At Budokan

Favorite Track: I Want You to Want Me

For a live album, this sounded pretty good, love how the name of the album was the place they performed the set. though it's rock music and it sounded a lot like a bunch other stuff i've heard recently.

Honestly, kind of a dull live album. It didn't do a lot to achieve greatness, like it was an ordinary live album of Cheap Trick that I would expect if I went to their concert. Like, it isn't bad, but fairly generic rock music.

I like “Come On, Come On”

I quite enjoyed this. Loud and fun, more or less what I expected.

Meh

It was okay.

An album where the live setting really makes a difference. This is the sort of album that wouldn’t normally leave much if any impression on me at all, but something about the sounds of the crowd really made me imagine being there at that place and that time, and it seemed like everyone was having a blast. Somehow it resonated with me and felt weirdly nostalgic. I don’t know how to rate this, really, because the music itself is unremarkable, but it did make me feel something to imagine life there and then.

(30 known/60 new)

This was pleasant. Good tunes, lots of energy and perfectly seviceable

на любителя.

Sounds like generic rock band, meh

Cheap trick is great but hate live albums

Liked. But maybe not worth to do a review. At Budokan's better than the studio version tho.

Gostei da história que acompanha o disco, de como a banda Cheap Trick teve seu próprio momento de "Beatlemania", só que no Japão. Achei interessante e nunca tinha ouvido disso antes. Fora isso, esse álbum é a DEFINIÇÃO de Boomer-Rock. Isso não é uma ofensa. Melhor ser boomer-rock do que rock-bunda (tipo guns n' roses ou aerosmith). Tem algumas que eu já conhecia, sem nem saber que conhecia! Hits classicos mesmo. Mas fora os grandes hits, não senti nada demais pro resto das faixas. Tudo bom, mas nada super memoravel. 3/5

I knew the band name from my youth, but I was no longer familiar with the music. I don't think the live recording is particularly good. It all sounds a bit flat and muddy. The only song I still knew was "I Want You to Want Me", which was the same. In the right mood, it's definitely fun at parties. But I'm not in that mood right now. 3/5

Never saw what all the fuss was about back in the day, and I still don't. Massive in Japan. Best track on the album is "Need Your Love", and the second best is their cover of the Fats Domino classic "Ain't That a Shame". A live album which is marred slightly by the incessant screaming of the fans.

Ha, why does the guy doing the banter - or just stating the song titles sound so wimpy? Anyway, its pretty catchy, and not too polished. And the guitar's ok, but not guitar idol worthy. Also does not succumb to the bloat, and I like that they have dedicated intro and outro songs. And the clock chiming bits tight. Lyrics are so corny though.

okay but not for me

fun!

Ha, I have actually never listened to this (that I can recall.) I just realized for the first time ever that "Hello There" - which I only know as the intro song for Rock Band 2 on the Nintendo Wii - is Cheap Trick. What a fantastic song to open a show (or video game.) I was never a big Cheap Trick fan. I feel like they were a much bigger deal to people about a half-generation ahead of us (basically the kids in Dazed & Confused.) I've never really liked "I Want You to Want Me" but this version is pretty great. And holy shit, I don't think I ever knew that the opening to Check Your Head was sampled from the beginning of "Surrender" off this album. This was a fun listen. (P.S. - Another live album with 40 seconds of crowd noise at the end? This HAS to have something to do with pressing vinyl back then.)

2.5 - I feel like I have a special place for live albums but this was kinda mid

Японские девочки пищат сорок минут, пока дядьки исполняют разной степени качества поп-роцк 70-ых. По большей части окэй. По большей части из-за японских девочек. Лучшая песня - Surrender.

Good live album. I enjoyed it. 3.49/5

I was really expecting this to have more 'oomph' as a live recording, but this recording fails in a lot of ways to capture the energy of the live recording. There's little crowd interaction and the crowd mics needed to be quieted during some of the performances. Man, that squealing can be annoying! There's also the fact that Cheap Trick has five or six truly incredible songs, but only three of them appear here. Still, those songs are so good that it lifts this from two stars to three.

Some great songs here that I’ve heard all my life but never knew who sang them. A high 3 or low 4 but I am really not crazy about live albums.

Live album vind ik dubieus, niet echt nodig. Wel vermakelijke muziek.

It kinda just sounds like grown ass men having fun. I’m not mad about it

Found myself jamming at times but also switching it off.

fun listen but nothing exciting

Inoffensive. A couple nice songs

One of the first records I owned. Some good tunes some just ok

Sound quality, ehh

Pretty good

I Want You to Want Me was one of the best live songs ever to me a few years ago, and it still shines in a category that is easy to mess up. The rest of this live album makes me want to honk memememe, though.

Didn’t get to listen to the entire thing

Bra drag, men inte så engagerad efter ett tag. Tre.

Pretty good, not really sure why this is on here as a live album though. it's fine and has a decent selection of cheap trick songs but you'd be better off listening to an album

"I want you to want me" is about as electric as live music recordings can get for me. Love that. Outside of that song, this music is pretty good without really grabbing me.

