Although many of you were first introduced to Cheap Trick through their break-through album “Live At Budokan,” few are aware that this album that earned them world-wide stardom was actually their fourth release. There was plenty of great Cheap Trick that preceded “Budokan,” and laid the groundwork for the general populace to finally discover these classy Chicago rockers.
Moving backward in their discography was the third album “Heaven Tonight” that earned them kudos for “Surrender” and their cover of The Move’s big early 70’s underground hit “California Man.” [note: The Move late became Electric Light Orchestra]. And then there was the second Cheap Trick album which yielded the track “I Want You to Want Me” which started to establish them at FM radio in the US.
But it was their first self-titled debut album in 1977 that got power-pop fans world-wide excited about this important Chicago band on a very underground level. The undisputed gem of this under-noticed album is ironically the last track: “Candy.” A plaintive power-pop plead for understanding from a former love, this track hinted at the hooky masterpieces soon to come from these Chicago boys, and was often included as part of legendary Alex Chilton’s (box Tops, Big Star) live set.
Cheap Trick never hid their admiration for The Move (and the band they became): Electric Light Orchestra, and side two begins with “ELO Kiddies” a double entandre reference not only to the band, but the way the English drop the “h” in “hello” when they greet you. It is an amusing tale of kids missing school to attend an ELO show and Robin Zander asking them “what you gonna do when the Light goes out?”
The only cover song on the album is “Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace” from under-appreciated 60’s guitarist/songwriter Terry Reid, and starts with a T-Rexish guitar from Rick Nielson and explodes into a pop opus of teen frustration, with some rather forceful drumming from Bun E. Carlos. The languid groove of “Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School” documents the lament of a young father lamenting the fun his kids have with rock and roll, typical from these masters of irony.
For those who were captivated by such classics as “Surrender” “I Want You To Want Me” and a bakers dozen of other classic Cheap Trick songs, this self-titled debut provides a glimpse into their formative period. So allow yourself to surrender to its magnificent musical charms.
