[2017-04-28] Cheap Trick "The Epic Archive Vol. 1: 1975-1979" (Real Gone)

Linda · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:03 pm

Description
If a group’s made up of two genuine rock star types, a Huntz Hall lookalike with a guitar fetish, and a guy who looks like an accountant, which one d’ya think would keep track of its recording archive? Don’t worry, it’s not a “trick” question—it is indeed the bespectacled Bun E. Carlos, the drummer for the original line-up of Cheap Trick, who has not only commented on every song (as faithfully transcribed by Ken Sharp) but provided much of the source material for this collection of rarities from the band’s early days, 18 tracks that reconfirm that the singular blend of classic rock, power pop, and glam—and inspired visual style—wielded by this outfit of Rockford, Illinois places them among the first rank of American rock ‘n’ roll bands. First up are three 1975 demos (of “Come On, Come On,” “Southern Girls,” and “Taxman, Mr. Thief”) they cut at Ardent Studios in 1975 prior to signing a record deal, followed by early, 1976-1977 studio takes (produced by Jack Douglas) of “You’re All Talk” and “I Want You to Want Me,” an outtake, “Lookout,” from their debut record, and an alternate (and nasty) version of “I Dig Go-Go Girls.” On deck are an instrumental version of “Oh Boy” (the B-side to “I Want You to Want Me”) and live versions of “You’re All Talk” and “Goodnight” from a 1977 stand at the Whiskey, and a pair of alternate takes from the Heaven Tonight album, “Stiff Competition” and “Surrender.” Also inside are five rarities from the band’s famed Japanese tours, including the single version of “Ain’t That a Shame,” the promo-only release “Lookout,” and three tracks from the out-of-print Budokan II album, “Stiff Competition,” “How Are You,” and “On Top of the World.” The “no strings” version of “Dream Police” rounds out the collection in fine style. Compiled by producer Tim Smith, remastered by Vic Anesini at Battery Studios in New York, and featuring photos by Robert Alford, The Epic Archive Vol. 1 (1975-1979) takes its place as a key release in the august Cheap Trick discography.

Tracklist
1. Come On, Come On
2. Southern Girls
3. Taxman, Mr. Thief
4. You're All Talk
5. I Want You to Want Me
6. Lookout
7. I Dig Go-Go Girls
8. Oh Boy
9. You're All Talk
10. Goodnight
11. Stiff Competition
12. Surrender
13. Lookout
14. Ain't That a Shame
15. Dream Police
16. Stiff Competition
17. How Are You
18. Top of the World

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WWJMXD9/?tag=imwan-20

Jimbo · 19 Jul 2006

Is some of this stuff not included on the complete albums box? Not that I'm not gonna buy it anyway...

WynnWikman · **Joined:** 24 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 207

Looking forward to it. Was this (or a similar collection) put out on download only a year, or two, or three ago?

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

It looks I have all of this already from the remasters.

If not, there's virtually nothing else compelling on here.

A nice comp for those who don't have the remasters or the box, but otherwise you already have it.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Many of the "rare" tracks are from the box Sex America Cheap Trick. Cool comp though.

Rick A.

hbsbla · **Joined:** 18 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 615

This is the same as the digital-only release from a couple of years back, but adds the rare promo-only version of "Lookout" to the CD. Here's hoping for CDs of the other two digital-only releases (80-83 & 84-92), which have all those soundtrack songs, and lot of the rarities we never got since they cutoff the remaster program at "All Shook Up".

There are a few things here I don't have on the core releases [**]

Tracklist
1. Come On, Come On [Demo ‘75] (In Color - bonus track)
2. Southern Girls [Demo ‘75] (In Color - bonus track)
3. Taxman, Mr. Thief [Demo ‘75] (Previously Unreleased)**
4. You're All Talk [Outtake] (Cheap Trick - bonus track)
5. I Want You to Want Me [Outtake] (Cheap Trick - bonus track)
6. Lookout [Outtake] (Cheap Trick - bonus track)
7. I Dig Go-Go Girls [Outtake] (Cheap Trick - bonus track)
8. Oh Boy [Instrumental Version] (In Color - bonus track)
9. You're All Talk [Live at the Whiskey] (In Color - bonus track)
10. Goodnight [Live at the Whiskey] (In Color - bonus track)
11. Stiff Competition [Alternate Version] (Heaven Tonight - bonus track)
12. Surrender [Alternate Version] (Heaven Tonight - bonus track)
13. Lookout [Live] (Promo Only)**
14. Ain't That a Shame [Live] (Single Only)**
15. Dream Police [No Strings Version] (Dream Police - bonus track)
16. Stiff Competition [Live at Budokan] (Budokan II)
17. How Are You [Live at Budokan] (Budokan II)
18. Top of the World [Live at Budokan] (Budokan II)

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

I must admit, being a Cheap Trick completest I will be getting this and the rest of the series. I know Jimbo understands.

Rick A.

Jimbo · 19 Jul 2006

Now that's some thorough and helpful info, ajc68! Thanks for the details.

And Rick, of course I know where you're coming from.

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:30 pm

Bump: Added the cover image to the first post.

DanO · 30 Jul 2006

I have almost all of these versions, but due to my uphill battle against both parsimony and ignorance, I'll buy this too.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

DanO wrote:

I have almost all of these versions, but due to my uphill battle against both parsimony and ignorance, I'll buy this too.

+1

Rick A.

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:43 pm

The pre-order price has dropped by $4, and is now $14.99:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WWJMXD9/?tag=imwan-20

[2017-04-28] Cheap Trick "The Epic Archive Vol. 1: 1975-1979" (Real Gone)

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