Swansea Sound: All Is Calm

Welsh poppy punk quintet Swansea Sound decided to have a bit of fun and join the flurry of seasonal releases with a tongue-in-cheek Christmas mini-album. On All Is Calm they poke fun at first world problems (Not My Order, Click It And Pay (Walking In The Air)) and ask the imaginary bearded guy to safe from misery and ennui (Santa Bail Me Out).

Last year's single (I Wanna Wear A) Mirrored Hat Like Slade plus it accusing B-side Dreamland - nope, not everyone can spend a shit load of money on presents - are included, which will please all those who missed out on that one. It may seem a bit weird for an indie band to wrap up the proceedings with a cover of Cheap Trick's rather cheesy Merry Christmas Darlings, but it turned out pretty good, giving it an edge that was missing from the original.

Cheap Trick: "The Complete Epic Albums Collection" on crystal clear vinyl

American power pop band Cheap Trick's run of albums when they were signed to Epic is arguably the best period in their extensive discography. In 2013 The Complete Epic Albums Collection was released on CD (with a lot of bonus tracks). A second helping came out in 2022.

Act 3 will feature all the albums on crystal clear vinyl, housed in a slipcase box set (no bonus tracks). Limited edition of 1000 copies. Available for pre-order via Music on Vinyl (Europe) and the Cheap Trick webstore (US, UK, ROW, Townsend Music). Release date: March 14.

» cheaptrick.com

Cheap Trick: "Out To Get You! Live 1977" for Record Store Day

Rock quartet Cheap Trick became a household name with the release of their Cheap Trick at Budokan album in 1978. Only one year before they were working their asses off on the club circuit in the US. Out To Get You! Live 1977 was recorded during their gigs at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. It will available as a 2LP (4700 copies) for Record Store Day. Release date: October 24th.

LP 1 / Side A : 1. “Hello There” 2. “Come On, Come On” 3. “Oh Candy” 4. “Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace” 5. “Elo Kiddies” 6. “Hot Love” 7. “Southern Girls”
LP 1 / Side B: 1. “Cry, Cry” 2. “Big Eyes” 3. “High Roller” 4. “He’s A Whore” 5. “Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School”

LP 2 / Side A: 1. “Can’t Hold On” 2. “Clock Strikes Ten” 3. “Loser” 4. “Taxman, Mr. Thief”
LP 2 / Side B: 1. “Ain’t That A Shame” 2. “Oh Caroline” 3. “Oh Boy” 4. You’re All Talk” 5. “Auf Wiedersehen” 6. “Goodnight”

» cheaptrick.com

HCTF's Guilty Pleasures: Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me

Watch Cheap Trick perform I Want You To Want Me, recorded live at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. They played two shows there on April 28 and 30, 1978 (the first night was filmed), Audio tracks from those two nights were released on the Cheap Trick at Budokan album.

» cheaptrick.com