In Color [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Cheap Trick

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 1998)
• Original Release Date: September 29, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000C28J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,927 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Cheap Trick's second album (and second of '77!) doesn't exactly pick up where its classic, hard-edged debut left off; it was the "Power" and this is the "Pop." Their workaholic gigs as an unsigned Midwest bar band in the mid-'70s left them with an impressive backlog of original material, another batch of which forms the core of In Color. Though the band disdained producer Tom Werman's bubblegum-flavored touches, it was indeed the kinder, gentler Cheap Trick that Japanese audiences first took to their hearts at Budokan, with the rest of the world soon to follow. That approach is best exemplified by the evergreen "I Want You to Want Me" (which didn't become a hit until Live at Budokan), here dolled up with a Fats Domino-flavored piano break. While Werman's poppy approach dilutes the band's wall-of-noise live bent, it also underscores their impressive individual musical talents: Rick Nielsen's manic riffing on "Big Eyes" and the album's other retro-burner, "Clock Strikes Ten"; Robin Zander's vocal multiple-personalities that range from the suicidal angst of "Downed" (surely a favorite of Trick admirer Kurt Cobain) through the sweet anticipation of "I Want You" to the world-weariness of "So Good to See You"; and the rhythm section of Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos anchoring everything (especially the delicious "Southern Girls") with a flawless wallop. This expanded edition features significantly upgraded audio quality, new notes and photos, and five bonus tracks: the unpredictable instrumental B-Side "Oh Boy"; 1975 demos of "Southern Girls" and the anthemic "Come On, Come On" that ably display just the "before" side of the producer argument; and live versions of "You're All Talk" and longtime show closer "Goodnight" recorded at L.A.'s Whiskey in 1977. No sophomore jinx here. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BEACH MUSIC, June 17, 2001

By	JP Wheeler (Santa Maria, California United States) - See all my reviews

Cheap Trick has been branded as "too sugary" to be considered true rock'n'roll and to heavy to be pop, so what do you say about "In Color" perhaps the best power-pop release of the 70's? This LP was blasting from every cassette and 8-track player on the beaches of Southern California in the late 70's so all you need to say is "Rock On"!

Rick Nielson wrote crunchy "pop" music, that was often incorrectly labeled as hard rock, and the band suffered for it with a too-short appearance at the top of the rock world. Robin Zander's voice may have been ripe with Beatles affectation (perhaps leading to a "wannabe" label) but there can be no denying it as a terrific pop instrument. Songs like "Big Eyes", "Downed", "I Want You to Want Me", "Oh Caroline" and "Southern Girls" are testaments to Nielson's rock'n'pop sensibilities and to Zander's perfect delivery.

Cheap Trick is a band that should've been stars for decades, so grab onto "In Color" and "Heaven Tonight" and wrap yourself around some free-wheelin' power-pop tunes before sombody shames you out of it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard Rocking Fun, May 17, 2004

By	L. Lawhead "LSquared35" (SW Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Cheap Trick is a band that never took itself too seriously, with a hard rock sound, but a fun attitude. It all works, and "in Color" hits it right on. The album cover plays the "pretty boy" toughness of singer Robin Zander and Bassist Tom Pettersson versus the bad-boy-geek of guitarist Rick Nielsen and drummer Bun E. Carlos perfectly, with Zaner & Petersson looking cool (in color) astride Choppers, and Carlos and Nielsen (in black and white) on scooters. Packaging aside, the music is great. Cheap Trick rocks, but never looses their pop sensibilities. Fully half of this disc would end up on the megahit live set "At the Budokan" ("I Want You To Want Me","Hello There", "Come On, Come On", "Big Eyes" and "Clock Strike Ten"), and these original versions have all the energy of the live set. The rest of the songs are every bit as good, especially "Southern Girls", "Oh Caroline" and "Downed", which is one of my all time favorite songs.

I've had this record since it's release on vinyl, it was one of the first records I bought on CD.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Their Best, May 11, 2006

By	Juz Man "Juz" (Hobart, Australia) - See all my reviews

What can anyone say about this album that hasn't already been said. It's CT's best. I can't offer any further insight to the greatness of this album that hasn't been said a thousand times before.
The original is brilliant from start to finish. Having said that though, it perhaps is a bit poppy. Doesn't have the rock of their other albums from that era, but it's a nice change.
The bonus songs here are nice additions.
Southern Girls is ranks in their best top 3 songs.
The weakest track for me has always been Clock Strikes Ten - it only scores 4/5!! Even on Budokan it's always been a lesser track for me.

I can't wait to hear the re-recorded version the boys did recently. It's sure to have the rock element this sometimes lacks. Hopefully they release it soon.

As mentioned, ranks up the very top of their albums. Next Position Please follows.