Great Rock Albums of 1982: Cheap Trick- One on One

For many people in 1982, it was assumed that Cheap Trick had descended from the height of their popularity. True, their songs weren't getting so much airplay on radio in those days but they were still selling records and were still a big concert draw. It was only on account of military obligations I didn't see them that year. Nonetheless, what could be said about them was that their album "One on One" was a good one. I'll be the first to say that it's not quite as spectacular as classics like "Dream Police" or "At Budokhan," but being not quite as spectacular doesn't mean that it wasn't a great album, it was.

"One On One," for me, comes in three acts. Act 1 consists of the first three tracks, all of which more of a pop rock sound. Well, as pop as Cheap Trick could get. Two of those tracks, "I Want You" and "If You Want My Love" were released as singles and I remember the latter being played on MTV when my household finally got the channel a year later. Those songs may have been recorded for radio but they still have the Cheap Trick sound that we all love them for.

Act 2 is my favourite part of the album because they go even more hard rock here. The fourth track, "Oo La La La" makes the transition a very enjoyable one. Especially as my favourite song on the album, "Looking Out for Number One" follows right after. Following that, Cheap Trick show that they could still combine hard rock with humourous innuendo in the song, "She's Tight." However, Act 3 is the weakest part of the album in my view. They go a bit more 80s mainstream synthesizer rock with these songs and while they are still good songs, Act 3 isn't as good as the second act. Although they also show their sense of humour with "I Want Be Man," which sounds like it's about wanting to be transgender. Fortunately, they take things out very well with the rocking closer, "Four Letter Words" and with everything, "One on One" goes on to become a very good album.

Track Listing:

1. I Want You

2. One on One

3. If You Want My Love

4. Ooh La La La

5. Looking Out for Number One

6. She's Tight

7. Time is Runnin'

8. Saturday at Midnight

9. Love's Got a Hold On Me

10. I Want Be Man

11. Four Letter Words

[caption id="attachment_2606" align="aligncenter" width="245"] 

Cheap Trick[/caption]

Robin Zander- lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards

Rick Nielsen- lead guitar, vocals

Jon Brant- bass, backing vocals

Bun E Carlos- drums, percussion

The moral of the story with Cheap Trick and "One on One" is never write off a band just because their songs aren't getting played on AM radio anymore. Cheap Trick still put out some fine albums in the 80s and "One on One" is certainly one of those.

Next post: A Flock of Seagulls

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1981: Cheap Trick- All Shook Up

Cheap Trick's album "All Shook Up" was yet another album that passed me by when I was on sea duty in late 1980/early 81. I had heard they had put out a new album and it was in my mind to get it once I got back to the US but for some reason, I never did. My loss and it was one that I now regret because after finally listening to it, I realise how good it actually is.

The main problem for Cheap Trick was that "All Shook Up" did not have the radio playability as their previous album, "Dream Police." I honestly can not remember any songs from the album played on FM radio around the time. True there's no top 40 single like "Dream Police" or "I Want You to Want Me" on this album.  Therefore, many people, not just me, allowed it to pass them by and I am sure that I am not the only person who regretted this because I can now say that this is a really good album. It proves once more that Cheap Trick can rock and have fun at the same time. The songs are all good rocking fun especially the last five or so. "I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends" is a classic example of Cheap Trick doing what they do best and "High Priest of Rhythmic Noise" is another one. Saying that, the band remains tight through all of the songs with all the trademark aspects of this great band.

Track Listing:

1. Stop the Game

2. Just Got Back

3. Baby Loves to Rock

4. Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try

5. World's Greatest Lover

6. High Priest of Rhythmic Noise

7. Love Comes A Tumblin' Down

8. I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends

9. Go For The Throat (Use Your Own Imagination)

10. Who D' King

[caption id="attachment_1284" align="aligncenter" width="128"] Cheap Trick[/caption]

Robin Zander- lead vocals

Rick Nielson- lead guitar, backing vocals

Tom Peterssen- bass, backing vocals

Bun E Carlos- drums

Thinking back, I believe that one of the reasons "All Shook Up" passed me by was that I got a letter from my sister telling me that her heart throb Tom Peterssen left the band shortly after it was released. I know that put her off buying the album or otherwise it would have been there for me to borrow and listen to when I got home. My excuse and I'm sticking with it. It was a definite shame because I now realise that I have been missing about on a great album for over three decades.

Next post: Frank Zappa- Tinseltown Rebellion

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1979: Cheap Trick- Dream Police

You're under arrest for having an illegal dream. At least that was the joke making it's rounds at the time this brilliant release from Cheap Trick was making its rounds in 1979. But they were driving me insane, those men inside my brain or at least I thought so. Anyway, I first saw this album literally the day before I left for boot camp and so I wasn't able to buy it. That would be another six months when "Dream Police" would be the first ever album I bought on casette. Unfortunately, three years later it would meet the fate that was the drawback with casettes, it would get eaten in the machine.
"Dream Police" is definitely for me, the best Cheap Trick album ever. When deciding to visit this album, I came to the realisation that I hadn't listened to it in full since that fateful day when my tape player ate the casette, nearly 30 years ago! But thank the Lord for YouTube and I get to take a very cool walk down memory lane. Usually, when I listen to something I haven't listened to in awhile, it takes a minute or two before I get refamiliar with it. Not the case with "Dream Police." Each song is like I have been listening to it constantly for the past three decades. That is something that makes this album so good.
The album brings back some other memories as well. "Gonna Raise Hell" was the theme tune every evening my buddies and I went out for a wild liberty session. That's what we were bent on doing and that's what we did, we raised hell. The other tracks can be either good for listening to with a few brews or cruising down the main drag in the car. The hard rock backdrop with the fun attitude displayed by Cheap Trick when hearing this album make it flexible for both.

Track Listing:

1. Dream Police

2. Way of the World

3. The House is Rocking (With Domestic Problems)

4. Gonna Raise Hell

5. I'll Be With You Tonight

6. Voices

7. Writing On the Wall

8. I Know What I Want

9. Need Your Love

Cheap Trick

Robbin Zander- lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Rick Neilson- lead guitar, backing vocals

Tom Peterssen- bass, lead vocal on "I Know What I Want," backing vocals

Bun E. Carlos- drums, percussion

I have always considered Cheap Trick to be a fun band. While I have no doubt they take their music seriously, they seem to have a good time doing so. "Dream Police" is proof in the pudding that you can make a dynamite album and still have fun at the same time. My big regret is that I never got to see them live.

 

Next post: The Eagles- The Long Run

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London