Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick is one of those bands that I knew their radio hits - "Surrender," "I Want You To Want Me," "Dream Police," "The Flame," etc., but that was pretty much it. My first exposure may have been their song "Mighty Wings" from the Top Gun soundtrack (my parents had the soundtrack on cassette - I find it funny now that my parents listened to a soundtrack with Cheap Trick, Kenny Loggins, Berlin, Teena Marie, Miami Sound Machine, and Loverboy).Collecting vinyl has allowed me to delve more deeply into their catalog, and they have quickly become one of my favorite bands. They have some incredible songs that don't get radio play. I don't have all of their albums, but of what I have so far I have to say In Color is my favorite. The songs "Big Eyes" and "You're All Talk" are just two of the coolest songs you are going to hear anywhere - I really enjoy "Southern Girls" as well. "Gonna Raise Hell" off of Dream Police is another great one. Their early stuff from the late 1970s is their best in my opinion, but their music from the 80s is enjoyable as well. Rick Nielsen has become one of my favorite guitar players and has one of the most unique fashion styles in rock music - he makes bowties and cardigans cool. Just a great, fun band - they recently released Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello in 2016, with Rick's son Daxx on drums. Original drummer Bun E. Carlos (best name in rock?) remains a member of the band (according to the band) but hasn't been involved with any band activities since 2009-2010. It seems like a complicated situation, but whatever. They continue to put out good music, which can't be said for a lot of other bands from this era.