I have a massive, pulsating, throbbing hate boner for many of the live albums on this list, but this one actually has merit for being a little bit of a musical curio. Never in all of music history did I think that there would be a live album that outsells the main discography of the artist that it belongs to, has singles released, is inducted into the library of congress and launches the career of the band in multiple countries. It's also performed in wholesome and based Nihongoland or something I don't know. Usual criticisms of live albums apply here. It's tough to appreciate this album without being a fan of the artist's discography. It isn't influencing the future of popular music or advancing music as an artform and it doesn't really capture the experience of listening to music live. However, it is popular. It's also pretty funny hearing a bunch of Japanese girls going absolutely batshit over this random ass yankee hard rock band, so I guess that's a plus, too. This album has the weird and rare phenomenon of being super backloaded - I'll assume that it has to do with these songs being ordered chronologically. Just when I'd completely checked out I was struck by the electric atmosphere of "I Want You to Want Me" and the appeal of the album kinda just clicked with me from then on. Never review these albums when you're actively listening to them, I guess. Gave this album a relisten and the whole thing is pretty alright. The second half remains much, much better. I'll retrieve this album from the designated "live album" pit that I threw it into earlier, where it is currently waiting to be incinerated. These fellas are rocking with "At Folsom Prison" now.

This is the second time I've listened to At Budokan, and my opinion hasn't changed. It's really fun - the crowd is delirious for them, the songs are catchy, and the energy is high. But I wouldn't say I'm wild about Cheap Trick. I've always liked I Want You To Want Me and Surrender, and I'm okay with leaving it there, though Need Your Love from this album is pretty cool too.

Just skip to track 7 and vibe.

I wanted me to want them, but I think they wanted it more than I wanted.

Did not have a Cheap Trick live album on my bingo card. Would’ve been a fun show to be at! 7/10

Dit heeft alle schijn tegen in mijn boek, maar toegegeven, dit valt echt reuze mee. Ik kende natuurlijk het trio 'Ain't That A Shame', 'I Want You To Want Me' en 'Surrender', wat natuurlijk best gangmakers zijn, maar echt generieke rock zoals ze dat eigenlijk alleen in de 70s konden. 13 in een dozijn. Maar als je het hele album in één zit luistert kan het je toch niet ontgaan dat het best dynamisch is, en dat de band niet alleen typische 70s (hard) rock produceert, maar dat het gekleurd is met tinten powerpop, pub rock en zelfs een beetje (proto-)punk. De energie matcht af en toe wel die van het legendarische live-album van MC5 uit 1969. Maar dan bekijk ik het héél positief. Een meevaller, dat is het. 6,5/10 Highlights: Need Your Love I Want You To Want Me

Not a huge fan of live albums, the 70s in general, or Cheap Trick in particular, but this wasn't a bad listen. I wouldn't seek it out, nor would I race for the knob if this were to come on in my presence.

Sounds like it would have been a fun show but I’m just kinda indifferent to cheap trick.

Didn't particularly like nor dislike. Listened to it two times now and it still hasn't made an impression. Probably I just don't know enough about it, or didn't know the songs well enough, to truly enjoy the live album. I only give 2 stars if I dislike listening to it, so 3 stars for me.

Enjoyable, but a bit inconsistent. The songwriting is definitely there, but the performances are a bit hit or miss. I liked the long and drawn out Need Your Love and Surrender + some other songs. Felt the energy was there and a live version aided those songs. Some of the other songs feel lackluster though, the energy isn't there and the playing and singing isn't all too great. Still a pretty fun listen.

Like the music. Don't really like live albums.

Don't hate the player, hate the music. Well-played trash including the complete sellout 'I Want You to Want Me'.

I've tried to get through it a couple of times today, and everytime, I'm met with this slight distaste for the music. None of it feels all that new, and I'm mainly just excited to get to the next day's album. Fav song: (To be decided)

Still not a fan for live albums. Besides, I'm a bit sick of traditional power pop and arena rock now, yes, they maybe good, but I'm really tired of hearing those sounds. Just I want to hear well crafted art not passion. A 2.5 really, they maybe good and they are definitely killers at live but well...not for me, not for me.

rating down from 3.5

This was pretty cool. It made me want to maybe consider listening to more Cheap Trick? My mom would be happy about that anyway.

While they may be big in Japan this is just too much hair for me. Album did grow on me with Need Your Love as the highlight. It's a bit muddy but great energy

The music was honestly decent as far as hard rock goes. Just don’t understand why this needed to be a live album

I like Cheap Trick and, for a live album, the sound quality is pretty good. Still, I don't think it gave them the justice they deserve.

Pretty good

I knew I would recognize one of their songs. I Want You to Want Me!! I don't know, other than that one song none of the others are really great songs. I'm sure they were the shit back in the day but it's just not catching my interest. 3 stars.

Good pop songs, lots of energy. The hits are the best part

Forgettable and often tedious dad rock 2.7

“It’d be better if it weren’t live” -Aubz. I didn’t hate it but it didn’t feel special or particularly unique.

I love Cheap Trick, but this isn't their best album.

