Song#: 1060
Date: 06/05/1982
Debut: 81
Peak: 45
Weeks: 11
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: In the two years following their 1980 George Martin-produced LP "All Shook Up," Cheap Trick and their label CBS were not getting along. CBS sued the band and its manager claiming they were withholding the release of any new material as a contract-negotiating tactic. Cheap Trick filed their own suit saying CBS breached the contract with the band, thus making it void and the band could leave the label. The mess would finally all get settled with the band remaining on the label and finally issuing the follow-up album "One on One," this time produced by Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars). This first Beatle-esque tune did as well as their previous couple singles and peaked just outside of the Top 40. It was enough to help the album get a gold certification.
ReduxReview: I find it strange that their previous album was produced by George Martin, but then this new single (not produced by Martin) plays like a Beatles tribute. With all the Beatles nostalgia going on at the time with Stars on 45 "Medley" and "The Beatles Movie Medley," I'm a little surprised this didn't do better. It has an odd tempo - not quite a ballad, not quite a rocker - which may not have connected well at pop. The chorus is solid and the Beatles references are pretty sweet. This one got overlooked.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Before becoming Cheap Trick, Rick Nielsen formed the band Fuse, which included future CT member Tom Petersson (who left the group prior to the "One on One" LP). Fuse was signed to Epic Records in 1969 and released a debut album the following year. Nothing came of the LP and after a name change to Sick Man of Europe, the band eventually evolved into Cheap Trick in 1973.
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