Not only a great track -- one I have fond memories listening to regularly on classic rock radio as a teen -- but a really beautifully written post. Hats off to you 🫡
Outside of their well-known hits, I’m not a big Cheap Trick fan but I love it when people write about bands they love!
I didn’t know most of your earworms came to you at night. Or that you suffer from insomnia. As someone that loves his sleep, and gets plenty of it (except for the peeing thing which I’m old enough to experience now. Yay.), insomnia sounds like a significant burden, one I hope I never have to experience.
As it relates to brain health, more and more studies are showing the importance of walking in the great outdoors. And Levitin discusses this:
“The brain doesn’t just need physical activity to remain vital, but complex physical activity—the brain needs it to stay healthy and engaged.” Something as simple as walking in a new environment provides this critical brain input. Your feet have to adjust to different surfaces and angles, your ankles need to move in conjunction with your feet. Your eyes are scanning the surroundings for new things as you take in information from all the other senses.
I’m another fan of Cheap Trick. But the part of the essay that resonated most with this 58-year-old man was having to get up out of bed in the night to go pee!
I remember that night well. And unlike you, I still have my guitar pick. It's in a photo album in my bedroom. I don't know if you remember, but some guy gave me a large drawing of Rick Nielsen's guitar. Rick spit on it that night, and I kept it for years. I finally threw that keepsake away though.
Great write up in this earworm and song loop. I think I have the opposite of insomnia. I can't stay up late and fall asleep extremely easily.
I still love Cheap Trick, and have seen them a couple more times since then.
Ha - I was. hoping you would reply, and correct any errors of my memory!:) I'm glad you still have your pick; I wasn't sure if the photo I found online was the one you have. I sort of remember a different one, but that was the best image I found on Google. I don't remember the drawing of Rick's guitar! Was it the 5-neck or the one shaped like Rick's body?
The opposite of insomnia is I think narcolepsy, but I think you have proper sleep habits, unless you are falling asleep at the grocery store and in the middle of dinner.
I think CT are touring right now, with Def Leppard and Journey. But too expensive for my blood.
The picture I have is of you, me and Judy and I think her leg is up because of her "cast". I wish it was that easy and cheap these days to get front row seats! . I think it was the one of Rick's body. It was a very cold, drawing that some guy gave me at the concert. I saw them with journey and foreigner a while ago, but not since.
I'm pretty sure when Rick Nielsen wrote "those men inside my brain" he specifically was referring to Parker Stevenson. And Willie Aames and Sean Cassidy.
I THINK I saw them? Is that bad? 😳😬 This would have been in Western, Mass. I was getting ready to move to Austin, Texas! I had gotten broken up with by a real twit, but was really sad. I was probably in a real fog. I think the reason I forget is that I may have mixed them up with a Blue Oyster Cult show at the same venue that I know I did NOT see!! Lock me up in the rock and roll pillory for this? And keep me locked up for getting Dream police and “Jailbreak” by Thin Lizzy mixed up? In any case, concerts you THINK you saw- that’s a good category!!
And sorry about your insomnia. I’m having it now! That I know for sure, so I can certainly empathize! Sometimes, like a great wave of nausea, invasive thoughts tear through brain town! But there is a great calm and you ultimately fall asleep. My bladder too also wins out in sleep competitions. But sometimes boring tasks, like naming all the kids in my class throughout elementary school, or even boringer, counting roundabouts help me get back to sleep!!
Yes, bands we think we saw is a great topic. The conversation will be comprised solely of people in the 2nd half of their lives but most of them are already comprised of us.
If I could name even two kids from elementary school I'd be thrilled. The memory stuff concerns me even more than the insomnia.
Also, "Dream Police" is the sequel to "Jailbreak." It's about the insomnia that arose out of worry about being caught after breaking out of jail.
Dream Police was the first 45rpm I bought and they were the 2nd concert I saw (after Rush). Blew my tiny mind! Meanwhile Bun E always reminded me of Dan Ackroyd and later Rick reminded me of Paul Reubens - or perhaps it was the opposite?
Thanks, Nick. The mixing of the personal and the musical is sort of my jam. Sometimes it's a tasty jam, which gives a slice of fresh sourdough just the right sweetness, and other times it's closer to toe jam. But like I never say: whatever your jam, I'll get to it eventually.