Not a fan of live albums. It's not bad, just not great. 6/10

Honestly, it's pretty good stuff. I've never been opposed to getting introduced to a band through their live performances - it's like going through a greatest hits record, except you also get to gauge the band's level of musicianship. From this listen alone, I get a heavy pop-rock vibe, though with an obvious emphasis on heaviness, sort of hard-rockish but with hair-metal and glam-rock undertones. By the end of this, it became a matter of how many songs I ended up enjoying. I liked 'Come On, Come On' a lot and 'Lookout' was pretty good too. The long outro of 'Need Your Love' was the highlight of that particular song, and maybe the heaviest thing here - but I couldn't stand that vocal hook at all. Those three were the most memorable things here - I didn't like the second half quite as much, though the crowd singing along on 'I Want You to Want Me' was pretty cute - and the song itself was pretty cute. I can't compare the live recordings to the actual studio versions (except for 'Come on Come on' that I did listen to, and I can confirm that I like the live version more) but I do think this band benefits in a live environment. The whole live performance here felt pretty go-lucky and in good spirits, for what that's worth. Might end up listening to more Cheap Trick in the future.

Best Song: Surrender Worst Song: Lookout

There are definitely a few 45 year olds walking around Tokyo with single Moms and American passports as a result of this tour.

2.9 I Hear this album mentioned in all time best live rock albums but I really dont see what all the fuss is about. I like a few of the songs but pretty standard rock music

good energy! really enjoy the quality to this recording where the vocals have that arena echo but the lead guitar riffs are big and crisp

3.5 stars.

This was ok. Not my thing but totally fine background music. The bassist is handsome so I will give this a 3 instead of a 2. It's my rating system and my rules.

Le rock and roll le plus straight forward de l’histoire, sans fioriture et sans grand intérêt

It is okay, but I am not a big power pop fan, and I didn't find this particularily interesting. 3 stars

3.5

A goodish live album with one song everybody knows anyway in I Want You To Want Me. All the others are hardly America’s most wanted and the same Japan crowd probably went crazier for the Carpenters as well.

Wel leuk maar niet heel bijzonder

Cheap Trick captures their sound in an amazing live venue. This live album does exactly what all live albums should: make you wish you were in the crowd that night (even if, like me, you are not the biggest Cheap Trick fan)! 3⭐️

As far as live albums go, this one was probably my least favorite that has been on the list. The last couple sounds are definitely the hits though. High 3.

Love a good live album and it was solid just nothing outstanding or anything. The classics are classic though. Pretty solid 3.

Sounded a good gig for their fans. 👍🏼

3/5 or 3.5/5. Good live album but nothing super special, crowd was going NUTS at parts. Surrender is always a classic thanks to Guitar Hero 2.

This wasn’t necessarily the album I was in the mood for today. Well produced and performed, especially for a live album. But I probably would’ve scored it higher had I been in the mood for “classic rock.”

I do find edited live records somewhat contrived but there are some cool tracks here.

A treasured album from childhood, that was not as good as I remembered. There were many songs that I didn't even remember, which is odd for me. But it was a seminal work during my early adolescence. A must have album in 7th grade.

Great concert. I'm not a huge Cheap Trick fan, but there's no denying they were a great live band. I just don't love their songwriting all that much (aside from Surrender). Drummer driving nearly every track here. Rick Nielsen is a great guitarist but not too high up in the mix and is lost in the sound quite a bit.

I think that every rock contract in the 70s must have had a clause that the band were obliged to record at least one live album in Japan. Thus we get Cheap Trick, in front of thousands of screaming Japanese fans, plodding through a competent but pedestrian set list. I always assumed that they were hard rock, but apart from the opening track this is closer to glam/pop. The highlight is a Chuck Berry cover where they somehow shoehorn in a drum solo.

High energy live show from a mediocre glam rock band from the 70's. Nothing about this was bad, but a few awesome songs does not a good album make. Favourite songs: Surrender, I Want You To Want Me, Ain't That A Shame, Hello There Least favourite songs: Need Your Love 3/5

I’d give it a 3.5, pretty good overall.

The drums are very good, but otherwise I am not a huge fan of live albums

alright, good background music

Nice live rock

Heard better live albums but tight and good songs, Need Your Love the highlight. 2.75/5

Impressive live, good listen

I generally like Cheap Trick, but this album certainly didn’t need be Live. 3.0

A fun live album

Solid live rock album. Guitar work was tight.

Essentially, this is fine, clearly influential and well made, but it’s not something I like enough to revisit.

okay, the start was boring, but in the end I liked it. some powerful moves

Generally too samey in its high-energy-ness, but I might enjoy some of these tracks more in a studio recording.

Had a whole thing written and the browser ate it. Essentially, this is fine, clearly influential and well made, but it’s not something I like enough to revisit.

This album was a lifeline to a rock n roll oasis in the sea of disco

I saw Cheap Trick at a music festival in 2007. The guitar player was wearing a Cheap Trick hat AND a Cheap Trick shirt. Didn’t like that. Surrender is a good song.

It's okay. Cheap Trick always sounded old fashioned to me.

Took me a few tracks to realize that there is music in the background of the obnoxious crowd noise. Bad mix but otherwise good album.

I had never heard any of these songs' studio versions, but I still enjoyed this album a lot more than I was expecting. Key tracks: I Want You to Want Me Surrender

Actually had fun listening to this live album and my jaw dropped when I realized this is where the canonical version of I Want You To Want Me.

