In Color is the second studio album by Cheap Trick, released in 1977 and produced by Tom Werman. Considered a classic of the power pop genre, the album was ranked No. 4 on Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide. In 2003, the album was also ranked number 443 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[1]
| In Color | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 (original version) 1997 (rerecorded version) | |||
| Studio | Kendun Recorders, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 31:50 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Tom Werman | |||
| Cheap Trick chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In Color | ||||
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The album was Cheap Trick's first to reach the Billboard 200, peaking at number 73, but was far more successful in Japan, where the singles "I Want You to Want Me" and "Clock Strikes Ten" were very popular.[2] The former became a top 10 US hit as a live version from the Cheap Trick at Budokan album, recording on the band's first Japanese tour, and remains Cheap Trick's signature song.
Overview
editIn Color, as opposed to the band's self-titled debut, features a more polished production in the hopes of making a commercial impact.
The album made the band superstars in Japan, where "I Want You to Want Me" and "Clock Strikes Ten" were hit singles.
Five of the ten tracks on In Color were later released in live form on Cheap Trick's live album Cheap Trick at Budokan ("Hello There", "Big Eyes", "I Want You to Want Me", "Clock Strikes Ten" and "Come On, Come On").
In Color's front cover has a color photo of Robin Zander and Tom Petersson sitting on motorcycles with the words "Cheap Trick, In Color." across the top. Its back cover has an upside-down black-and-white photo of Carlos and Nielsen sitting on mopeds with the words "And In Black and White." across the top.
The In Colour radio show which airs on Ireland's national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ 2XM is named after the album.[3]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[5] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [6] |
The Daily Breeze listed In Color as the 3rd best album of 1977, deeming it "uncluttered rock ... a great pop collection."[7] Rolling Stone noted that "Cheap Trick has already won the battle against the formulaic and pedestrian that punk rock is trying to fight... That vision of the music is also the source of the group's other most salient and appealing characteristic: its humor."[8]
Re-recorded version
editIn Color was re-recorded by the band in 1997 with producer Steve Albini. The band's intention was to record the album on their own terms and for the songs to sound the way that they had originally intended. It was never officially completed or released, but a rough mix of the album was leaked onto the internet along with a handful of other tracks recorded during the same sessions.
In September 2008, the re-recorded version of "Hello There" was featured as a playable song in the video game Rock Band 2, raising suspicions that the album may have been finished.
"Oh Boy," the B-side of the single "I Want You to Want Me" was re-recorded with vocals in 1980. It was released in 2003 on the "Oh Boy (Demo)/If You Want My Love (Demo)" promotional seven-inch vinyl record.
In April 2010, Rick Nielsen confirmed to the online music site Spinner that the band had in fact finished re-recording the album and planned to release the new version in "the not so distant future".[9]
Later in an interview with Eddie Trunk in 2021, Tom Petersson claimed that the recordings were never finished.[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Rick Nielsen, except where indicated
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hello There" | 1:41 | |
| 2. | "Big Eyes" | 3:10 | |
| 3. | "Downed" | 4:12 | |
| 4. | "I Want You to Want Me" | 3:11 | |
| 5. | "You're All Talk" | Nielsen, Tom Petersson | 3:36 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Oh Caroline" | 2:59 | |
| 7. | "Clock Strikes Ten" | 2:59 | |
| 8. | "Southern Girls" | Nielsen, Petersson | 3:44 |
| 9. | "Come On, Come On" | 2:41 | |
| 10. | "So Good to See You" | 3:37 | |
| Total length: | 31:50 | ||
The 1998 reissue of In Color featured five bonus tracks, including the B-side to "I Want You to Want Me," entitled "Oh Boy," and "Goodnight," a live, show-closing variation of "Hello There."
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Oh Boy" (instrumental version) | 3:09 |
| 12. | "Southern Girls" (1975 demo) | 3:03 |
| 13. | "Come On, Come On" (1975 demo) | 2:04 |
| 14. | "You're All Talk" (live at Whisky a Go Go 1977) | 3:41 |
| 15. | "Goodnight" (live at Whisky a Go Go 1977) | 2:19 |
Unreleased outtake
editPersonnel
edit- Cheap Trick
- Robin Zander – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Rick Nielsen – lead guitars, vocals
- Tom Petersson – bass, vocals
- Bun E. Carlos – drums
- Additional musicians
- Jai Winding – keyboards
- Jay Graydon – guitar on "I Want You to Want Me"[11]
- Technical
- Tom Werman – producer
- Antonino Reale – engineer
- George Marino – mastering
- Jim Charne, Paula Scher – design
- Benno Friedman – photography
Charts
edit| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[12] | 93 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[13] | 30 |
| US Billboard 200[14] | 73 |
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[15] | 95 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[16] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ BUDOKAN! 30th Anniversary DVD+3CDs (insert booklet).
- ^ "GoldenPlec Team Up with RTÉ 2XM's In Colour | News". 30 March 2015.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "In Color - Cheap Trick". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 23, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 157. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
rolling stone cheap trick album guide.
- ^ Meyer, Bruce (Dec 23, 1977). "Fleetwood Mac is tops critically and in sales". Daily Breeze. p. E11.
- ^ Marsh, Dave (22 September 1977). "In Color". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ Ayers, Mike (9 April 2010). "Cheap Trick Planning to Release New Version of 'In Color'". Spinner. AOL. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ Cheap Trick Virtual Invasion, 6 May 2021, retrieved 2021-06-11
- ^ "CRR Interview - Bun e. Carlos – Everything Works Out if You Let It…Well, Sort Of…".
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "蒼ざめたハイウェイ+7 | チープ・トリック".
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Cheap Trick – In Color". Music Canada.
- ^ "American album certifications – Cheap Trick – In Color". Recording Industry Association of America.