On April 26th, reissue label Real Gone Music will release the third and final volume in the Epic Archives collection that was, for a time, only available for streaming or download via Amazon, YouTube, Spotify, and other digital sites.
It was one thing to be able to stream these cuts whenever one felt the urge to revisit Trick's lesser-known gems, like "I Will Survive" from the "Gladiator" soundtrack or "Up The Creek" from the film of the same name starring guys who were so much better in "Animal House"!
Now that Real Gone has made all three volumes available in physical format, with Vol. 3 (1984-1992) available on a limited-edition two-LP set that was the highlight of Record Store Day 2019 for this writer.
First off, dig this track listing:
1. Up the Creek (Acappella Intro)
A truly underrated gem, with Jon Brant's baddest bass line. Should it have been a bit? Only if the band wanted to be singing "I'm Up the Creek" on "Conan" 30 years after the fact, so maybe they dodged a bullet.
2. How About You (Alternate Version)
3. Little Sister (Alternate Jack Douglas Mix)
4. It's Only Love (Single Version)
5. She's Got Motion (Alternate Jack Douglas Mix)
For those of us who always wondered what Standing On The Edge would have sounded like if the band had gone with the Jack Douglas mixes, these three alternate versions should help clear things up. Sadly, not a MASSIVE improvement, but definitely less of the '80s bells 'n whistles that Platt added to the final mix.
Having said that, these Douglas mixes are most likely rough mixes because, as legend has it, Douglas pulled out of the project suddenly to deal with a lawsuit filed against him by Yoko Ono. As a result, to our ears, they sound a little lacking in the "oomph" of a final mix.
6. Mighty Wings (From the motion picture 'Top Gun')
Did a single human being take part in this song's performance and, again, if it had become a huge hit for the band, how embarrassing would it be to have to roll out this song every night?
7. Tonight It's You (Single Version)
8. The Flame (Clean)
9. Don't Be Cruel (Big New Mix)
10. All We Need Is a Dream (Alternate Version)
They chopped off the clunky intro from the album version, leading this fan to wonder aloud "Why didn't they put this version on the album?" This isn't new to anyone who owns Sex! America! Cheap Trick or bought this version on cassingle (!).
11. Money (That's What I Want) [From "Caddyshack II" Original Soundtrack]
Oof, the band's absolute low-point, at least until "Wild Thing" (from the "Encino Man" soundtrack).
12. You Want It (From "Say Anything" Original Soundtrack)
From '1989's "Say Anything" film and soundtrack and obviously recorded during the Lap Of Luxury sessions, but inexplicably left off the album. This song and "Through The Night" (recorded during the same sessions, but issued as the non-LP B-side to "The Flame") coulda been hits. Also, this was already released on the Sex! America! Cheap Trick! box set.
13. Can't Stop Fallin' into Love (Radio Mix)
This was an actual Billboard Top 20 pop single, yet you never hear it on the radio, nor does the band go out of the way to trot it out in their live shows. Weird that they'd bury one of their biggest hits.
14. Big Bang (From Japanese Version of "Busted")
Sure, the lyrics are probably the cheesiest the band ever committed to tape, but singer Robin Zander can sing the phone book and have you hanging on every number. Not sure where this whole "Japanese bonus track" thing started, but, between that and At Budukon being kept from us initially, it always felt like we die-hard U.S. fans continually got the short end of the stick.
15. Magical Mystery Tour (The "Greatest Hits" Version)
16. I Will Survive (From "Gladiator" Original Soundtrack)
Hey, at least they didn't record a song called "Only The Strong Survive" or something, right? Despite the hokey title that has zero to do with the Gloria Gaynor tune, the band actually manage to work up a nice head of steam here as they saunter off into the sunset, kissing their Epic/CBS/Sony days goodbye.