Live albums are rarely good but this IS an exception! It well recorded well produced and well performed. The crowd gives it a lot without taking away from it.

cheap trick 👍 live in tokyo 👎 2.5. stop torturing me with live albums

The second half of this album is pretty damn fine, the first half feels like...well a warm up for their best songs on the second half. So three feels about right. Great screaming from the Japanese fans.

Live albums are usually for hardcore fans. This didn't change my mind. I prefer the studio versions of the cheap trick songs I like. Not bad, just not great.

It was fine. I like Cheap Trick enough, and the I Want You To Want Me is great on here, but other than that, nothing here was better than studio albums. There's nothing wrong here, but just not something I'd put on again.

I usually shy away from live albums, but this one is pretty decent. But for being a live album, it doesn't have much in the way of interaction with the crowd besides being able to hear them cheer. Not a negative, but just kind of odd. Unrelated, but I've only ever heard the live version of I Want You to Want me from this album and never the studio recording, and listening to the studio recording, I'm okay only ever hearing this live one again. The studio one isn't bad, but the live one is just so much better.

3/5

Одна из любимых групп Араки -- чипу трику! Станд который делает людей маленькими. Показательно, что это запись концерта из японии. И что я могу сказать, ну это лёгкий рок из начала 80х, слушается приятно, но для меня это реально дешевый трюк. Я не могу под это go completely wild как заявляют участники группы. Ну 3

154/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Great recording, not feeling it though.

I like them better than I did back in th day

Just kept thinking of spinal tap. 2.5

3.25.

Not really a fan of live albums and this one is no exception. Quite noisy and messy, but it does feature the best released version of "I want you to want me", so +1.

Pretty nice, gives that 70s show vibe. Probably won’t listen to it again tho

Some familiar famous tunes and some star quality. Quite good Dont like live albums though

I like Goodnight Now, I kind of like Big Eyes, Need Your Love, Ain’t That a Shame, I Want You to Want Me

Two good songs and otherwise an ok collection. I’m surprised this is the album that made them take off. Seems like they already had a decent following by the time this was recorded.

Cool live album but sometimes hard to hear the lyrics

The music is good.. I want you to want me is a favorite of mine.. but the screaming from the crowd was a bit much on this live album.

The one with I want you to want me yeah. Ok album

That performance of surrender tho 😳 everything else was alright

OokleBob

This was quite popular when it came out. The two big hits are better here live than in the studio editions. The rest of this is just so-so, although the opening track is great. Weird they were so popular in Japan. A Midwest band with two very odd looking guys (drummer and lead guitarist) and two admittedly heartthrob-type guys in the lead singer and bassist — gee, which two are on the front cover? Great musicians, a tight band.

I never knew where the “this next one is the first song off our new album” sample that begins the Beastie Boys’ “Check Your Head” album comes from. Now I know. I had to read the Wikipedia article because I was confused why a band this big would go to Japan and play just 41 minutes. There I learned that at the time of this recording, they were *only* big in Japan and this album kickstarted their fame in the US. That makes a little(?) more sense? They’d only put out two albums, they hadn’t quite hit yet, I can support this now.

surprisingly ok

I Want You To Want Me is still a banger. Surrender is fine. The rest is surprisingly low energy for a live recording.

Not for me as I find it too outdated and cringey. Like when the hook of the last song is just the clock sound, you can see why this album is cheesy as all hell. Results in it feeling mid.

A few good songs in here, surprised Cheap Trick are still going strong. Loved the energy from the Japanese audience

Want you to want me is energetic and fun

I'm not into Cheap Trick. Have friends who are. I know some songs, they're fine. I don't think Best Ofs or live albums should be on this list (unless it's special like Sinatra Live at the Sands) but as someone not very into CT, this gave me a good insight. They're good. I understand why people like them. I'm still not into them, but they do what they do very well.

They’re hot right? They have to be hot to get this kind of crowd reaction. I think it’s a good album, but I think there’s also a lot lost when you listen to a live album alone in your headphones too. I don’t think they are the best of what this era of rock has to offer nor do they have some of the smash hits of other bands in this era. But maybe it’s just that this performance was a once in a life time event… or who knows maybe it’s they’re just hot.

This is good, but I don't love love albums. I also think it's reputation is better than deserved. Still, a solid album with no terrible flaws.

Cool

Only listened to some. Wasn’t wowed but I may have been distracted. I’d give a second chance at a later date

mid. 3 stars with some standout tracks.

This band is okay

Just Ok. My wife owned this one. Big fan. Me, not so much. But I am willing to suffer thru an overpriced stadium show with thousands of sweaty, aging Boomers this summer… cuz I love her and she’s worth it. Barely.

5/10 I'm not a fan of live albums. That being said this is middle of the road classic rock which isn't bad. 4-23-2024

Pretty fun! Nice covers too. Didn't blow me away.

Will I always bop to Surrender? Yes. But I think there needs to be a compelling reason for live albums to be on the list and I didn’t get that here. Certainly not bad but I’d rather hear it in the studio.

This was fine, I think it could use a remastering.

I enjoyed the record, but less than I expected, sadly. It’s really hard to beat the three song series of ain’t that a shame, I want you to want me, and surrender, but the rest of the record was actually a bit of a letdown. Some of it almost seemed like a sanitized version of the Ramones, but still a very solid record that I enjoyed.

