As it was explained to me...the entire first album were songs that Rick Neilson had road tested, some for over ten years. Common knowledge is that Jack Douglas wanted to capture the band's raw energy which resulted in most of the album being recorded live in the studio with few overdubs. The subject matter was often gritty and confrontational, not the type of stuff associated with power pop. IMHO, the only album that rivals this as far as attitude was their other self titled album that came out in 1997 which represented a rebirth of the band.
"In Color"...I loved it at age 16 because of the catchy tunes and fun vibe as opposed to the first album that was dark. IMHO, this is the last time that Cheap Trick was pure. However...I always think about what Tom Peterson says at Wikipedia.
"The label tried to make us radio-friendly and safe because our first record didn't do well, and it completely wrecked the way we sounded. They said, 'We love you guys, if only you sounded like someone else, it would be great.'" Peterson further explained, "That second record has all these great songs and it doesn't sound anything like us with that Shakey's Pizza Parlor version of 'I Want You to Want Me.' When I hear that version now I go, 'Oh my God, is that lame!'".
"Heaven Tonight" is their first album that didn't rely on songs that were written before the release of their first album. The result actually worked for me in 1978 because I enjoyed the silly humor mixed with some good rocking. Their cover of The Move's "California Man" is still a show stopper with the middle section being a riff from "Brontosaurus". "Heaven Tonight" is a fun creeper song that I've always felt was the inspiration for The Toadies "Possum Kingdom".
I totally understand your cheesy statement because I agree. The screaming fans at Budokan seem cartoon like. Why is Rick Neilson's Huntz Hall persona seen as schtick and Angus Young's schoolboy outfit is somehow cool?
I would suggest listening to three things by Cheap Trick. The Steve Albini re-recording of "In Color". The 1997 album titled "Cheap Trick", it's the direction that the band should have taken in 1977. Also check out one of the several releases of 1977 live shows. The one on Spotify is from The Whiskey but my favorite is one recorded in their hometown for a local radio broadcast.
I just bought 6th row tix for an upcoming Cheap Trick show, it will be my 6th time seeing them. Six times isn't much when you consider the first time was 49 years ago!
Here is the Albini mix. If this is in fact what they envisioned in 1977, they got screwed.
