Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick
Studio album by Cheap Trick
Released	February 1977
Recorded	Record Plant, New York 1976
Genre	Rock, hard rock, powerpop
Length	40:05
Label	Epic
Producer	Jack Douglas
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B) link Rolling Stone (positive) [1] Spin [1]
Cheap Trick chronology
Cheap Trick (1977) In Color (1977)

Cheap Trick is a studio album released in 1977 by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It was their debut album, produced by Jack Douglas.

Overview

Most of the songs have a more raw sound, and deal with more extreme subject matter than later albums. For instance, "The Ballad of T.V. Violence" is about serial killer Richard Speck, "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School" is about a pedophile, and "Oh Candy" is about a friend of the band who committed suicide.

This album, along with the following three albums, are considered by fans and critics to be Cheap Trick's best works. This one, however, is more known for capturing both their dark side and the fierceness of their early live performances more than any other studio release in their catalogue.

Track listing

All songs written by Rick Nielsen except where noted.

Side One

1. "Elo Kiddies" — 3:41
2. "Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School" — 4:44
3. "Taxman, Mr. Thief" — 4:16
4. "Cry, Cry" (Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson) — 4:22
5. "Oh, Candy" — 3:07

Side Two

1. "Hot Love" — 2:30
2. "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace" (Terry Reid) — 4:35
3. "He's a Whore" — 2:43
4. "Mandocello" — 4:47
5. "The Ballad of T.V. Violence (I'm Not The Only Boy)" — 5:15

Bonus tracks (1998 Reissue)

The 1998 reissue of Cheap Trick was released with five bonus tracks, including an early studio version of their later hit "I Want You To Want Me."

11. "Lovin' Money" — 4:09
12. "I Want You To Want Me" — 2:43
13. "Lookout" — 3:30
14. "You're All Talk" (Nielsen, Petersson) — 3:31
15. "I Dig Go-Go Girls" — 3:06

Singles

• 1977: "Oh Candy b/w Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School"
• 1977: "ELO Kiddies b/w Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace" (Europe)

Unreleased Outtakes

• "Disco Paradise"
• "Surrender" (Later re-recorded for their third album Heaven Tonight)
• "Auf Wiedersehen" (Also later re-recorded for their third album Heaven Tonight)
• "Ultramental" (Later reworked and became the title track to the album Dream Police)

Personnel

• Robin Zander – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Rick Nielsen – lead guitar, vocals
• Tom Petersson – bass guitar, vocals
• Bun E. Carlos – drums

Additional personnel

• Jack Douglas - producer
• Jay Messina - engineer
• Sam Ginsberg - assistant engineer

Background information

The original vinyl record had "Side A" printed on one side of the label and "Side 1" printed on the other, a humorous touch reflecting the band's conviction that they didn't have any "B" material, although the placement of the track listing on the jacket seemed to indicate "Hot Love" was the first track on the album. Indeed, the matrix numbers on the record show the "Hot Love" side was designated side A and the "Elo Kiddies" side as side B. When the album was released on compact disc in the mid-'80s, it followed the same sequence. However, when the album was reissued on CD in 1998, the band's preferred sequence was used, with "Elo Kiddies" being the first track.

When Cheap Trick performed the entire debut album at the Metro Club in Chicago on May 1, 1998, they played the album in the intended order, starting with ELO Kiddies. This concert was recorded, and parts of it contributed to the live album Music for Hangovers.

When Rick Nielsen was working with John Lennon on Double Fantasy he told him about when the band was preparing to record their debut album they were trying to decide on a producer. Figuring they had nothing to lose, they sent a letter to Lennon requesting him but never got a reply. Lennon said he never received the letter but would have loved to have done it.

Other

Big Black released a cover of "He's a Whore" as a single. The song was later included on the CD release of Big Black's second album, Songs About Fucking.

In the documentary End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones, Johnny Ramone states that the guitar riff of "The KKK Took My Baby Away" was inspired by the riff of "He's a Whore"

The Methadones cover "He's a Whore" on 21st Century Power Pop Riot. A cover record released in 2006.

References

Notes

• Weisbard, Eric; Craig Marks (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0679755748.