Another Illinois band What can I say. I've been a Cheap Trick fan for longer than most fans out there. This Rockford, Illinois band has been rockin' forever. These are good tracks. I like the other 'greatest hits' too though. Put the best of the 2 together, and you have the best of the best. Southern Girls is one of my all time favorites.
One (major) disappointment to consider before purchasing. This is not a bad collection. I'm sure there have been worse. My main complaint is the alternate version of "If You Want My Love." To me it's a major letdown because that is one of my favorite Cheap Trick songs and I really was expecting to hear it when I bought this. Now I wish I had not even bought it.
I don't think "authorized" versions are the way to choose songs, the band is always too subjective. They should have taken a poll from amongst their fans, and chosen the results that way. Plus, the omission of one of their greatest recorded songs will potentially lose new listeners who are not as familiar with the band's music.
Not perfect, but (semi)close...[Really 3 stars out of 4...] The Authorized Greatest Hits by (formerly) the best Rock N' Roll band of alltime, 'The Noise Boys from Rockford, Illinois', is beset by one basic problem - not enough songs from when Jon Brant helped Cheap Trick put out four of the Anglosentric(k?) LPs of alltime! Why isn't Y.O.Y.O.Y or Take me to the Top on here? Tom Peterson (or is it still Petersson?), that's why!
I'm sure Rick, Brad (Carlson, i.e. Bun E.) and Robin had many fights with what's his name about the 'set list' here as well. I half way expected the wretched "I know what I want" to show here like it did to tick me off on the Sex, America and Cheap Trick disc. [It sounds better with Rick signing it anyway - Just like World's Greatest Lover]. I still love though - 3/4's of 'Em that its!
THAT 70S BAND CHEAP TRICK: AUTHORIZED GREATEST HITS: Cheap Trick successfully mixed a Beatle-esque power pop sensibility with crunchy guitar riffs, its tongue planted a mile in its cheek. Two guys that LOOKED like pin-up boy rock stars, and two that looked more like a Bowery Boy and a used car salesman respectively, the Tricksters managed a handful of radio-ready diehards in SURRENDER (complete with klassic Kiss reference), the LIVE AT BUDOKAN rave-up I WANT YOU TO WANT ME, and, much later, ballad biggie THE FLAME. This overview also trots out slick staples such as a rowdy rendition of Fats Domino's AIN'T THAT A SHAME (though, strangely, not their percussive treatment of Elvis' DON'T BE CRUEL, nor their Fab Four clone cover of MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR), bouncy shoulda-been-a-hit SOUTHERN GIRLS, and the theme to THAT 70'S SHOW (THAT 70'S SONG). As with any compilation, certain worthy tracks ('ELLO KIDDIES, VOICES, CALIFORNIA MAN) are missing in action, but this is due more to the boys' wealth of decent material than to careless selection. All in all, a pretty neat trick. FIVE GUITAR NECKS
Authorized Greatest Hits Cheap Trick's Authorized Greatest Hits is an improvement over the earlier greatest hits album from the 90s. First of all the Authorized Greatest Hits contains more songs than the earlier hits complation. Second, Cheap Trick themselves, were involved in the compling of this collection.
If a single disc, is all the Cheap Trick that you are looking for I recommend this over the other greatest hits. Really, Authorized Greatest Hits will probably please fans, who do not want to buy the individual albums, but like all hits collections there are always a couple of personal favorites missing. I think "Hot Love" from their first album should've been on here. Also, there is a live version of "The Flame" in place of the studio version, but still if you're looking for a single disc of Cheap Trick to add to your collection this is a good choice.
Hits include: Southern Girls, I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, The 70's Song, etc, very good stuff. A good cd to listen to in the car.
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