In Color (album)


In Color is the second studio album by Cheap Trick, released in 1977. It was produced by Tom Werman.
This album is considered a classic of the power pop genre. The album was ranked No. 4 on Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide. In 2003, the album was also ranked number 443 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Overview

In Color, as opposed to the band's self-titled debut, features a more polished production in the hopes of making a commercial impact. While the bandleader Rick Nielsen felt the album may have lost some of its power due to Tom Werman's more layered production, In Color does show the band's more melodic side that was partially lost on the debut.
The album made the band superstars in Japan, where "I Want You to Want Me" and "Clock Strikes Ten" were hit singles.
Five of the ten tracks on In Color were later released in live form on Cheap Trick's classic live album Cheap Trick at Budokan.
In Color's front cover has a color photo of Robin Zander and Tom Petersson sitting on motorcycles with the words "Cheap Trick, In Color." across the top. Its back cover has an upside-down black-and-white photo of Carlos and Nielsen sitting on mopeds with the words "And In Black and White." across the top.
The In Colour radio show which airs on Ireland's national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ 2XM is named after the album.

Re-recorded version

In Color was re-recorded by the band in 1998 with producer Steve Albini. The band's intention was to record the album on their own terms and for the songs to sound the way that they had originally intended. It was never officially completed or released, but a rough mix of the album was leaked onto the internet along with a handful of other tracks recorded during the same sessions.
In September 2008, the re-recorded version of "Hello There" was featured as a playable song in the video game Rock Band 2, raising suspicions that the album may have been finished.
"Oh Boy," the B-side of the single "I Want You to Want Me" was re-recorded with vocals in 1980. It was released in 2003 on the "Oh Boy /If You Want My Love " promotional seven-inch vinyl record.
In April 2010, Rick Nielsen confirmed to the online music site Spinner that the band had in fact finished re-recording the album and planned to release the new version in "the not so distant future".

Track listing

The 1998 reissue of In Color featured five bonus tracks, including the B-side to "I Want You to Want Me" "Oh Boy" and "Goodnight", a live, show-closing variation of "Hello There."

Unreleased outtake

Cheap Trick