Cheap Trick at Budokan

Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Who NEEDS to hear this before they die?

I’ve always felt a vague antipathy for this band. Listening to the whole record it’s not all that bad and the guitar sound is cool but the songs still don’t click with me. I wonder why the Japanese loved them so much.

Really dig the songs, but I feel like they would’ve been better as studio versions. 4/5

Took me forever to work out that I recognised them from the Guardians Of The Galaxy soundtrack. First time listening to them properly and I will definitely check out more

This was alright. Maybe its because I only knew 1 song? Vocals were good, but the high pitched screaming pissed me off a bit. Overall ok album

3 ⭐️

Peak laziness putting a live Cheap Trick album on here. Old mates have some tunes but this makes me worry about how many of their studio albums are in here.

Very solid, the first live album I've actually liked.

Cheap Trick should not be anywhere near this list despite the fact, and I hate myself for admitting it, "I Want You to Want Me" is absolutely incredible track.

I wonder why they have a live album instead of a studio one. Maybe they haven't released a worthy studio recording. This has 2 massive hits obviously but apart from that it's decent but don't think it's super great. Probably 3 stars

Live albums are not albums. It's memorabilia for die hard fans.
Nothing about this justifies the inclusion on a list of essential releases. The tracks are okay at best, and nothing is gained by having this recorded with a crowd.

𝘈𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘯 captures the moment Cheap Trick went from cult favorites to international stars, thanks largely to their massive popularity in Japan. The live setting gives hits like 𝘐 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘦 a rawer, more energetic edge, and that energy finally broke them into the U.S. charts. Still, for all the enthusiasm, Cheap Trick often sound like a second-tier hard rock/power pop band — fun and catchy, but never quite on the level of their bigger peers.

I mean, the live version of "I Want You To Want Me" and "Surrender" are superior to the original, the rest is kinda meh. Big in Japan ain't what it used to be...

Essential late 70's power pop that broke this deserving band into the mainstream and influenced rock bands everywhere. Plus it asked the question, "where the hell is Budokan"?

This fucking RIPS! No further explanation needed.

I was pretty disappointed with this when I got the CD in a 12 for the price of 1 deal from BMG music club in the 00s. Surrender is an amazing song and I Want you to Want me is an overplayed but endearingly earnest timeless power pop gem, but the rest is pretty boring stuff, sitting somewhere between 70s classic rock and 80s new wave - chugging along at mid tempo with a bluesy beat, tons of guitar noodling, insistent drumming, and kind of thin but very charismatic vocals. The rhythm guitar tone is great though, bright and scuzzy chords ringing out loudly. They're the of arena rock version of a John Hughes movie - saccharine teenage bubblegum.

Cheap Trick and Alice Cooper was the first real concert I ever attended in 2005 when I was 14. Honestly not sure why my dad got us tickets because I don’t think either of us were massive fans of either band, but it was still an incredible experience.

Listening to Cheap Trick at Budokan now immediately took me back to that show. 27 years after Budokan and I’m pretty sure they had a very similar set in Toronto at the Docks. I wonder if they already had the 5-neck guitar in 1978.

Overall, this was an enjoyable listen, but I still don't think Cheap Trick are going to be my favourite band or anything.

It's full of good, upbeat rock numbers, and it's a reminder that I should check out more Cheap Trick. I'd prefer to hear an actual studio album though so I can check out the songs properly. It's always a bit strange listening to a live album for a band you don't really know that well. I only knew Surrender on this album (which I love) and that hit well as a result. Overall... it was a good gig.

3.5 rounded down.

Not a huge fan of Cheap Trick. This recording has never sounded great to me either.

At Budokan doesn't really do anything all that special or unique but it does what it does pretty well. I'm pretty sure that i have never heard any of this band's studio songs (If the version of I Want You to Want Me that plays on my local classic rock station is this version) but i still think that these guys definitely sound really good when they are performing live. The songs themselves are also enjoyable listens with them mostly being your typical late 70s sounding hard rock songs. There wasn't too much of a difference between any of the songs but i still thought that this album didn't drag. This album isn't perfect but it is still a very good listen.
Best Song: Surrender
Worst Song: Hello There

As established previously, I do not like a live album. I do like Cheap Trick (or at least, I liked their singles). So, very mixed feelings about this one. As an album I would never listen to it, though, so I'll give it a 2. Does anyone even like live albums? (I guess they must.)

Highlights: 'I Want You to Want Me', 'Surrender'