I guess this was oaky but didn't sound like anything special to me. Had a few rock hits but didn't blow me away

Understandable why this album is on the list due to its important place in live album lore, but with how prevalent live content is these days the quality of the performance doesn't hold up too well. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: I Want You to Want Me, Need Your Love

Decent live album, didn't know much by Cheap Trick but will go and explore their stuff a bit more.

Interesting mix of pop + punk + rock(?) which makes it way easier for me to listen to than straight up punk but also more interesting than regular old pop. This guitarist loves his distortion pedal too lol. Interesting album, but not everyday listening for me

didn't like it

Cool stuff here but no reason to be on the list. I don't understand what elevates this to be better than any other live album, or any of their studio work for that matter. Want you to Want me was really good, and Surrender was a great addition, but otherwise it was just fine.

I thought Cheap Trick to be a very meh band and this did little to change my mind. Felt like they started playing Surrender three separate times. The live version of I Want You To Want Me is better than the studio version though.

This is a decent live show! Too bad the band is just okay

This was pretty good, I liked the recording and the length, it’s just not my kinda music I think

It was ok but nothing to write home about

I would have rated this album a 4 star if it hadn't been live!

This is the first song on our new album....

Pretty good to listen through, it has some hits and made a good impact. It doesn't reach that next level of enjoyment for me.

2.7

It was alright, most of the songs sounded pretty generic but I feel like it's because it sent me to the live performance album recordings of the songs. Overall okay though.

What a happy day it was for people at Budokan!

This album was nice to listen to, but didn't really blow me away in any way. It was a classic live rock album, but didn't push any boundaries of creativity with instrumentation or composition. I felt the lyrics were pretty banal that focused mainly on "Hey, girl" sentiments. Okay, but not remarkable.

I wasn't much of a Dan of Cheap Trick but this album wet the stage for their success. Lots of energy and screaming fans.

I haven’t heard this album in 30 years and listening to it now it’s not as good as I remembered

i want you to want me !

Solid live album. Stand out tracks are 'I Want You To Want Me' and 'Surrender'. These live versions are probably even more recognizable than their studio album counterparts. It shows Cheap Trick to have a strong live performance, but I do not know that it should be on this list.

Synes sgu det var ok, specielt “need your love” var ret god

4 3 really good tho

Great live album by Cheap Trick, a couple of songs in there I had heard a million times but had no idea who had sung them. Full of great rock and roll, and perfectly time capsules the late 1970s. It also brought the more hard style rock and roll back to the forefront of the American consciousness where it had previously been dominated by Disco and a softer style of Rock. Best: I Want You To Want Me; Surrender Worst: Clock Strikes Ten 3.5 Stars

It’s fine - as others here have stated this feels a bit too off-the-rails even for a live album, with some noticeably sloppy musicianship as the band hurtles along. That being said, there is a definite infectious energy here, and when the band circles around to their best songwriting efforts (‘Surrender’ will always be a jam) the crowd fervor really elevates the whole thing. The only other major downside here is ‘Want You to Want Me,’ perhaps the most annoying vocal performance of an already annoying song that is a stain on an otherwise good band’s discography. No idea how that’s the breakaway single for this LP, but maybe people in the 80s just loved nasally vocals.

Some enjoyable songs in there but I would’ve preferred a studio album. I feel like if you’re choosing a live album for the list you might as well just put a best-of… I take it this band has no individual album that is worth listening to.

Good songs but live albums just dont do it for me.

Not bad at all

I’ve only just started to listen to Cheap Trick, so it was nice to get a chance to figure out what they were really about. I’m really not a huge fan of live albums, but this list really seems to love them. Still, it gives you an insight into what a band is truly like. Also, it was fun to hear where the sample at the beginning of Check Your Head comes from. 3.5/5

I don't know what to say... This live hard rock record is quite dumb and cheesy, but also fun, in a way. As it is fun to finally discover where the Beastie Boys stole the "This next one is the first song on our new album!" vocal snippet opening their album *Check Your Head*. Always thought one of the Beasties did that vocal skit. And never realized that the *original* "first song" was actually Cheap Trick's "Surrender", a power pop tune for the ages if ever there is one. Yet this doesn't necessarily mean this record should be automatically deemed as "essential". To be fair, I can't fathom why the songs on this live album were such a huge success compared to their studio versions, whose overall sound is still better than the one on this particular LP. Maybe it's because the latter has been marketed as a kind of "greatest hits" at the time, in spite of the convenient legend saying that it was not seriously promoted by the band's label at first. Or maybe it's because of the performance of this specific concert, even if what was supposedly memorable in said performance completely went over my head, if I'm honest about it all. One thing's for sure, "Surrender" is still a great track, whether played live or in a studio. And so are "Big Eyes" and "Need Your Love", as hackneyed and naff as their lyrics are. Yet, once again, should their live versions be favored just because *At Budokan* was Cheap Trick's commercial breakthrough in a year now mostly remembered for plenty of classic rock, prog rock, punk, and post-punk artists that had nothing to do with Cheap Trick's self-indulgent, shallow pleasures. And those neverending screams of Japanese girls in the audience now sound quite grating on a purely sonic level, and even a little embarrassing--especially juxtaposed to the boyish concerns of the lyrics written for most of these songs. Finally, the artwork is ugly as f*ck. Yeah, I'm gonna leave the benefit of the doubt to this one, but as of now, I'm far from being fully sold. So what's next now? Peter fr*gging Frampton? 3/5 for the purposes of this list. Which translates to a 8/10 grade for more general purposes. (5+3) Number of albums left to review: 288 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 313 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 173 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 231

I like Cheap Trick when I’m in the right mood and it make good workout music.

