) and guitarist Rick Nielsen. Carlo looked a tad over-weight, with a receding hairline and a droopy mustache was described as looking more like somebody's brother-in-law or an accountant, than a member of a major group.
Then there was Nielsen, a world class musician, with his sweater, bow tie and short hair covered by a baseball cap. He looked like a grownup version of everybody's mischievous and annoying kid brother. He also had a tendency to play outrageous looking guitars. Nielsen, Carlos and bassist Tom Petersson had played together but it wasn't until vocalist/guitarist Robin Zander joined that they became Cheap Trick.
They followed their Budokan success with studio albums "Heaven Tonight" and "Dream Police," and scored with the Fats Domino song "Ain't That a Shame" (also recorded live). "Dream Police" contained the title track and classic "Surrender." In '80, Petersson left to start a group with his wife but he was back in '88 for "Lap of Luxury" which included a cover of Elvis' biggest hit "Don't Be Cruel." It did the trick for Cheap Trick too. In the '90s Zander tried it as a solo, and while he found some success, there wasn't much traction.
To celebrate Cheap Trick's twentieth anniversary in '98 "Cheap Trick At Budokan: The Complete Concert" was released. The band also undertook an anniversary tour/victory lap.
That would have been a happy ending. A nice wrap-up of a successful career. But the story continued. While other bands were content playing their hits at county fairs and casinos, Cheap Trick had the gall to record an album of original material. '06 release "Rockford" (the group's hometown) gave notice Cheap Trick wasn't finished - yet.
"Live at Budokan," and especially "I Want You To Want Me," which totally smashes the studio version, made Cheap Trick. For that reason, and that the band is far more vibrant live, the "Complete Budokan" album is the first choice.
The Budokan show seems to be the dividing line in Cheap Trick's career. Their first two albums "Cheap Trick" and "In Color" are full on, if somewhat stilted, Rockers. After Budokan, the group veers toward pop, focusing on singles, even covering Elvis and The Beatles. They did a good job on "Don't Be Cruel" but fared badly with "Magical Mystery Tour." The singles are all on the "Greatest Hits," including their mega-hit ballad, "The Flame."
Albums from 80's bands, recorded after the turn of the century, have generally been embarrassments. No wonder. It's hard to recapture your prime when it's two decades behind you. Some groups (Def Leppard and Duran Duran) go the covers route under the guise they are paying tribute to those who inspired them. The cruel fact is that they have run out of ideas and are milking fan's memories for attention or money. Others land on micro-labels. Styx and Journey went down this path but it's doubtful anyone can name the current line-up. These bands have one or two members from the glory days along with late additions who have often been with the group longer than the musicians they replaced.
Then there's Cheap Trick, original members and all. "Rockford" is not an embarrassment. Whew! Actually, it's pretty good.
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