Cheap Trick - In Color - Steve Albini Sessions -1998 Cd Flac- Jun 2026
Formed in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, vocalist Randy Hogan (later replaced by Robin Zander), and drummer Bun E. Carlos, Cheap Trick quickly established themselves as one of the leading bands in the power pop and hard rock genres. Their early years were marked by critically acclaimed albums such as "Cheap Trick" (1977) and "Heaven Tonight" (1978), which included hits like "Surrender" and "Dream Police." Despite their growing fan base and commercial success, the band faced numerous challenges, including label disputes, lineup changes, and personal struggles.
Rick Nielsen later explained, "We didn't go at it trying to come up with crazy new arrangements, but sonically we never liked In Color . The songs were good, but sonically it's wimpy and we're not wimpy".
The opening tracks transform from catchy pop-rockers into heavy, driving proto-punk anthems. Nielsen's guitar tone is thick and menacing, biting through the speakers with a visceral crunch.
The result was a complete re-recording of all ten tracks from In Color , with a few outtakes and alternate takes thrown in for good measure. Unlike the layered, multi-tracked approach of the 1977 original, Albini set up the band to play live in the studio. The aesthetic was stripped of all grandiose polish and gloss. Suddenly, the songs became the centerpiece. Formed in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist
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Read about the band's history and the original album's impact at Ultimate Classic Rock
The (often tagged as a 1998 CD FLAC bootleg) represent a legendary "lost" project where the band re-recorded their 1977 classic album, In Color , to capture the raw, heavy sound they felt was missing from the original production. Although the band and Rick Nielsen have occasionally suggested the album was finished, bassist Tom Petersson clarified as recently as 2021 that the recordings were never officially completed. History and Motivation Rick Nielsen later explained, "We didn't go at
: Stripped of the honky-tonk piano and the polite acoustic strumming of the 1977 studio version, this take relies on a driving, aggressive rhythm that aligns it more closely with the band's famous At Budokan live rendition.
Two decades later, in 1998, the band sought to rectify history. Enter Steve Albini, the legendary alternative rock producer and audio engineer famous for his uncompromising, bone-rattling analog production on Nirvana’s In Utero and Pixies’ Surfer Rosa .
'In Color' represents a turning point in Cheap Trick's career, marking a return to form after a few lackluster releases. With Steve Albini's guidance, the band recaptured their creative spark, delivering an album that's both a nostalgic throwback to their Surrender-era sound and a forward-thinking statement. If you're a fan of Cheap Trick, power pop, or just great songwriting, 'In Color' is an essential listen. Nielsen's guitar tone is thick and menacing, biting
These Steve Albini sessions from 1998 were not officially released as an album called “In Color” . The official In Color album is from 1977 and was not produced by Albini. So what you’re looking at is almost certainly a bootleg or fan compilation of outtakes/alternate versions.
Discover why Steve Albini’s recording philosophy mattered so much to bands like Cheap Trick at PopMatters or advice on how to organize your digital music library for bootlegs like this?
Albini had a profound appreciation for Cheap Trick, describing their work ethic as "astounding" and praising the band for "still being able to deliver the goods on a regular basis". When the opportunity arose to work together, the chemistry was undeniable.
