Ah-ha...Cheap Trick Lives!

pekka · Post by **pekka** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:26 am

From the liner notes of the recently released "ASU" remaster:

"I love all the sounds on that record. The playing is great, too. 'All Shook Up'still stands up as a record that really sounds like us.
-Tom Petersson

"Baby Loves To Rock" sounds like The Move, especially the bass break. Not their best song but
enjoyable and fun. Maybe stupid but fun.

BTW, Petersson has said many things that are just not true. He seems to have a wicked sense of humour. Check out this interview, it's hilarious:
http://nardwuar.com/vs/cheap_trick/

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:00 am

I found this little nugget from tomfans.com...

Petersson's Favorite studio experience came during the sessions for 1980's All Shook Up, chaired by legendary Beatles producer George Martin, "He was great," Tom marvels. "He loved bass. The best moment had to be recording 'I Love You Honey but I Hate Your Friends,' I was trying for a ratty, Ron Wood/Faces kind of sound, so I got one of those Telecaster basses Ronnie used and plugged it into a stack of Marshall guitar amps. I said to Martin's engineer, Geoff Emerick, "This might not have much low end on it--can we get any?" And he said, "Sure, no problem, We'll get it later. Use whatever you want.." What a breath of fresh air! Whenever you get an engineer who's willing to work with you like that, it's a real treat." It's also the kind of studio camaradarie that, as Petersson knows well by now, just doesn't come cheap.

12stringbassist · Post by **12stringbassist** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:45 am

Glenn,

I said I doubted that Tom refused to play on the song. If he did actually refuse to play on it, I hold my hand up and admit I'm wrong. IIRC, he missed a few days of the sessions, which may be why RN played on it.

As to Rick's voice, if you watch him on the Silver DVD, he has the world's worst time struggling to sing 'World's greatest lover' live.

Onstage, I have to say he usually does a brilliant job, reaching some outrageously high notes. His demo's are usually excellent too. I based my comment on the fact that he has often found singing a lead vocal onstage excruciating!

And he does have one of the world's best ever voices onstage with him!

12stringbassist · Post by **12stringbassist** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:57 am

After reading 'Reputuation is a fragile thing' (the Cheap Trick bible) and a couple of mags from the time, I still can't find mention of Tom refusing to play on the song, though Rick certainly played the bass part on it.

Most interestingly, they asked how Macca got the sound on one Beatles song and George Martin thought about it - Rickenbacker bass and 4x12 cabinet. Tom pulled out a 4001 and 4x12 cabinet and used it on the sublime 'Stop this game'.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:01 pm

Glenn might have a little more inside stuff than we do, Ian, granted he knows someone close to the band. But based on the interviews I am reading it sounds like he didn't have a problem with it, or maybe he is just playing nice. Who knows for sure? Well, besides Tom himself. Maybe I can get an interview request.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:18 pm

>>'Reputuation is a fragile thing' (the Cheap Trick bible)<<

You're quoting a book as a source for CT info that, firstly Rick Nielsen refuses outright to autograph (he absolutely loathes it, and this I know because a good friend of mine asked him to. )

And is it any wonder? I've read books on bands and musicians from Buddy Holly on up, and never, ever read one that even comes close to pandering to its subject the way that that "book" does.

According to it, from roughly the period we're talking about, the release of All Shook Up on, every bad decision, every mediocre song or album, and every less than stellar anything the band did is the fault of someone or something other than the band or its members....producers, labels, radio, outside songwriters...you name it. I couldn't even finish it and was embarrassed for the band.

If it's the CT bible, it's only because there are no other books on the band, thus that's not saying a lot.

And keep in mind, whether Tom remembers saying it or not, we're talking at least 23 years ago, now. That's a long time.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:34 pm

many neurons ago...

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:20 pm

My problem with "Reputation" is that it's hard to read. Literally. I mean, the paragraphs aren't indented. Stupid.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:53 pm

I've never even had the urge to read it.

12stringbassist · Post by **12stringbassist** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:49 pm

'Reputation...' is a good read - a lot of people take it to be the definitive CT book (mainly as it's all there is).

Thinking about it, I have to agree that anything that was done wrong, reads like the band were victims of someone else's incompetence and never ever made a bad decision themselves.

Still a good source of info, though.

As to whether Tom refused to play on that song... the band have done a lot lot worse and I can't personally see why he'd refuse to play on it, but I wasn't there, so happily bow to the knowledge that anyone else may have!

Tom is gleefully perverse in interviews, and has a lot of fun contradicting himself and known info on the band as he obviously sees the concept of interviews as totally stupid!

I put it on last night to listen to and as result I am putting it to my band as a suggestion to do, by the way.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:52 am

>>'Reputation...' is a good read - a lot of people take it to be the definitive CT book (mainly as it's all there is).<<

Clearly, a whole lot of rock books have been written by writers who admire their subjects. But this one just seems to be rah-rah Cheap Trick...far more like a fanzine than a book.

I don't know if they every did a Behind the Music on this band but if they did chances are it would have more interesting information, a more balanced presentation of it and without the shamelessly sycophantic slant.

12stringbassist · Post by **12stringbassist** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:26 am

CT have said they will never do a 'Behind The Music', as it mainly focuses on bands airing their dirty laundry.

A shame, because it would be good exposure for them.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:50 am

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say it is mainly about dirty laundry, though that stuff comes into play when talking about band members not getting along, getting into certain substances, etc. You're probably right about the exposure it gave groups. Kinda weird they'd never do it, though, as Ted Nugent did it and the consensus of everyone in it is Ted is not a guy anyone would want to be or know (I'm being kind here of course.) Then, really, what someone needs to do is a similar show without a band's permission. Of course, it would have to be some sort of doc. because Viacom probably controls Behind the Music and might not show unauthorized stuff.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:12 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-4001-bass-guitar-pick-guard_W0QQitemZ7402421714QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I can't believe it! ANOTHER ONE!!!!!!!!