Live recordings often sound very different from studio recordings, but Cheap Trick sounded great on stage and this is probably the best live album I've heard. Not all of the songs were great, but a few were very good. I had no clue that Japan loved them so much.

Good classic

Helt okej trots att det är en liveplatta.

Enjoy Cheap Trick, not a fan of live albums.

Terrible sound quality

Very decent Live album which is listened to in one breath. 3/5

i never really got into cheap trick, this album was good, i will dig a little more into them as time allows

Un album qui file diablement vite. Un bon album rock qui remplit ses promesses.

A good album but it being live kinda ruined it for me

So I've never known what album the live version of I want you to want me came out on. I always thought that the recording sounded different than other live versions of albums made at that time. You have to give props to the audience's enthusiasm and screaming. Couple of classic rock classics in here, but overall the songs seem to mesh together and not keep you interested.

Iconic. The Beatles best work. This album changed music and the recording process. Experimental genius.

A good live album with lots of energy. Haven't heard any of these songs before but might check out some of their albums after this.

I mostly hate live albums save for the odd one, this is not an odd one out. except I Want You, this version absolutely blows out the regular version.

This is fine so far. I'm familiar with Cheap Trick and most of these songs but they've never been my favorite. A couple classic songs here that I enjoy, but nothing truly standout.

Listened Before? N A pretty good live album. I've never heard about the phenomenon of Cheap Trick mania in Japan. Pretty interesting stuff and it was cool to hear the fans lose their minds. Good performance, too. I know "I Want You To Want Me" is big hit off this one but I can't stomach it anymore. One of the most overplayed songs of all time and actually made me drop a star. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Surrender

C'était bon, mais c'était loin d'être un album live que j'ai trouvé mémorable. C'est sûr on avait des gros hits, mais le fait de l'avoir en live ne venait pas apporter grand chose de plus. Les performances, bien que solides, étaient jouées de façon assez "safe" sans déviation ou solos qui se démarquent. Encore une fois, un bon album, mais pas tellement un nécessaire d'écouter dans sa vie. 6/10

pretty good, 3.1

Some good ole fashioned rockin'! Not bad at all, they probably could have gotten away with calling themselves Moderately Priced Trick.

3 stjerner

liked it but not super special to me

Good album. Need to listen to more cheap trick

Meh

Mostly been a pretty undemanding week for me here, much of it I've already heard a lot on FM radio ("Stay With Me", "Wanted Dead or Alive")-- and still like to this day! Kinda thought Cheap Trick would be an easy breezy 4 or 5, but apart from the trilogy of the Fats Domino cover, "I Want You to Want Me" & "Surrender", I don't think much of this was particularly elevated by being a live performance. And generally, the thing I like the least about a live recording is the audience, and there's plenty of that here. Bookending At Budokan is about 2 straight minutes of screaming, which at a certain point oversells basically any band or song ever. There's a reason why I don't really seek live versions of Beatles songs Don't let my mixed enjoyment of this live album fool you, I unapologetically like Cheap Trick's radio hits, even as much as "I Want You to Want Me" [Live] gets overplayed. Hey Siri, play "The Flame" HL: "Big Eyes", that trilogy December 11, 2023

Pretty fun.

7/10

3/10, 30%

Interesting choice for a live album. I figured there would be a couple like Frampton or maybe Kiss but not sure why this made it. The album itself is fine, I like Cheap Trick

Sounds like Spinal Tap

2.5 - I Want You To Want Me is, of course, classic, and the version of Surrender isn't awful, but I'd probably just listen to the studio version. The rest of the album was pretty nothing to me.

Heard this before as its always had some legendary status. Its OK but I dont really understand the love. Couple of great tracks on the 2nd side but meh.

Here's an album that I'm going to forget about as soon as I finish this review. Look, this isn't a bad album or anything. I think the instrument playing in particular is good enough. I just don't really care all that much. Maybe I would've cared a few weeks ago, but at this point it might be possible that I'm starting to become numb to 60s and 70s rock. The writing on these songs is incredibly basic and the singing isn't that impressive to me. On a more positive note, at least the songs don't all sound the same. They sound similar, but fortunately it's not too repetitive. I guess I kind of understand why this is on here from an impact standpoint. Apparently this album and band was pretty big in Japan and Cheap Trick did influence bands that I do like such as Nirvana and Green Day. However, this album in particular does nothing for me. 2/5. EDIT: I re-listened to this one for a project I'm doing, and it definitely isn't as bad as I once thought. This thing still has its problems like the dopey frontman, basic songwriting, and lopsided pacing but it's got some good songs and energy. "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender" especially are good fun. Plus, the album is fairly iconic, and I think it was wrong for me to give this the equivalent of a 4/10. It's more like a 5/10, which equates to a low 3/5.