I feel like I've shared this with you Steve but Cheap Trick is from my hometown (Rockford, IL) The city doesn't have a lot of claims to fame, apart from being the 2nd biggest city in IL after Chicago. But recently I found out that actress/comedian Natasha Leggero was born there and it made me excited. Plus she's only a few years older than me. Oh, and I've never seen this film, "Minding the Gap" but I think I need to now since it also takes place there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minding_the_Gap
Actually, I don't think I knew you were from Rockford. I think you were keeping it from me until I wrote about your hometown heroes. Or to keep a sense of mystery. Or both. I wonder if Natasha Leggero ever sat in with Cheap Trick, or opened for them. Minding the Gap is amazing, by the way. You need to watch it.
Ear worms ... I pray that if Barry Manilow ever interrupts my slumber that someone takes a pillow over my face and ends it all.
I've never been a fan of Cheap Trick. Nothing against them or their music, it just doesn't suit my palate. But Pink Floyd? Different story. The DSOM cover serves as my screen saver on my laptop and phone. And often I hear the chiming of the four dissonant notes (B♭, F, G [below the B♭], E) from "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" in my sleep. And I don't mind.
Thanks, Jim! I do love the Floyd as well, and have written about them, and DSOM specifically, albeit in the form of satire, in case you haven't read it.
I read your "critique" of "Breathe." Really enjoyed it. And all about poor David's nose. And David and Roger's perpetual spitballing.
Anyway, through the years I wore out three vinyl copies of DSOM, playing the full 43 minutes with each listen. I don't know if there will be anything like it again in rock.
I really look forward to each of your pieces, Steve.
Truly a great song - and one of my favourites. But, for me, the best Cheap Trick track is 'Surrender' - I love the imagery the lyrics paint: 'Some Indonesian junk that's going 'round', 'Rock n rolling, rollin' numbers, got my KISS records out'. They captured that period of teenage life perfectly. Really enjoyed this post!
Yeah, Surrender is another great. It is hard to really play favorites (or favourites -- I always prefer the added 'u' but feel wrong adding it in!). They were one of those bands that the boys and girls loved equally. They had Robin and Tom as beefcake for the ladies and Rick and Bun E. as geekcake for the dudes. And never took themselves too seriously.
The fact they never took themselves seriously is what made them such fun.
As for the 'u' - I only spell things the British English way because that's where I live and if I don't I get the red underline pointing out my error! Also, as I teach in England I kind of have to spell things their way ... which is really fun when its words like foetus, programme, practise and aluminium. My two kids are both British-born, so they love it when I slip and say bay-sil or al-oo-mi-num, or to-may-toe ... Ugh. Though I do think many words can be improved with a 'u'.
I'm a big fan of Cheap Trick. I saw them the first time just after the first album came out at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in LA. Just an insanely powerful show, although the downside was the audience was a mix of true power pop fans and bored industry weanies.
That's top-drawer concert-going, Rick! That's tough to even come close to, much less beat! What...a year later, they were filling stadiums?!? I didn't take the roll on your night at the Whisky (I was in Houston at the time, moving to L.A. in early '80....I did meet them at my Cactus Records store in Fall '77 following the "In Color" release--my fave album of theirs-- and got them to autograph the gatefold photos! And, the regional CBS rep gave me a black Cheap Trick bow tie, with "Cheap Trick" printed all over it, like the debut album's logo!
To finish my thought.....who must've been in attendance with you at the Whisky? If these folks weren't there that night, I'd be stunned: Greg and Suzy Shaw, members of The Last, Plimsouls, 20/20, The Dickies, and so many more! And, of course, the requisite bored industry weenies, sans mustard! I'm gonna bet my weenie bun that Epic exec Steve Popovich was there, and Jack Douglas would be a good bet, too! Great stuff, Rick!
Name-dropper? Bruh, I've won awards!🏆 (Nah, I don't name-drop; Barbra Streisand told me not to). Having been a fan, like Rick, and a voracious reader of all rock press (I don't know about Rick in that vein), I'm positive I'd have been able to recognize many, if not most, of the power pop cognoscenti present! And, I could've tested myself the next week with pix in either PRM, Greg's BOMP!, or Hit Parader (or both)!
Not only a great track -- one I have fond memories listening to regularly on classic rock radio as a teen -- but a really beautifully written post. Hats off to you 🫡
Thanks, Matt! I know some of these posts can be long and follow a circuitous path, but comments like this make it all feel worth it!👍
Outside of their well-known hits, I’m not a big Cheap Trick fan but I love it when people write about bands they love!
I didn’t know most of your earworms came to you at night. Or that you suffer from insomnia. As someone that loves his sleep, and gets plenty of it (except for the peeing thing which I’m old enough to experience now. Yay.), insomnia sounds like a significant burden, one I hope I never have to experience.
