Cheap Trick - The Greatest Hits

Cheap Trick

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000284D
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,921 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It took a screaming group of Japanese fans to make Cheap Trick into bona fide stars in their own country. The live version of "I Want You to Want Me" propelled the band on its way to a number of hits through the late '70s and then again in the '80s. Characterized by melodies so strong they were achingly familiar, the band's Beatles-esque harmonies and breaks made memorable moments out of "Surrender," "Dream Police," and later hits like the rocking ballad, "The Flame." Their outstanding cover of "Don't Be Cruel" became one of the only Presley covers to crack the top 10. Equally impressive is their cover of "Ain't That a Shame." Greatest Hits would play better as a well thought out "Best of" collection. While the songs included on the CD did show some chart action, some of their best work ("He's a Whore," "Heaven Tonight") is nowhere to be found in this compilation. It's almost worth it to spend the money on Cheap Trick's first three CDs--it's worth the investment and song for song, a better listen than Greatest Hits. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Delivers what it promises, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

Dunno, I'm a big Cheap Trick fan and can't deny that GREATEST HITS delivers what it promises. As much as I like the band, it's my opinion that most of Cheap Trick's hits isn't among their best songs. For example, "Tonight It's You" is my least favorite tune from their dynamite album STANDING ON THE EDGE, yet it was a hit single. If all you want is the top forty music, pick up Cheap Trick's GREATEST HITS. For those willing to listen more, try Cheap Trick's box set SEX AMERICA. The four CD set includes all but maybe two of the GREATEST HITS selections and serves up a lot more of Cheap Trick at its best.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Uneven Anthology from an Up and Down Band, August 17, 2002

By	Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Featuring only 13 songs, "Their Greatest Hits" is a relatively skimpy anthology album for a band that at the time of its release had been rcording for more than a decade and a half. The album also, unfortunately, draws evenly from across the band's career, shorting their classic early days and overrepresenting their less graceful later output (for example: only one selection from "Heaven Tonight," their best studio album).

Things start off on the wrong foot with an awful previously unreleased version of The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour." The highlights among the remaining dozen tracks include excellent early singles "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me," the latter from their breakthrough "Live at Budokan" album. "Budokan" provides another smokin' cover, "Ain't that a Shame." Other strong singles included are "She's Tight," "If You Want My Love," "I Can't Take It" and "Tonight it's You." On the downside are the vapid power ballad "The Flame" and a by-the-numbers cover of "Don't Be Cruel," both from the band's late 80s "comeback" album "The Flame."

Overall, a strangely programmed anthology album that doesn't really give these veteran rockers their just due.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not all the hits are theirs, September 26, 2002

By	Jeffrey Leeper "kem2070" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Other artists have done it, but it bothers me when a band uses someone else's hit to introduce theirs. Why? The greatest hits album should reflect Cheap Trick's body of work, which does not need a boost from someone else. Most of these hits are recognizable even to people who aren't big fans.

Cheap Trick introduces us to its work with the Beatles' classic "Magical Mystery Tour." Robin Zander seems to be struggling to pull out the lyrics, almost as if he really doesn't want to sing the song. I think," groovy, leave it off!"

If you don't know Cheap Trick, songs 2-10 will ring a bell if you have listened to the radio in the late 70s, 80s, and early 90s. "I Want You To Want Me" and "Surrender" still see a bit of airplay today. Once you hear the others, something will click and you'll say, "Yeah, I remember this!"

The last three songs are not as common. I guess these songs were placed last since they are the least popular of the greatest hits. To blend the album, I would have probably recommended mingling these with the others.

For a greatest hits, I would also like to see a bit more in the liner notes. With this CD, all you get is the names of the songs, the songwriter(s), and the album it was taken from. Nothing more than that.

I would recommend this just for the fans.