Disco de Cheap Trick: “All Shook Up [Japan Bonus Tracks]”

Often overlooked and underrated, ASU is Cheap Trick in top form with a little help from their friends George Martin and Geoff Emerick. It's my personal favorite along with their first lp. A big leap forward from "Dream Police" which alienated much of their Top Forty audience. That's not such a bad thing, is it? This album shows why Robin Zander is one of rocks greatest vocalists ("Stop This Game,") features awesome production and arrangement ("World's Greatest Lover,") showcases Rick Nielsen's gift for melody and songwriting ("Go For The Throat,") excellent bass playing courtesey Tom Petersson ("I Love You Honey, But I Hate Your Friends,") a tribal drum orchestration conducted by Bun E Carlos ("Who D' King,") stripped down rock and roll at its finest ("Just Got Back,") and the obligatory head-scratcher ("High Priest Of Rhythmic Noise") What more do you want? The only thing missing is "Everything Works If You Let it," which would have been a huge hit in a perfect world. I can't wait for the remastered version with the bonus tracks!

The remastering is excellent, the bonus tracks essential. Probably the second to last great Cheap Trick album (1997's CHEAP TRICK being the last.) Trade in your old copy and get this one today!

At this junture of Cheap Trick's career it would have been a safe bet to stick to formula, you know play it safe. The suits at Epic must have been hoping that Cheap Trick take that route. Nope, Cheap Trick came up with an album that has taken most critics and fans twenty years to get. When All Shook Up came out in 1980 nothing sounded like it. With just about everybody and their mom trying to mimick the soft rock sound of the Eagles and their ilk, Cheap Trick went for the throat. All Shook Up is chock full of diversity, with each track sounding different from the other. There is no preaching or finger pointing going on here just some playful fun lyrics with some dark brooding thrown in to make it all balanced. On top of that pile of humanity, there is some good punk rock energy surging on songs like on "Just Got Back," and "Love comes A tumblin' Down." Then there is "Baby Loves to Rock," with the everything but the kitchen sink style production (Think the Beatles Good Morning, Good Morning). "Stop This Game," is power, with a great swooping bass line, that reminds me of the tone in the Beatles Song "Rain"(Maybe because George Martin produced All Shook Up). The Mambo Bridge on "I Hate Your Friends," is priceless. But, the real tour deforce is "High Priest Of Rhythmic Rhythmic Noise." Its weird, its fun, it is so far removed from formula it makes Pluto seem close. The band took a lot of heat for not playing it safe, and confusing all the boring hippies at Rolling Stone. Since most critics could not understand "All Shook Up," they ridiculed it, calling it a comedy album. It took critics, suits at Epic and music fans in general till 1991 to catch up to Cheap Trick's vision via Nirvana. So check All Shook up out and for that matter their first 8 albums, and their studio album from 1997, if you dare. If all you know about them is the Flame or I Want You to Want Me, you are missing out.

Do not let the bad reviews deter you from getting this album. As I have said in my other reviews, a lot of people don't know anything about music. If you have pre-concieved ideas that an album should sound like Cheap Trick's first 4, yes you may be confused. This is not Dinosaur Rock as one reviewer has suggested, but rather a chance to see that Cheap Trick has a lot more in common with The Beatles,The Pretenders,The Cars, and The Ramones than with Bad Company, Aerosmith, or Foghat(for example). This album is filled with great guitar hooks, but should by no means be put on the level of macho riff-rock. This is a creative album, so be open to it. Listening to it now 25 years later, it amazes me how well Cheap Trick grasp the best parts of their musical influences without sounding like any of them....one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

I was 16 when this album came out and Cheap Trick was on the heals of their biggest success commercially (until The Flame, many years later which doesn't count anyway). Just ask Rick Neilsen about The Flame.

This album is brilliant in ever way!

Cheap Trick took the song writing to another level with All Shook Up. George Martin produced the album and I was robbed of my front row center seats in St. Louis when Cheap Trick, The Babys and Off Broadway cancelled their show. Now that I've vented, I will pick this album apart.

Stop This Game - Has all the classic elements of previous Cheap Trick but forges ahead into new territory with a brighter pop sound without forgetting the rock.

Just Got Back - Bun E. shines on this one as does Robins vocal range.

Baby Loves To Rock - This is like Cheap Tricks own "My Generation" by The Who. Lots of teenage-angst. Turn It Up!

Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try - The whole band shines on this one. All 4 tricksters are playing at the top of their game.

World's Greatest Lover - Probably Cheap Tricks very best song ever! Could have been a Beatles song. Right up there with Need Your Love and Auf Weidersehen.

High Priest Of Rhythmic Noise - Other than WGL, this is the album's best song. Electronics meet Cheap Trick crushing rock n roll.

Love Comes A-Tumblin' Down - Another balls to wall rocker!

I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends - These guys crack me up with the lyrics. Robins voice should be bottled and sold.

Go For The Throat (Use Your Own Imagination) - Another of my favorites of all cheap Trick songs. All out rocker, Tom and Rick shine on this song.

Who D'king - Bun E., you silly devil. This band knows how to have fun and keep their fans on the edge. What more is this band capable of? Lots! And they are still writing brilliant music in the new millenium.

Additionally, Best Ever Cheap Trick album cover and inner sleeve for those of us who had the vinyl.