Cheap Tracks

Cheap Trick superfans Chris Castaneda and Mike Vanderbilt explore the history of the coolest rock 'n' roll band to emerge from Rockford, IL, Cheap Trick.

"Baby Talk" 02/28/2026

"Baby Talk" The mid-90s found Cheap Trick focused on reclaiming the edges that had been smoothed out of the band’s sound for much of the band’s run through the 1980s. By 1997, the band took the indie label route after years of major label support finally souring on the Rockford quartet’s declining record sales albeit that one shining moment in 1988. Distortion and fuzz were king in 1994, but, following the death of Kurt Cobain, a vacuum was created that the guitar just couldn’t fill against the resurgence of corporate pop. So, naturally, this is the perfect time for Cheap Trick to enter the studio with Steve Albini and bash out some dirty, riffy guitar rock. This ain’t all talk…it’s “Baby Talk”. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/40261230

"Take Me To The Top" 01/30/2026

"Take Me To The Top" We kick off the new year with a nod to an album that deserves some cake and ice cream. It was 40 years ago when Cheap Trick delivered its ninth album and probably its most bewildering to many fans at the time. Call us a doctor because we need a dose of “Take Me To The Top.” /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/39935390

"Gimme Some Truth" 12/24/2025

"Gimme Some Truth" Wrapping up the year, Chris and Mike look at the band's cover of John Lennnon's "Gimme Some Truth," on the 45th anniversary of Lennon's assasination. The hosts dive into the songwriting process of The Beatles, McCartney's contribution, protest songs in general and also discuss the band's recent statment regarding their performance at the Kennedy Center Honors in tribute to KISS. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/39530195

"All Washed Up" 11/15/2025

"All Washed Up" There's a new Cheap Trick album on store shelves and Mike and Chris are back to share their initial reactions as they go through the latest, song by song. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/39042310

"Ohm Sweet Ohm" 04/14/2025

"Ohm Sweet Ohm" This week, Chris and Mike take a trip back to 1981 when Cheap Trick became the go to band for your weird Canadian cartoon with "Ohm Sweet Ohm" off of the ROCK AND RULE soundtrack. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/36134250

"Need Your Love" w/ Jason Narducy 04/01/2025

"Need Your Love" w/ Jason Narducy Happy Cheap Trick Day! This week, Mike and Chris are joined by Chicagoland rock 'n' roll luminary Jason Narducy to discuss his adoration for Cheap Trick's "Need Your Love," live on tape from the late Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studios. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/35944270

"Ghost Town" 03/07/2025

"Ghost Town" With Diane Warren mourning her SIXTEENTH Oscar loss, Chris and Mike decided to take a look back at "Ghost Town," a song she recieved co-writing credit on alongside Rick Nielsen. We look back on the songwriter's career, discuss some of our favorite tunes penned by her and explore the concept of the professional songwriter versus songs written by a band. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/35578095

"It's Up To You" W/ Pat O'Sullivan 02/17/2025

"It's Up To You" W/ Pat O'Sullivan Is there a doctor in the audience? In 1986, Cheap Trick came back with its ninth album and its last of the Jon Brant era. After a mild momentum boost from the previous year’s STANDING ON THE EDGE it looked like things were finally taking a commercial turn for the band in a good direction…or so it seemed. Pat O'Sullivan of Chicago's Cheap Trick tribute act, Rockford Files joins in the conversation. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/35316670

"Sing My Blues Away" 02/05/2025

"Sing My Blues Away" Our hosts take a trip back to 2016, a very cool time to be a Cheap Trick fan with the band being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and releasing a new album, BANG, ZOOM, CRAZY...HELLO! This week, we look at the gem of an album track "Sing My Blues Away" and discuss the artists we lost that year and how good a song can sound blaring out of a radio. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/35164840

"Quit Waking Me Up" 01/21/2025

"Quit Waking Me Up" The boys look back on "Quit Waking Me Up," off of the band's 20th full length release, IN ANOTHER WORLD. They dissect the song's overt Beatles influence, dive into the career of songwriter, Kristian Bush, discuss the Nashville influence on modern trick, and so much more! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/34948950

"Won't Take No For An Answer" 01/07/2025

"Won't Take No For An Answer" It’s rare when a Cheap Trick song doesn’t begin from the stage or ever find the stage after recording. By 1983, any and all restrictions in the studio were gone. The mad scientist in Rick Nielsen was allowed to play. On this week's episode, Chris and Mike look back on “Won’t Take No For An Answer” from the band's 1983 full length, NEXT POSITION PLEASE. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/34751125

