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.
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!!
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?
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
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.
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!
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.
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 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!
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.
Addendum: So yes, had insomnia. Read this post. Went back to sleep. Had a dream. Parker Stevenson was in it!!
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!!
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?
Lovely essay, and more personal than I would have guessed when you teased it.
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
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.
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!
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!
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.