Cheap Trick

"At Budokan"
(Epic Records - Reissue) 

Few live records in the history of Rock n' Roll had such made such an impact as this vintage performance during their first Japanese tour. As big as Cheap Trick got and for as long as they've been around, twenty-five years strong, here's the album that remains their defining moment. And while such a statement speaks volumes for the band's accomplishments leading up to that point, it's no secret their strongest material was produced in the period leading up to this '79 release before being drawn into the welcoming waters of Pop and mainstream. The essence of pure Rock adrenaline and raw energy is all captured right here on these ten tracks-even the improvisational "Hello There"/"Goodnight"-and so much so that a return trip was made only a few years ago on "Budokan II" which revisited the many cuts left off this go round, where noticeably deficient was their self-titled debut. "Budokan" highlights many of their previous "In Color" tracks, the record that, surprise!, features Robin and Tom (Ralph and Ed are usually thrown into the back area somewhere) posing on their bikes on the front cover-"Come On, Come On," "Big Eyes," "Need Your Love," and their mega "I Want You To Want Me" hit. Much like "Alive I" & "II" did for Kiss, where their previous studio efforts paled miserably in displaying the sheer power of the band, "Budokan" carried Cheap Trick for several years later, even allowing them to survive such mid-'80s blunders as "One On One," and "The Doctor." Hard to imagine "Surrender" as ever being a "new" song, yet to hear them introduce it as "the first song from our new album" is still mind-boggling-this was recorded concurrently to the 1979 release of the same name. Vintage black and white photos and liner notes round out this welcome reissue, essential to any Rock and Roll collection whether you were there for it or not!

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