A fun live album with a few bangers, the expected extended versions of a couples songs and an excited crowd. High 3

Just another live rock album

Live albums are my least favorite

Surrender is so insanely good, but the rest was kind of meh.

This is a Cheap Trick live album

A legendary live album from an okay band. I like the hits, the rest can go take a hike

I don't think live albums should be on a must listen to list - oh well.

Lots of songs that I didn't realize were cheap trick, but overall I would have preferred a studio album

It's fine-ish. Some classics, some stuff that just plays. I don't really love live albums. A 3 I guess.

Rock album. Does not really move me, but I can see why it is good. There hasn't been a dull moment. 3/5

yeah some enjoyable stuff like aint that a shame but the clock song really made me retroactively dislike the music more. 3/5

One of those bands and albums I probably should like but don’t. I hate the crowd screaming between every song. 2 decent songs the rest filler

As someone who thinks Surrender is one of the best pop songs ever written, this has long been on my "to listen" list. Sadly I have to agree with many of the other reviewers, I don't think I've really missed out. Other than Surrender it's pretty vanilla rock'n'roll.

So... I listened to this three times today and it really doesn't do anything for me. It's not bad. It just doesn't excite me. I do really like "I Want You to Want Me"

It's fine, a few decent pop bops. The live element of it isn't too annoying

I liked the music. Absolutely hated the constant screaming and clapping from the crowd. Concert noise is horrible. Would probably be four without it, I already knew and like a handful of the songs and probably would like the rest if only it was a studio or at least quieter version.

This is an enjoyable hard rock show, including the classics I want you to want me and Surrender.

Cracking live account of the band.

They were at their best in the live performance.

Wish the vocal mixing was a bit better

Not a big fan of live albums, hopefully gonna come across a studio album from them. Not bad but not my thing

It was alright!

2-3

Decent album, has the 2 best versions of their 2 best songs

Even though I’d seen grainy footage of The Beatles live in Japan (1966) over the years, I wasn’t aware these performances were filmed at the Budokan. I don’t think I’d heard of the venue until the double album, Bob Dylan at Budokan was released in August ‘78, about six months before the American release of the Cheap Trick at Budokan in February ‘79. (Of course, by now it’s a matter of who hasn’t released a live at Budokan album - even Sheryl Crow & Willie Nelson). As for Cheap Trick, I totally missed their first two releases (both 1977), but I was all over the third, Heaven Tonight, released in April ‘78, the week before they flew to Japan & recorded the album at Budokan. Generally regarded as their best album, it’s surprising that only one track from Heaven Tonight made it onto the live album - the iconic Surrender. Especially because I find some of the material here less than inspiring (particularly on Side 1). The band, however are in good form. Among the highlights are their hit single from ‘77, I Want You To Want Me & their very respectable cover of Fats Domino’s Ain’t That A Shame. Obviously Budokan was used for recordings so often because of the acoustics. The clarity is really good compared to a lot of live rock albums.

Not bad. I thought I'd only be familiar with "Want You to Want Me," but I recognized "Surrender" as well. I didn't realize Cheap Trick had so much punk sound to them, but I only knew their one hit and it is the least punk on the album.

Aika tyhjänpäiväinen livelevy, enkä tiedä onko Cheap Trick bändinä hyvä juuri muussa kuin Top Gunin soundtrackina. Menköön nyt kuitenkin 3/5.

An album that inspired thousands to start rock bands and chase the dream. Unquestionably one of the greatest pop rock live albums of all time.

classic rock

Probably the most influential power pop album of the 70s, but not necessarily the best. Their style had resonated with both 80s indie rock and 90s power pop revival more so than any other band, if no reason other than this was a huge selling sensation. Where Big Star had a more folky vibe to it, this was large and energetic with huge glam rock influences, and I'm sure punk to based on those lyrics. Features catchy choruses to sing along to and fast guitar solos. Album started to stand out to me with "Big Eyes." I really enjoyed the patient, extensive melody of "Need Your Love." "Ain't that a Shame" has my favorite chorus, super catchy and shows how cool power chords can be. And then we have our two massive hits, although I do much prefer the studio versions. Last two tracks don't do much for me but are fine. At no point did I ever get tired, especially since my favorites are in the middle.

Couple good songs but mostly forgettable.

I don't think I'd ever heard a Cheap Trick song before, and I'm not particularly minded to seek out more of their work, but this was a really fun album. Tonnes of energy, sounds like them (and the fans) are having a really good time, and that's infectious. It's a little bit samey, and doesn't really get going until right near the end, but a solid enough album (particularly for a live one. 3/5.

It sounds like you had to be there to enjoy it. 3/5.

Not a big fan of live.

It was ok

A good fun live album - some good songs too - and it feels like it's a good snapshot of the specific show - but on the other hand it does not stand up to the greatest live records.

2.5

So this is supposed to be a huge live classic and I can understand why: this is a hard-hitting take on what you can find on their studio albums. You can hear the fun they had playing this and you have fun hearing it.

Nice energy, couple hits, crowd seems hype.

I'm not a Cheap Trick fan, their songs feel a little kitsh and easy to me, but I must admit they had an efficient power pop/rock sound and this live is done right : we feel a contagious energy from the crowd.

