The Latest from Cheap Trick
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That's the name for their new 13-song album- their first since Rockford came out on 6/6/06- set for release on 6/23/09 from www.cheaptrick.com and www.amazon.com.
Sick Man of Europe is their first single from it and, in contrast to the album title, the song title is pretty old- it was the name of the group before they became Cheap Trick. So it's yet another Rick Nielsen play-on-words prank.
To my ears, Tom Petersson's bass makes the (pardon the pun) deepest impression here along with, of course, Robin Zander who is still in good form with his caterwauling wails. The new issue of Classic Rock Magazine lists Robin as the #23 greatest all-time singer in rock. Rightfully so. His voice has somehow held up remarkably well, too- far better than most of his contemporaries.
As for the song, I confess- I wasn't thrilled with it the first 2 listens. But, since the 3rd listen it clicked in and I like it more and more now each time I hear it. Is that a bad thing if it takes a few listens to enjoy/appreciate a song? That's a personal call.
See what you think.
Ironically enough, Mike the Knife has stated he feels Slade has some symbiotic relationship to Cheap Trick and I would have argued against that, feeling Slade is more connected to Kiss than Cheap Trick as I think the latter's music- simply put- isn't nearly as simple. (And Slade and Kiss fans- don't get me wrong- simple can work, too. Kiss has sold- what- 75+ million records/CDs, etc.??? Hard to argue with that kind of monstrous success.) But the reason for mentioning that here is because another song on The Latest is their cover of an old Slade song, When the Lights Are Out (original from Slade was called When the Lights Go Out). Well, in light of the facts of this new evidence, I guess I have to tip my hat to Mike.
But, as Homer Simpson once said, "I prefer to listen to Cheap Trick."
If that isn't a perfect endorsement, what is?
I've also included the Cheap Trick version of the Slade song below. In a further ironic twist to the title of The Latest, this version (as you can plainly see) is from the 1970's- it just never was released...until now:
Comments (13)
Fun song -- I can't believe they get third billing to Poison and Def Leppard on their summer tour. I guess Cheap Trick fans can leave early!
Let the record show that I happen to prefer Cheap Trick to Slade - and certainly to Kiss. Can't tell you how excited I get, even today, when I hear "Dream Police" or "If You Want My Love" or their live version of Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame." Or even their reworking of Alex Chilton's "Out in the Street" as the theme to the sit-com "That '70s Show." And the new stuff sounds pretty ace on the first couple of listens.
Sick Man is a really interesting song. It took me a few listens to appreciate it as well. Rick always said that about their music. You had to give it a few spins before ya staarted to like it.
funoka- There is no justice. You are so right- and that is my plan when I see them in July.
Mike- Good to hear. I also feel that way about "Surrender." Apparently Conan O'Brien does, too- he used it as the open for his first show.
Hulu has it here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/75460/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-cold-open-of-the-first-show. It's 4+ minutes of fun.
Another is an unappreciated gem on The Essential Cheap Trick (originally on Special One) called "Scent of a Woman." It tops my "Shoulda been a hit" list.
Laura- Right you are; I remember Rick saying that, too.
Actually, I saw the Conan thing when it aired, really enjoyed it and almost mentioned it in my earlier comment here, but I didn't want to gild the Cheap Trick lily any more than I already did. That said, everything is better when you hear "Surrender," including this more elaborate, big-budget variation on an earlier Conan bit from "Late Night." That's right. Been there, ran that. But it's okay to steal from yourself - at least in most states.
Fasted7, I LOVE Scent of A Woman. So many fans don't dig it but I thought it was a terrific song. I also really liked Sorry Boy from Special One.
Mike- I missed the earlier one- didn't know it even existed! Well, Conan called it his favorite song so, why not? I am hoping he has the band on once The Latest is officially released, though their tour doesn't get to LA until end of summer.
Laura- Glad I'm not the only one! And, yes, Sorry Boy is good, too. I'll bet you'd also like "Decaf" from Rockford. Do you know that one?
Fasted 7, Yes, I know about Decaf. I know about all of Trick's published songs. Uber fan. I wrote a book about my spiritual awakening with their music, as well as an amusing essay about finding hidden messages in Trick's lyrics with a lyric detector. (Yes, I'm a complete dork, but look at The Latest album cover. Their looking for buried treasure with metal detectors.:) I wrote this months before they had the John Varvatos shoot...that's where the photo of them comes from.)
Here's what I wrote about Decaf...
Lastly, a song on the 2006 Rockford CD, "DECAF," struck me as rather odd because the lyrics didn't jive. The band sings about satisfying their addiction with Decaf, but as far as I know, decaffinated java doesn't give you any zest, zip or zing. So what's it all about Alfie? My lyric detector's batteries were low, so I showed a friend the CD cover with the song listed on it, and after eyeing the title for a moment, she exclaimed, "It's a code!" She was absolutely right. Decaf is a code for the notes played at the beginning of the song:D-E-C-A-F. So, could Decaf mean getting your fix with music, since D-E-C-A-F are the actual notes in the tune? Is D-E-C-A-F- the real "Doctor" and another example of healing through music?
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Laura- That is pretty wild that you had a spiritual awakening to their music. I love that! As someone once said, "Hey, whatever works, right?" Guess that proves you've gotta have Faeth, huh? Sorry- couldn't resist. Have you spoken with anyone in the band about your book? I was wondering if they knew about it and how they reacted. Also- please forward a link so I could see more about it. I may want to pick it up.
Re: Decaf- it's one of my favorites off Rockford though it got virtually no airplay that I could detect. My long-ago-forgotten ability to read music meant I completely missed the code with the notes being the song title- until I heard Rick's interview on XM- and then, of course, I simultaneously felt like an idiot for missing it as well as a twinge of regret for forgetting how to read music.
Of course you are correct about the lyrics being contradictory but the song made me think of a rehabilitated junkie who needs a fix but, because he has been rehabbed, now has to settle for coffee and- to add insult to injury- his coffee now has to be decaf.
Anyway,as I'm sure you know, Rick has done contradictory lyrics in many of their songs, along with all the double and triple entendres. Just one more reason I think they are much more accomplished than, say, Kiss (Keep It Simple Stupid) or Slade...or Def Leppard or Poison, for that matter.
Fasted7- yes the band knows about the book. I do not name them in it to keep the story more universal (don't need to like the band to enjoy my journey) but they are well aware that it has been published. You can check it out on my website www.soundofyoursoul.com (or just email me laura@soundofyoursoul.com for a pdf) I've got it as an audiobook as well and you can listen to the first 2/3s for free.
Those Decaf lyrics are wide open for interpretation, and I like your analysis as well. No one on the Trick boards has been able to understand what Robin is singing in Sick Man right before British Invasion or the words self-preservation. If you have any suggestions, let me know. It's driving me crazy!
Laura- thanks for the info- I will send you an email and I just checked your site. Looks great (and I love the title of your book)! We have lots we can go over- you'll be surprised how much.
And as soon as I find out about the Sick Man lyrics I will let you know. At some point- maybe soon- they will get posted on a lyrics website, whether it's VH1 or sing365 or another so the mystery will be solved at some point in the near future.
Fasted7, have you heard the 30 second clips of The Latest on Amazon? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C9SW98/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1244336725&sr=8-10
What do you think? I won't say anything because I've not heard the entire song, but it's got lots of ballads and sounds very Beatlesque, espeically Miracle.
Laura- I sent you an email. See what you think!