Sophomore year of college found me volunteering at the campus radio station while considering a major change from art to media. I'd pick up a pile of LPs to screen, write up nutshells, and make recommendations. Being the new guy, I ended up with the records no one was interested in. In the middle of an armload of forgettable dreck, was Cheap Trick's 1977 debut. It knocked me right out. I raved, and the station got me tickets to a show at The Starwood, in Hollywood, with John Cale opening. Still one of the best concerts I've ever seen. "Cheap Trick" remains in my top 30. I found this identical replacement for my original in Spin That! my neighborhood shop, a few months ago for $10.
"In Color" was a huge disappointment to me after this. It was the sound, not the songs. In 1997 they recut it with Steve Albini, and even though it was never finished or released, the leaked bootlegs are the real deal.
Happy Monday!
-BBJ
4 comments:
I still hold out hope that the Albini sessions will get a proper release, even if it's part of an archive package or something. I probably prefer the songs from In Color to the songs from the debut, just not the production. At least they got it right by Heaven Tonight.
The Albini version of In Color has got much more grit and power. A wonderful band, regardless.
- Paul in DK
As a long time Cheap Trick fanatic, devotee and occasional defender, I must say I was never impressed with Albini's mix. I agree, "In Color" lacks balls, but rerecording it with nastier guitars wasn't the answer. This was the answer:
https://www.discogs.com/release/2865288-Cheap-Trick-In-Color
Kevin Gray remastered the record with proper bass and drum levels, and his mix of the original tapes, surpasses all. It's not cheap, but this version made me love "In Color" a lot more than I did.
Agreed Sal. I like the Albini version more than you, but the K Gray remaster is by far the best sounding version
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