It's a great live album. They're clearly a great live band. I find it really interesting that this version of Surrender is their canonical version. Way overplayed on the classic rock stations of my youth, but there you are.

Hårdprock?

Energetic live album with breathless drumming. Good old 70s rock.

fínt stúss

Quite fun for a live album although many of the tracks passed me by. I Want You to Want Me is pleasant enough and buzzes along with a warming euphoria. The band have a swingy air-headedness which brings a smile. I listened while on a long run and it motivated me to chomp up the miles quite happily. Whether it leaves a mark, I dunno

More 70s rock.

bien aimé Need Your Love suivi de Ain't That a Shame

I’m neither a hard rock nor live album fan, but this was not bad considering!

Ik kan nooit helemaal opgewonden raken van een live album, maar echt slecht kon ik het ook niet noemen.

Lekker rockplaatje hor

Lekkere energie! En een paar erg goeie nummers. Surrender kan ik elk moment van de dag meebrullen :-)

It’s ok

Decent.

Some good hits, but not "one of the greatest live rock albums of all time."

This is the definition of okay. I understand giving my other two 3s so far 4s, but I feel like 3 is the sensible option here. It’s okay, but did we really need a live album by Cheap Trick over other, better records left off?

Great rock album despite being live. 80s rock sound but without the cheese. Surprisingly good

Strangely enjoyable

another live album i will not be listening to. (only rating because i accidentally saved the comments for another album to this entry and its bothering me. so it gets a very middle of the road 3).

classic rock sounds good nothing crazy

Highlights: "Lookout," "Big Eyes," "I Want You To Want Me" Good mix of a strong performance and unbelievable crowd energy -- "I Want You To Want Me" is a surreal, idealized arena rock moment. Not sure how much of the sound is owed to Cooper, but either way we can call this a milestone in calibrating metal to pop sensibilities for the '80s. Cheap Trick can be more menacing than I realized, with "Big Eyes" basically being an Alice in Chains song, but they also carry sunny melodic pop ideas with that same relentless beat. It is taking resolute strides away from the blues backbone of the '70s metal standard.

They came out swinging and put on a solid live performance recorded mostly true to sound. Sure it was a good night at Budokan. 3.4

Riveting lyrics: So you missed some school You know that school's for fools Today money rules

This is a repeat for me as I got this album before we turned this into a group thing. Album is just generic stadium rock but there was some appeal with the live rendition.

Este album es mas importante por su contexto y trasfondo que por su contenido.

I will never understand the hype of this album or Cheap Trick in general. They are a fun band at the least. I forget that I've seen them live and what I do recall is that they were fun. But I don't see them as much more than that. I had to give this album 2 listens and that's that I've given it 2 listens prior, I know my parents played the shit out of this too, and It doesn't click for me. Ive tried to see the greatness of this album, and I can't. Perhaps I had to be there? At the very least, I'm glad that I gave it a listen so that I can give an opinion on the hype, but this albums borders a 3 for me.

Like listening to XRT

A decent live album, definitely worth a listen

rocks the boat

Wow… gansk aswag

Ok

I’ve listened to noise of crowd!

Power-pop hits the gym. Today is never leg day.

You can definitely feel the spirit of the concert, but it's just an okay album to me in the end.

Eh idk, its bland generic rock n roll. 2.5 really, but i can only give it 2 or 3. I think I might be a bit kind since it seems like they had a nice time at that concert. I am probably way to kind. 3/5

It was pretty solid, enjoyable live album. 3/5

First one I'm surprised is here. Unless I don't know the historical significance of either the show they played or cheap trick in general I'd just call this dad rock. The albums alright, the songs were alright, they just seem a little weird. 3 stars

Fun enough

Competent, catchy hard rock but the songs kinda blend together.

Decent

Didn't knock my socks off, but it improves as the concert progresses. There are definitely worse ways to spend 45 minutes than listening to Cheap Trick.

I wanted to be vowed, but I was bored instead. Their two hits are good, but this album just didn't do it for me.

Un album live correct... avec les hits a la fin. 3

I quite enjoyed the first song, mostly because I was taking off over the skyline of New York and it seemed to appropriately match the energy. The entire album felt like a great summer road trip song to me. I’ll remember this one next time it’s warm enough to have the windows down.

Their live album is SO much better than the studio album - why did the studio album sap all the rock out of them? There's so much more energy in this live performance. The difference is kind of remarkable. Didn't really discover any net new songs here - everything that stood out for me I had already heard. Standouts: I want you to want me (though I might still give Letters to Cleo cover the edge although this is, again, SO MUCH BETTER than the horrifying plodding and passionless studio version of the song); Ain't that a Shame; Surrender. I think this might be a 2.5 rounded up to 3 for me.

One of the most popular reviews on this site is an absolutely savage flaying of this album (which was very funny to read, I should add). That being said, I really expected to hate this. I didn't. It wasn't remarkable, but there were parts of it that I actually really enjoyed. Wonder why that guy hates Cheap Trick so much (outside of all of the stuff he says in the review, I guess). Standouts: Hello There, I Want You To Want Me, Goodnight

Allt í lagi gítarrokk.

Anthem rock. Kinda good…

I guess I've heard all the songs overplayed so much it wasn't really a new experience. Still a really god album.