Cheap Trick: “Voices” (1979)

If this is wimpy, then buy me a burger and I’ll pay you on Tuesday.

Kronomyth 5.3: Please, can I hear this every day?

Hey, it’s me again, basking in the beatlesful Voices. Cheap Trick was really indulging their boyhood fantasies with this one, writing a song that sounded like a ringer for the Fab Four (primarily Paul). On the flip side is the Stones-y The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems). And there you have it on one little piece of plastic: the reason why so many people thought Cheap Trick was going to save rock and roll. They could do it all, and so few bands have been able to do that. They didn’t do it for long, but neither did The Clash, Buzzcocks or the other voices of the past. It lends credence to the idea that bands are blessed by the muses but briefly before the gods find another champion, or begin whispering in a different ear.

Original 7-inch single version

A1. Voice (Rick Nielsen) (4:19)
B1. The House Is Rockin’ (with Domestic Problems) (Tom Petersson/Rick Nielsen) (5:10)

Original 7-inch single version (UK/GER)
A1. Voices (Rick Nielsen) (4:19)
B1. Surrender (live) (Rick Nielsen) (4:37)

Original 7-inch single version (AUSL/JPN)
A1. Voices (Rick Nielsen) (4:21)
B1. I’ll Be with You Tonight (Rick Nielsen/Bun E. Carlos/Tom Petersson/Robin Zander) (3:51)

Original 7-inch single version (NET)
A1. Voices (Rick Nielsen) (4:29)
B1. Hot Love (Rick Nielsen) (2:30)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single version in November 1979 in the US and Canada (Epic, 9-50814), Australia (Epic, ES 340), the UK and Germany (Epic, S EPC 7144), Japan (Epic, 06-5P-49) and the Netherlands (Epic, EPC 8106) with regional picture sleeve. Also released as promotional 7-inch and 12-inch single in 1979 in the US (Epic, 9-50814/AS 722) feat. A only. Reached #32 on the US charts (charted on December 8, 1979 for 11 weeks).