Essential Cheap Trick [Original recording remastered]

Cheap Trick | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0001FGBH0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,745 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Rock > Power Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

From the time of their full-throttled 1977 debut (whose shredded, punky demeanor often foreshadowed grunge rock by nearly a decade-and-a-half), Cheap Trick has arguably been one of most resilient and influential (Billy Corgan and Steve Albini have variously sung their praises one side side of the generation gap, John Lennon and Jeff Beck on the other), if critically underappreciated bands of the last three decades. While the Budokan-mania and "Yardbirds play Abba" (in bassist Tom Petersson's estimation) pop of "I Want You to Want Me" will be instantly familiar thanks to their classic rock warhorse status, those unfamiliar with the band's true range and enduring live power (paid ample tribute by stage versions of "Gonna Raise Hell" and a Billy Corgan-guesting "Mandocello" from '98, and the dramatic "Hard to Tell" from their 25th anniversary live show of '99) will find this collection a revelation. Spanning the decidedly mixed blessing of their sole #1 hit "The Flame" and the latter day indie-label exile that's nonetheless produced two of their strongest collections (Cheap Trick and Special One) and featuring a salting of rarities (including the long version of "If You Want My Love" and an outtake of "Walk Away" featuring more upfront vocals by guest Chrissie Hynde), this is the best single introduction to a rock band that defiantly remains one of America's greatest. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Japanese Blu-Spec CD pressing of this classic album. The Blue Spec format takes Blu-ray disc technology to create CD's which are compatible with normal CD players but provides ultra high quality sound. Sony. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid collection of Cheap Trick, but short of definitive, March 2, 2004

By 

D. Goodwin "Are you not entertained?" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Cheap Trick (Audio CD)

In typical Sony fashion, they leave their Essential collections just shy of definitive, so they don't make their prior hits releases completely obsolete. This Cheap Trick set features a disc one barrage of cuts from the 70's, including a couple of live versions (two from 'Budokan'). It suffers from the lack of "Oh, Candy" and "On Top of the World," two of CT's best songs.

Disc two scoops up the 80's, 90's, and show off the band's range and eclectic nature. Great to see "This Time Around" and the solid post-Epic tracks included. Missing in action are the great covers of "Don't Be Cruel" and "Magical Mystery Tour," the only unique inclusions on the original Greatest Hits package.

This is a great primer course on Cheap Trick, but since Sony fails to make it definitive, fans still need several more discs to have a rock-solid Cheap Trick collection.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the essentials, and then some, February 20, 2005

By 

John D. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Cheap Trick (Audio CD)

The Essential Cheap Trick is a fine compilation with both the classics ("Surrender," "I Want You To Want Me," "The Flame" etc...) and a lot of really great songs that aren't as widely played in the mainstream and have been somewhat forgotten (of these I recommend "Tonight It's You" and "This Time Around," which is a really beautiful song.) This album covers a period of almost thirty years in the history of one of rock's best kept secrets. It is refreshing and a real treat, and I highly recommend it for both the old fans and the newly curious alike.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent!!!, November 20, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Essential Cheap Trick (Audio CD)

This album gives you the best of both worlds. It gives you the famous/most played favorites (Surrender and I Want You to Want Me [Live]), but also gives you a wonderful combination of other songs that are less played at concerts and other venues (Auf Wiedersehen and ELO Kiddies [Singles Version]).These tracks are interspersed between the other tracks . But then, there are those "rockin' middle ones" (Hello There and ELO Kiddies [Singles Version]). This clean cut system adds up to one rockin' album!