Cheap Tracks

It's rare when a Cheap Trick song doesn't begin from the stage or ever find the stage after recording. By 1983, any and all restrictions in the studio were gone. The mad scientist in Rick Nielsen was allowed to play. On this week's episode, Chris and Mike look back on "Won't Take No For An Answer" from the band's 1983 full length, NEXT POSITION PLEASE.

This week, the Chris and Mike travel back to 2003 to discuss the band's third single off of SPECIAL ONE, "Too Much."

This week we look back at "Tonight It's You," the first single off of 1985's STANDING ON THE EDGE, and along the way get sidetracked by Rita Jenrette, the Rolling Stones, Dick Clark, and the softcore classic EMMANUELE! We're also joined by songwriter and Cheap Trick collaborator Mark Radice, who offers insight into the songwriting process.

In 2015 Cheap Trick was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame...a dubious honor, indeed, but there's no doubt that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Today we look back at the release of BANG, ZOOM, CRAZY...HELLO!, the band's seventeenth studio album and it's first single, "No Direction Home."

Chris & Mike pay tribute to Cheap Trick superfan and former guest, the late Steve Albini, and dive into "He's A Whore" from the band's self-titled debut. Is this the band being influenced by punk or simply being themselves, who is the whore, and exactly why does Rick dedicate this song to his wife at shows. We ask all those questions and more!

Chris and Mike celebrate Cheap Trick Day by looking back at one of the band's finest ballads....

First introduced to Japan and eventually the world on 1978's AT BUDOKAN. A fan-favorite rocker that existed for many years as a live album curiosity. Is it a simple story of boy meets girl? And exactly what do any of the lyrics in that bridge mean? Today, we are joined by Pat O'Sullivan as we "Lookout!"

The other self-titled Cheap Trick was released after the alternative explosion of the '90s. Is this the band returning to their roots or is this a "snake charmer" record? Or is this simply the band at their most authentic at this place and time? Today, we dig into the meat of the album with "Yeah Yeah."

And welcome to 2024! We'll be celebrating FIFTY years of Cheap Trick over the next twelve months and we kick things off with "Welcome To The World" which opened the band's fifteenth studio release ROCKFORD.

By 2006, Cheap Trick was well into its second fresh start to the second half of its career. On the band's fifthteenth album, the band pays homage to its hometown in the album's title and launches full speed with the opener "Welcome To The World". Was this indeed the true start of the 21st Century for Cheap Trick? What's the key to a great album opener? And what's the album connection to Rockford? Welcome to the podcast, it's a better place.

For their final show of 2023, Chris and Mike look back at ONE of the album closers for 1983's NEXT POSITION PLEASE. Is this a "produced demo," or is Rick saying something deeper to the record label? Listen, and be prepared to be driven insane!