Cheap Trick Album: “The Essential Cheap Trick”

The Essential Cheap Trick is a fine compilation with both the classics ("Surrender," "I Want You To Want Me," "The Flame" etc...) and a lot of really great songs that aren't as widely played in the mainstream and have been somewhat forgotten (of these I recommend "Tonight It's You" and "This Time Around," which is a really beautiful song.) This album covers a period of almost thirty years in the history of one of rock's best kept secrets. It is refreshing and a real treat, and I highly recommend it for both the old fans and the newly curious alike.

This is a great CD but I strongly recommend that you just go ahead and purchase Cheap Trick, In Color and In Black and White, Heaven Tonight, Dream Police and Rockford. You'll also want Everything Works If You Let It in one form or other. If you don't have all of the music on the aforementioned CDs, you're truly missing out. The first time I saw them live was 30 years ago. The last time was last month. They are phenomenal live and, unlike most bands, their recordings capture that energy.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't rock after 50. These guys will ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!

Though not perfect as always, it is roughly 36 of their best tracks. Most casual fans might be happy with the single disc "Authorized Greatest Hits", but if you need more, here it is. All the "Cheap Trick" you know, and then some. Included are the hits "Dream Police", "Surrender", "The Flame", and a live "I Want You To Want Me", among many others. With so many songs here, I don't know why only one is from the "Lap Of Luxury" album. Where is "Ghost Town" or "Don't Be Cruel"? Also no "That 70's Song". Otherwise this is pretty sweet. It's definitely their most essential 2-disc collection.

Don't get me wrong--most of the music here is great. I'm just disappointed that several chart hits are missing. It's not like there wasn't enough room! And where is "Up The Creek"? Will that ever see the light of day on a Cheap Trick disc? If you already have their two other greatest hits cds, what's the incentive to shell out for this one? Yes, I understand the first disc of this set concentrates on their 70s heyday, but most fans probably have the first 4 or 5 albums on cd anyway! If this set had included all the chart hits, key album cuts & some nice rarities, I would've bought it without hesitation. Unfortunately, this collection doesn't quite live up to its title.

Like most other people I agree that there are several tracks missing on this 2 disc collection that surely deserve their moments in the sun (again). Up The Creek )from the movie of the same name), Reach Out (from the Heavy Metal Soundtrack), Oh Candy (from the first CT album), Might Wings (from the Top Gun Soundtrack) and maybe even Heaven's Falling (from Next Position Please) should have been considered. Just because the band aren't fond of the songs from Lap of Luxury doesn't mean that the fans do not want to hear them again (especially if the remastered editions of LOL hail from Japan and are reasonably expensive). I purchased the Japanese edition of Essential Collection as it includes their covers of Magical Mystery Tour and Don't Be Cruel but I would have liked to have seen Ghost Town, Never Had A Lot To Lose, Let Go and even It's Only Love from The Doctor included as well. Let's hope that reissues of Standing On The Edge, The Doctor, LOL and Busted are released, remastered of course, this year with a few of the harder to find soundtrack cuts included although I doubt that they will considering that the new reissue of One On One/Next Position Please is bare boned :-(