Cheap Trick 1977 album

"**Cheap Trick**," the debut studio album by the American rock band Cheap Trick, was released in 1977 under Epic Records. Produced by Jack Douglas, a frequent collaborator with the band, the album did not chart on the Billboard 200 but reached number 207 on the "bubble under" chart for one week in April 1977. The album features a raw hard rock sound, differing from the group's later polished power pop style. Its lyrics tackle extreme subject matter, including serial killer Richard Speck in "The Ballad of TV Violence (I'm Not the Only Boy)," an ephebophile in "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School," and the suicide of photographer Marshall Mintz in "Oh, Candy." Critics generally praised the album, comparing it to the Beatles and the Who, with favorable mentions of Robin Zander's vocals, likening them to John Lennon. Reviews highlighted its energetic sound, wit, and themes of rejection and anti-authoritarianism. The original vinyl release humorously labeled sides as "Side A" and "Side 1," reflecting the band's self-deprecating view. The CD reissue in the mid-1980s followed this sequence but was later corrected in a 1998 re-release, which included bonus tracks. Personnel for the album included Cheap Trick members Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, mandocello, vocals), Tom Petersson (bass guitar, vocals), and Bun E. Carlos (drums), with Jack Douglas producing. The album has inspired cover versions, such as Big Black's rendition of "He's a Whore" and The Methadones' cover on their 2006 album *21st Century Power Pop ...