In Color
Studio album by
Cheap Trick
ReleasedSeptember 1, 1977 (September 1, 1977)
Recorded1977 (original version) 1997 (rerecorded version)
StudioKendun Recorders, Los Angeles
Genre
Length31:50
LabelEpic
ProducerTom Werman
Cheap Trick chronology
Cheap Trick
(1977) 		In Color
(1977) 		Heaven Tonight
(1978)
Singles from In Color
  1. "I Want You to Want Me"
    Released: September 1977
  2. "Southern Girls"
    Released: December 1977
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[2]
Rolling Stone(positive)[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

In Color is the second studio album by Cheap Trick, released in 1977 and produced by Tom Werman.

This album is 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.[5] The lead single, "I Want You to Want Me", while not initially successful, became a top 10 hit as a live version from the Cheap Trick at Budokan album and remains the band's signature song.

Overview

In 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.[6]

Re-recorded version

In 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".[7]

Later in an interview with Eddie Trunk in 2021, Tom Petersson claimed that the recordings were never finished.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Rick Nielsen, except where indicated

Side one
No.TitleWriter(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 Petersson3:36
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Oh Caroline" 2:59
7."Clock Strikes Ten" 2:59
8."Southern Girls"Nielsen, Petersson3:44
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."

1998 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
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

Personnel

Cheap Trick
Additional musicians
Technical

Charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[10] 93
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[11] 30
US Billboard 200[12] 73

2017 reissue

Chart Peak

position

Oricon (Japan)[13] 95

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "In Color - Cheap Trick". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Marsh, Dave (22 September 1977). "In Color". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  4. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "GoldenPlec Team Up with RTÉ 2XM's In Colour | News". 30 March 2015.
  7. ^ Ayers, Mike (9 April 2010). "Cheap Trick Planning to Release New Version of 'In Color'". Spinner. AOL. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  8. ^ Cheap Trick Virtual Invasion, 6 May 2021, retrieved 2021-06-11
  9. ^ "CRR Interview - Bun e. Carlos – Everything Works Out if You Let It…Well, Sort Of…".
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives,N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  12. ^ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "蒼ざめたハイウェイ+7 | チープ・トリック".
  14. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Cheap Trick – In Color". Music Canada.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – Cheap Trick – In Color". Recording Industry Association of America.
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