As I get older I’m focusing more and more on learning how I can maintain my physical and neurological health at as high a level as possible for as long as possible. I highly recommend the book Successful Aging by Daniel J. Levitin (https://www.amazon.com/Successful-Aging-Neuroscientist-Explores-Potential-ebook/dp/B07S2N5DDQ) as there’s some great advice in there.
As it relates to brain health, more and more studies are showing the importance of walking in the great outdoors. And Levitin discusses this:
“The brain doesn’t just need physical activity to remain vital, but complex physical activity—the brain needs it to stay healthy and engaged.” Something as simple as walking in a new environment provides this critical brain input. Your feet have to adjust to different surfaces and angles, your ankles need to move in conjunction with your feet. Your eyes are scanning the surroundings for new things as you take in information from all the other senses.
I’m another fan of Cheap Trick. But the part of the essay that resonated most with this 58-year-old man was having to get up out of bed in the night to go pee!
Knowing the average age of my readership, I have a feeling you aren't alone in relating to that part -- just the first willing to admit it!:)
The messiness of getting older is a regular theme on EW@SL. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I remember that night well. And unlike you, I still have my guitar pick. It's in a photo album in my bedroom. I don't know if you remember, but some guy gave me a large drawing of Rick Nielsen's guitar. Rick spit on it that night, and I kept it for years. I finally threw that keepsake away though.
Great write up in this earworm and song loop. I think I have the opposite of insomnia. I can't stay up late and fall asleep extremely easily.
I still love Cheap Trick, and have seen them a couple more times since then.
Ha - I was. hoping you would reply, and correct any errors of my memory!:) I'm glad you still have your pick; I wasn't sure if the photo I found online was the one you have. I sort of remember a different one, but that was the best image I found on Google. I don't remember the drawing of Rick's guitar! Was it the 5-neck or the one shaped like Rick's body?
The opposite of insomnia is I think narcolepsy, but I think you have proper sleep habits, unless you are falling asleep at the grocery store and in the middle of dinner.
I think CT are touring right now, with Def Leppard and Journey. But too expensive for my blood.
The picture I have is of you, me and Judy and I think her leg is up because of her "cast". I wish it was that easy and cheap these days to get front row seats! . I think it was the one of Rick's body. It was a very cold, drawing that some guy gave me at the concert. I saw them with journey and foreigner a while ago, but not since.
Addendum: So yes, had insomnia. Read this post. Went back to sleep. Had a dream. Parker Stevenson was in it!!
I'm pretty sure when Rick Nielsen wrote "those men inside my brain" he specifically was referring to Parker Stevenson. And Willie Aames and Sean Cassidy.
Probably!!
I THINK I saw them? Is that bad? 😳😬 This would have been in Western, Mass. I was getting ready to move to Austin, Texas! I had gotten broken up with by a real twit, but was really sad. I was probably in a real fog. I think the reason I forget is that I may have mixed them up with a Blue Oyster Cult show at the same venue that I know I did NOT see!! Lock me up in the rock and roll pillory for this? And keep me locked up for getting Dream police and “Jailbreak” by Thin Lizzy mixed up? In any case, concerts you THINK you saw- that’s a good category!!
And sorry about your insomnia. I’m having it now! That I know for sure, so I can certainly empathize! Sometimes, like a great wave of nausea, invasive thoughts tear through brain town! But there is a great calm and you ultimately fall asleep. My bladder too also wins out in sleep competitions. But sometimes boring tasks, like naming all the kids in my class throughout elementary school, or even boringer, counting roundabouts help me get back to sleep!!
Yes, bands we think we saw is a great topic. The conversation will be comprised solely of people in the 2nd half of their lives but most of them are already comprised of us.
If I could name even two kids from elementary school I'd be thrilled. The memory stuff concerns me even more than the insomnia.
Also, "Dream Police" is the sequel to "Jailbreak." It's about the insomnia that arose out of worry about being caught after breaking out of jail.
Definitely intertwined!!!
Dream Police was the first 45rpm I bought and they were the 2nd concert I saw (after Rush). Blew my tiny mind! Meanwhile Bun E always reminded me of Dan Ackroyd and later Rick reminded me of Paul Reubens - or perhaps it was the opposite?
Ha! I think if you morph Bun E and Rick and then morph Dan Ackroyd and Paul Reubens, you get the same face. So you are on to something.
Lovely essay, and more personal than I would have guessed when you teased it.
Thanks, Nick. The mixing of the personal and the musical is sort of my jam. Sometimes it's a tasty jam, which gives a slice of fresh sourdough just the right sweetness, and other times it's closer to toe jam. But like I never say: whatever your jam, I'll get to it eventually.
