Cheap Trick: The Epic Archive 2 (1980-1983)

Cheap Trick fans positively inhaled our first batch of rarities, so we’re back with 16 more lost tracks from Rockford, Illinois’ finest! Except this time, Ken Sharp’s notes feature track-by-track commentary from Bun E. Carlos, Tom Petersson, and Rick Nielsen…this collection is a deep dive into the Cheap Trick hive mind! So let’s jump in…first up are three tracks taken from the 1980 EP Found All the Parts, including a live version of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” with an instrumental nod to The Yardbirds’ “Shapes of Things.” Then comes the single “Oh Boy,” followed by the demo of “Loser,” which was recorded in 1980 but was written by Nielsen way back in 1976, all CD debuts. Two live tracks, “The House Is Rockin’ (with Domestic Problems)” and “Way of the World,” from a New Year’s Eve 1979 show at the L.A. Forum raise the temperature, then come the George Martin-produced single versions of “World’s Greatest Lover” and “Everything Works If You Let It.” Two tracks, “Reach Out” and “I Must Be Dreamin’,” from the Heavy Metal soundtrack and the title song from the Spring Break soundtrack cover the Cheap Trick silver screen legacy, while the demo version of the classic “If You Want My Love” premieres on CD. The “Super New Dance Re-Mix” of “Saturday at Midnight” and “Short Version” of “Dancing the Night Away” also appear on CD for the first time, as does the last track, the b-side “Get Ready.” Rare photos by long-time band photographer Robert Alford accompany; the set is mastered by the great Vic Anesini at Battery Studios. Cheap Trick fans, do not miss this!