26.   On Top Of The World  [Heaven Tonight]
Extended ending is a treat live. "She was lonely and didn't care."

27.   Love's Got A Hold On Me  [One On One]
Give it a listen real quick and then come join me on the bandwagon.

28.   Tell Me Everything  [Woke Up With A Monster]
In my only real conversation with Rick (at the Library Bar in Columbus, OH - I was younger and even dumber than I am now, if you can believe it) I asked him what his favorite song was on "Woke Up" and he explained to me in detail why he liked this one. He was right.

29.   Just Got Back  [All Shook Up]
This has nothing to do with this song, but have you seen the bootleg video where Rick starts singing an X-rated limerick live on a Japanese TV talk show? One of the funniest things I have ever seen.

It is some sort of Japanese, Regis-type gig, and the host hands a guitar to Rick and asks him (through a translator) to sing a song. Rick immediately breaks into: "There once was an Indian maiden, who would lie on her back and let the cowboys stick it in her crack" or something to that affect. The crowd is clapping along, having no idea what he is singing. Bun E, Tom, and Robin are just losing it behind him.

30.   Anytime  [self-titled - 1997]
Not necessarily the #30 song on the list, but the power of hearing the first song on Cheap Trick 1997 cannot be understated. After painfully defending The Doctor, Lap of Luxury, and Busted to nonbelievers, "Anytime"was a call to arms for all true CT fans. Their favorite band was back, and it was time to go on the offensive.

31.  Need Your Love  [Dream Police]
I have seen them play this twice: the "Budokan" night at the Metro and
outside Easton Mall in Columbus.

32.   Lookin' Out For Number One  [One On One] 
Great song to wake your neighbors with at 3 a.m.

33.   Taxman, Mr. Thief  [self-titled - 1977]
A steady burn. Version on Music for Hangovers helped ranking.

34.   Stiff Competition  [Heaven Tonight]
Back in our Epic Records days we cut this for a CT tribute CD. We were going to do Downed, but Matty Sweet pulled rank at the last minute and we got the "Stiffy". We were recording in N.Y.C., and drummer extraordinaire Kenny Airnoff ended up helping out on the track. Kenny is a helluva a nice guy and he kept telling us what a great song this was.

Kenny:
Man you guys write great songs.

Me:
Thanks Kenny, but it isn't ours, it is a Cheap Trick song

After having this conversation about 8 or 9 times, I switched my answer to, "Thanks Kenny, you're right, we do write great songs."

Our track sounds like CT with worse singing. I have no idea what happened to that CD.

35.   Oh, Candy  [self-titled - 1977]
Similar to our "Mercurochrome". An upbeat, poppy tune about suicide.

36.   It's Only Love  [The Doctor]
Finally, The Doctor gets off the snide. Before plunging into the mystery that is The Doctor, lets give credit where credit is due. This is a great track. I suspect Tony Platt did this first and they tried to model the rest of the record after it. The production really works on this song.

I remember seeing the "World Premier" video on MTV over at Joe's mom's house before practice. I think Alan Hunter was the DJ. Maybe Mark Goodman.

37.   You Let A Lotta People Down  [self-titled - 1997]
Is this about Adamany?

38.   I Know What I Want  [Dream Police]
Tom sings!

39.   Girlfriend  [Woke Up With A Monster]
Originally from In Color tracks. No drum fills, ala AC/DC.

40.   That 70's Song [Sliver]
Just a monster live.

41.   Voices  [Dream Police]
I've never heard this song on the radio, but everyone knows the words.

42.   Never Had A Lot to Lose  [Lap Of Luxury]
Saw them play this in 2001 outside downtown Dayton, (10,000 hillbillies) and it came from the heart.

43.   Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try  [All Shook Up]
Robin plays keys on this live.

44.   Can't Hold On  [Budokan: The Complete Concert]

45.   Rock 'n' Roll Tonight  [Busted]
I would love to hear this live. You get all the way to the end of Busted and suddenly CT shows up. Was Richie Zito passed out on the sofa while this was recorded?

46.   Southern Girls  [In Color]

47.   I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends  [All Shook Up]
Who is playing Bass? What is happening? Did George Martin really approve of
this? The train stays on the tracks somehow. I always look forward to hearing this one.

48.   Hard To Tell  [self-titled - 1997]
A great #2 song.

What are the best 1-2 combos to lead off a CT CD? (Studio only please)
1... Dream Police / Way of the World
2... Surrender / On Top of the World
3... Stop This Game / Just Got Back
4... Anytime / Hard to Tell
5... Hello There / Big Eyes
6... I Can't Take It / Borderline

These first six are dead on.

7... I Want You / One On One - could have "Love's got a Hold on Me" #2
8... Elo Kiddies / Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School - A tough CD to sequence, maybe "Taxman" #2 but I can't prove it
9... Back n Blue / I Can't Understand It - I love these two together.
10... Little Sister / Tonight It's You - I'm not married to "Lil' Sis" as a leadoff track, but I can see why it was chosen.
11... My Gang / Woke Up With a Monster - Serves its purpose.
12... Let Go / No Mercy - Could have put "Wrong Side of Love" #2
13... It's Up To You / Romance in a Rearview Mirror - hmm...

CT does a really good job of leading off their records.

49.   I Want You  [One On One]

50.   Ain't That A Shame  [Budokan: The Complete Concert]
Canned laughs on American Music Awards are a hoot.

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