The band scored their first US Top 10 hit with this classic concert version.
Kronomyth 4.1: Wanted men.
The original version of this song should have been a worldwide hit. Instead, it was the live version from At Budokan that caught the world’s attention. Personally, I prefer the compressed helium of the studio version, but the live version of I Want You to Want Me does rock harder. The world is richer for any version of this song it can lay ears to.
The B side was the live version of Clock Strikes Ten that closed out At Budokan. Again, both the studio and live versions are classics, and Cheap Trick does amazing job of re-creating the original on stage. This was a song that was meant to be played live anyway. Imagine what we’re doing tonight indeed.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. I Want You to Want Me (live) (Rick Nielsen) (3:38)
B1. Clock Strikes Ten (live) (Rick Nielsen) (4:11)
7-inch promotional single (UK)
A1. I Want You to Want Me (live)
B1. I Want You to Want Me (studio)
Back-to-back hits 7-inch single reissue
A1. I Want You to Want Me (live) (Rick Nielsen)
B1. Ain’t That a Shame (live) (Antoine Domino/Dave Bartholomew) (3:08)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch and yellow vinyl 7-inch single in April 1979 in the US and Canada (Epic, 8-50680), in May 1979 in the UK (Epic, SEPC 7258), Australia and New Zealand (Epic, ES350) and Spain (Epic, EPC 7258) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #7 on the US charts (charted on April 29, 1979 for 19 weeks) (RIAA-certified gold record) and #29 on the UK charts. Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1979 in the UK (Epic, SEPC 7258ADJ) feat. A live and studio versions.
- Re-packaged with “Ain’t That a Shame (live)” on back-to-back hits 7-inch single in the US (Columbia Hall of Fame, 15-2390) and Canada (Columbia Hall of Fame, E41056).