I feel like I've shared this with you Steve but Cheap Trick is from my hometown (Rockford, IL) The city doesn't have a lot of claims to fame, apart from being the 2nd biggest city in IL after Chicago. But recently I found out that actress/comedian Natasha Leggero was born there and it made me excited. Plus she's only a few years older than me. Oh, and I've never seen this film, "Minding the Gap" but I think I need to now since it also takes place there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minding_the_Gap
Actually, I don't think I knew you were from Rockford. I think you were keeping it from me until I wrote about your hometown heroes. Or to keep a sense of mystery. Or both. I wonder if Natasha Leggero ever sat in with Cheap Trick, or opened for them. Minding the Gap is amazing, by the way. You need to watch it.
My drummer LOVES Cheap Trick. Besides Surrender, I’ve never really got them. But I am open to that epiphany that might be just around the corner.
I really liked this one and feel it deserves a point by point response, so expect that soon.
I will forgive you this one flaw. And I will try and set up a proper Cheap Trick playlist for you and place it around the corner.
I look forward to your point by point response.
Ear worms ... I pray that if Barry Manilow ever interrupts my slumber that someone takes a pillow over my face and ends it all.
I've never been a fan of Cheap Trick. Nothing against them or their music, it just doesn't suit my palate. But Pink Floyd? Different story. The DSOM cover serves as my screen saver on my laptop and phone. And often I hear the chiming of the four dissonant notes (B♭, F, G [below the B♭], E) from "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" in my sleep. And I don't mind.
Fun read, Steve!
Thanks, Jim! I do love the Floyd as well, and have written about them, and DSOM specifically, albeit in the form of satire, in case you haven't read it.
https://earworm.substack.com/p/pink-floyd-breathe-in-the-air
I read your "critique" of "Breathe." Really enjoyed it. And all about poor David's nose. And David and Roger's perpetual spitballing.
Anyway, through the years I wore out three vinyl copies of DSOM, playing the full 43 minutes with each listen. I don't know if there will be anything like it again in rock.
I really look forward to each of your pieces, Steve.
Truly a great song - and one of my favourites. But, for me, the best Cheap Trick track is 'Surrender' - I love the imagery the lyrics paint: 'Some Indonesian junk that's going 'round', 'Rock n rolling, rollin' numbers, got my KISS records out'. They captured that period of teenage life perfectly. Really enjoyed this post!
Yeah, Surrender is another great. It is hard to really play favorites (or favourites -- I always prefer the added 'u' but feel wrong adding it in!). They were one of those bands that the boys and girls loved equally. They had Robin and Tom as beefcake for the ladies and Rick and Bun E. as geekcake for the dudes. And never took themselves too seriously.
The fact they never took themselves seriously is what made them such fun.
As for the 'u' - I only spell things the British English way because that's where I live and if I don't I get the red underline pointing out my error! Also, as I teach in England I kind of have to spell things their way ... which is really fun when its words like foetus, programme, practise and aluminium. My two kids are both British-born, so they love it when I slip and say bay-sil or al-oo-mi-num, or to-may-toe ... Ugh. Though I do think many words can be improved with a 'u'.
I'm a big fan of Cheap Trick. I saw them the first time just after the first album came out at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in LA. Just an insanely powerful show, although the downside was the audience was a mix of true power pop fans and bored industry weanies.
That's top-drawer concert-going, Rick! That's tough to even come close to, much less beat! What...a year later, they were filling stadiums?!? I didn't take the roll on your night at the Whisky (I was in Houston at the time, moving to L.A. in early '80....I did meet them at my Cactus Records store in Fall '77 following the "In Color" release--my fave album of theirs-- and got them to autograph the gatefold photos! And, the regional CBS rep gave me a black Cheap Trick bow tie, with "Cheap Trick" printed all over it, like the debut album's logo!
To finish my thought.....who must've been in attendance with you at the Whisky? If these folks weren't there that night, I'd be stunned: Greg and Suzy Shaw, members of The Last, Plimsouls, 20/20, The Dickies, and so many more! And, of course, the requisite bored industry weenies, sans mustard! I'm gonna bet my weenie bun that Epic exec Steve Popovich was there, and Jack Douglas would be a good bet, too! Great stuff, Rick!
Brad I have a one-weenie per-comment limit. But I'll let you get away with the added Dickies, this time. You name-dropper, you!
Name-dropper? Bruh, I've won awards!🏆 (Nah, I don't name-drop; Barbra Streisand told me not to). Having been a fan, like Rick, and a voracious reader of all rock press (I don't know about Rick in that vein), I'm positive I'd have been able to recognize many, if not most, of the power pop cognoscenti present! And, I could've tested myself the next week with pix in either PRM, Greg's BOMP!, or Hit Parader (or both)!