Don't Be Cruel [Sony Special Products]

Performer: Cheap Trick
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Like many budget-priced collections, Sony Music Special Products' Don't Be Cruel takes a scattershot approach to compilation, randomly throwing a selection of hits, cult favorites, and album tracks together. Since Cheap Trick had an abundance of great album cuts, at least on their first few records, the odds were good that Don't Be Cruel would be a successful -- and it is. Sure, the title track with its high-gloss surfaces sticks out like a sore thumb, but everything else here is vintage Cheap Trick. True, the Dream Police cuts don't quite match up to the selections from Cheap Trick, In Color, and Heaven Tonight, but they're in the same spirit. Besides, it's hard to argue with a collection that offers "Hello There," "Surrender," "Oh Caroline," "Oh, Candy," "ELO Kiddies," "California Man," and "Come on, Come On." They might not add up to a definitive collection, but it's certainly a very enjoyable sampler. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Like many budget-priced collections, Sony Music Special Products' Don't Be Cruel takes a scattershot approach to compilation, randomly throwing a selection of hits, cult favorites and album tracks together. Since Cheap Trick had an abundance of great album cuts, at least on their first few records, the odds were good that Don't Be Cruel would be successful -- and it is. Sure, the title track with its high-gloss surfaces sticks out like a sore thumb, but everything else here is vintage Cheap Trick. True, the Dream Police cuts don't quite match up to the selections from Cheap Trick, In Color and Heaven Tonight, but they're in the same spirit. Besides, it's hard to argue with a collection that offers "Hello There," "Surrender," "Oh Caroline," "Oh Candy," "Elo Kiddies," "California Man" and "Come On, Come On." They might not add up to a definitive collection, but it's certainly a very enjoyable sampler. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Cheap Trick's first few albums are often cited as an influence on both '80s pop-metal and the pop-punk phenomenon of the '90s. Robin Zander's rock-star looks and powerful voice played perfectly off guitar hero Rick Neilsen's oddball image and onstage antics, and the band frequently subverted standard rock song structures with odd, ironic lyrics. In their late-'70s heyday, Cheap Trick's fusion of power-pop and hard rock won them credibility with rockers, new wave fans, and pure popsters. Their 1978 release AT BUDOKAN still stands as one of rock's finest concert albums.

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