Summary

The website content provides a review of Cheap Trick's 1977 album "In Color," discussing its significance, sound, and impact within the context of the band's career and the reviewer's personal connection to the music.

Abstract

Cheap Trick's "In Color" is an album that marked a shift towards power pop for the band, a move that was initially met with resistance from the band members themselves. Despite this, the album found success, particularly in Japan, with hits like "I want you to want me" and "Clock Strikes Ten." The review reflects on the album's place within Cheap Trick's discography, categorizing the band's work into distinct eras and noting the album's resonance with the blue-collar ethos of Northern Illinois. The reviewer, Kevin Alexander, shares a personal anecdote about his connection to drummer Bun E. Carlos and expresses admiration for the album's energetic opening track "Hello There" and the closing track "So Good To See You." The review concludes by affirming the album's enduring appeal and suggesting that it's a quintessential representation of power pop that still sounds fresh today.

Opinions

The reviewer suggests that "In Color" represents a significant departure from Cheap Trick's debut album due to its more polished production, which initially was not the band's preference.
Kevin Alexander groups Cheap Trick's discography into three non-chronological eras, highlighting personal nostalgia associated with different periods of the band's music.
The reviewer expresses a fondness for the original studio version of "I Want You To Want Me," contrasting it with the better-known live version from "Cheap Trick at Budokan."
There is an appreciation for the album's consistent energy, particularly noting the tracks "Hello There," "Big Eyes," and "Come On, Come On."
The reviewer humorously reflects on the past aspiration to emulate drummer Bun E. Carlos's ability to smoke while performing and acknowledges quitting smoking as a positive life decision.
"In Color" is praised for its ability to capture the essence of power pop and for its relevance to the cultural and geographical context of Northern Illinois.
The review encourages reader interaction by asking for feedback on the review's accuracy and invites participation in the 100 records challenge, while also promoting the work of other music journalists.

100 RECORDS IN 2022 CHALLENGE

Cheap Trick- In Color

Record review #8/100

There’s nothing to do in Rockford Illinois. It’s close to lots of places, but just far enough anyway to be in the middle of nowhere. And it is most assuredly NOT Chicago, no matter what the airport is called. Referring to itself as the “Chicago Rockford Airport” is like trying to make “fetch” happen, and requires a special sort of marketing gymnastics.

At any rate, being 85 miles away from the big city leaves you with few options. And so it was in 1973 that the band Cheap trick was formed.

After releasing their self-titled debut in 1977, they followed it up later that year with In Color. With Tom Werman in the production booth, the record took a sharp turn toward power pop. The band didn’t like that more polished sound, and actually re-recorded a still unreleased version of this in 1998 that was truer to what their original ideas of what it should sound like.

But people liked the new sound. The album quickly became a hit in Japan, where “I want you to want me” and “Clock Strikes Ten” both charted as singles. Fully half of the songs on the record were later recorded as part of the band’s seminal “Cheap Trick at Budokan” live album. Rolling Stone later thought enough of it to place in it’s Top 500 Albums of all time.

For me, Cheap Trick is broken into 3 separate — and out of order — eras:

“The Dream Police” and “Surrender.”
Late 80's/ “The Flame”: The soundtrack to so many fraught junior high mixers.
The early records (Heaven Tonight, Budokan, and now In Color)

Somewhere in there, I also became interested in drummer Bun E. Carlos’ ability to essentially smoke for a good 30 years straight, including while performing. In my short stint as a drummer I too tried it; it’s harder than it looks. Here’s to bad life decisions. Luckily for us, we’ve both quit. Luckily for the universe, I stopped drumming. Here’s to good decisions.

Back to In Color:

The album starts off like a shot with “Hello There” screaming out of your speakers. It starts the album off running, and the pace never really lets up.

Next up are “Big Eyes,” which sees vocalist Robin Zander almost growling the chorus, and “Downed,” whose opening notes remind me of The Cult’s “She Sells Sanctuary.” No, I don’t have any idea why, either.

Then we have “I Want You To Want Me.” But not the live Budokan one you still hear on AOR stations throughout the upper Midwest. This is the original version, and it was not at all what I was expecting. It’s fantastic.

“You’re All Talk” takes a turn for the angsty. It’s all snarl and menace, with Rick Nielsen’s guitar seeming to do even more of the heavy lifting than normal- at least to my ear.

“Clock Strikes Ten” is a bit of kicks rock that I can absolutely see kids cranking up to 11 while barreling around the alphabet backroads of Winnebago County on hot summer nights.

“Come On, Come On” has an awesome call & response sort of chorus that works well. Finding yourself tapping your feet while listening is a feature, not a bug.

The record ends with “So Good To See You,” a great track that drips with oozin’ ahs for a chorus. It’s the perfect melodic endnote to the record, and my 2nd favorite track on the album after the opener.

Bottom Line:

I don’t live too far from Rockford. Northern Illinois is solidly blue-collar, and no fuss, no muss. People here dream big but are fiercely proud of their roots.

Even with a more polished sound than its predecessor, this record is a product of its environment. In Color delivers exactly the power pop you’d expect while still carrying you away on an adventure.

And while it wasn’t quite the same as the backroads at 70 mph, it did sound great in my car on the way home from work.

Tell me; did I get it right with this one, or did I miss the mark? Share your thoughts below!

This record challenge would be more fun with you in it! Ready to jump in? Check out Nia Simone McLeod’s original article below. I also highly encourage you to check out the fantastic work of Pierce McIntyre, Nicole Brown, M. Berg, Rob Janicke, and Mary DeVries, all of whom are participating.

I’m Going to Listen to 100 New Albums in 2022

Who doesn’t love a chaotic New Year’s resolution?

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