SHAZAM

Alright, this is a little tricky. The original Cheap Trick at Budokan rounded up highlights from Cheap Trick’s legendary 1978 stand at Budokan, it was later expanded to The Complete Concert in 1998, a two-disc set that contained the complete set list but apparently drew from the best versions from their three-night stint. All three nights were featured on the 30th Anniversary box set -- the first two nights issued on the CD, the third as a DVD -- and now, in 2010, there’s At Budokan, that contains the first night as a CD and a DVD. The CD contains familiar recordings but the DVD is something new, the first DVD release of the Friday show, which should be enough of a hook for the hardcore to pick this up for the fourth time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

At Budokan was the pivotal album for Cheap Trick, the one that made them stars. The louder, harder-rocking versions of such Rick Nielsen classics as "I Want You to Want Me" and "Come On, Come On" connected with a wide audience in a way the studio recordings didn't, and the record consequently became a smash. Given its enduring popularity, it wasn't surprising that Epic and Cheap Trick celebrated its 20th anniversary by releasing The Complete Concert, a double-disc set that contains all of the 19 songs the band had performed. Much of this material was released on Budokan II, but this set restores all the music to its original running order, making it an entirely unique album in its own right. There's no question that the music is terrific and it certainly is interesting to hear all of this the way it was actually performed, but The Complete Concert doesn't have the punch of the original album, which hit hard at only ten tracks. The length of this set might make it frustrating for some fans, but any hardcore Trick fan will need this comprehensive, detailed document of the band's most celebrated concert. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

While their records were entertaining and full of skillful pop, it wasn't until At Budokan that Cheap Trick's vision truly gelled. Many of these songs, like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Big Eyes," were pleasant in their original form, but seemed more like sketches compared to the roaring versions on this album. With their ear-shatteringly loud guitars and sweet melodies, Cheap Trick unwittingly paved the way for much of the hard rock of the next decade, as well as a surprising amount of alternative rock of the 1990s, and it was At Budokan that captured the band in all of its power. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi