Formed in 1973 in Cheap Trick are one of the most successful and influential bands in Power Pop history.  But to only fit them in the Power Pop box would not be accurate.  Over the course of nearly 50 years, they have recorded songs that could be categorized as hard rock, prog rock, glam rock and even pure Top 40 pop.

From the beginning, Cheap Trick were a contradiction of sight and sound – Lead Singer Robin Zander and Bassist Tom Peterson looked like they were cut out of the Rock n Roll idol template with their good looks and rock star presence.  Meanwhile, Guitarist Rick Nielsen looked more like a character out of a comic book and Bun E. Carlos looked like - well your Dad.  The music at one moment sounded like an evolution of The Beatles and then something more like a combination of weird prog, hard rock, glam and punk.

While success would come in a big way in 1979 as Cheap Trick became one of the biggest bands in the world, they were hardly an Overnight Sensation.

In fact, after three studio albums from 1977 – 1979, many wondered if Cheap Trick would ever become more than a regional rock band playing to a thousand fans in small clubs and theaters.  

They released their self-titled debut album in early 1977.  The album received some favorable reviews but went unnoticed by record buyers and failed to crack the Billboard 200.

The second album, In Color, considered one of their best studio albums was released later in 1977.  While it fared better than the debut (#73) it still did not make many waves.  But just when things seemed dire for Cheap Trick, something was brewing on the other side of the world in Japan where the album peaked at #30.  

They released their 3rd album Heaven Tonight in 1978 where the album would eventually reach #48 in US.  Meanwhile, as the saying goes, they were Big in Japan where the album reached #11.  On tour there in 1979, their lives would be changed forever.  

Intro music provided by Joe Giddings
"#1" from Star Collector's album Songs For The Whole Family