"Too Much" 11/20/2024

"Too Much" This week, the Chris and Mike travel back to 2003 to discuss the band's third single off of SPECIAL ONE, "Too Much." /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/34023187

"Tonight It's You" 08/02/2024

"Tonight It's You" This week we look back at "Tonight It's You," the first single off of 1985's STANDING ON THE EDGE, and along the way get sidetracked by Rita Jenrette, the Rolling Stones, Dick Clark, and the softcore classic EMMANUELE! We're also joined by songwriter and Cheap Trick collaborator Mark Radice, who offers insight into the songwriting process. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/32419227

"No Direction Home" 06/12/2024

"No Direction Home" In 2015 Cheap Trick was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame...a dubious honor, indeed, but there's no doubt that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Today we look back at the release of BANG, ZOOM, CRAZY...HELLO!, the band's seventeenth studio album and it's first single, "No Direction Home." /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/31707887

"He's A Whore" 05/23/2024

"He's A Whore" Chris & Mike pay tribute to Cheap Trick superfan and former guest, the late Steve Albini, and dive into "He's A Whore" from the band's self-titled debut. Is this the band being influenced by punk or simply being themselves, who is the whore, and exactly why does Rick dedicate this song to his wife at shows. We ask all those questions and more! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/31432372

"Mandocello" 04/01/2024

"Mandocello" Chris and Mike celebrate Cheap Trick Day by looking back at one of the band's finest ballads.... /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/30631458

"Lookout" 03/07/2024

"Lookout" First introduced to Japan and eventually the world on 1978’s AT BUDOKAN. A fan-favorite rocker that existed for many years as a live album curiosity. Is it a simple story of boy meets girl? And exactly what do any of the lyrics in that bridge mean? Today, we are joined by Pat O'Sullivan as we "Lookout!" /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/30271298

"Yeah Yeah" 01/25/2024

"Yeah Yeah" The other self-titled Cheap Trick was released after the alternative explosion of the ‘90s. Is this the band returning to their roots or is this a “snake charmer” record? Or is this simply the band at their most authentic at this place and time? Today, we dig into the meat of the album with "Yeah Yeah." /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/29643408

"Welcome To The World" 01/12/2024

"Welcome To The World" And welcome to 2024! We'll be celebrating FIFTY years of Cheap Trick over the next twelve months and we kick things off with "Welcome To The World" which opened the band's fifteenth studio release ROCKFORD. By 2006, Cheap Trick was well into its second fresh start to the second half of its career. On the band’s fifthteenth album, the band pays homage to its hometown in the album’s title and launches full speed with the opener “Welcome To The World”. Was this indeed the true start of the 21st Century for Cheap Trick? What’s the key to a great album opener? And what’s the album connection to Rockford? Welcome to the podcast, it’s a better place. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/29455388

"Invaders Of The Heart" 12/21/2023

"Invaders Of The Heart" For their final show of 2023, Chris and Mike look back at ONE of the album closers for 1983's NEXT POSITION PLEASE. Is this a "produced demo," or is Rick saying something deeper to the record label? Listen, and be prepared to be driven insane! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/29177533

Woke Up With A Monster 10/31/2023

Woke Up With A Monster We travel back to 1994 to explore the lead single off of Cheap Trick's sole Warner Bros. release, WOKE UP WITH A MONSTER, appropriately titled, "Woke Up With A Monster." We explore the song and the era. Is this Cheap Trick's response to the alternative rock movement? Is this really the band's "grunge" record? Is this album just another example of the Cheap Trick curse? What did Beavis and Butthead have to say about it? Tune in and go completely wild! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/28474847

"Cry, Cry" 10/18/2023

"Cry, Cry" This week we travel back to 1977 (and back it up a little to 1976) to discuss the smoldering jam, "Cry, Cry" off of the band's 1977 self-titled debut. We also look back at the notable show at the Sunset Bowl in Waukesha, WI where Jack Douglas saw the band for the first time and got them signed to Epic before producing that classic record. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/28360661

"Sick Man Of Europe" 09/27/2023

"Sick Man Of Europe" It was Sweet 16 for Cheap Trick in 2009 but little did we all know it would be the last time with the drummer. Today, we visit a song with lots of history, not just in name. It was “classic”, it was “vintage”, it was THE LATEST…time to get ourselves home with “Sick Man of Europe”. We dive into the history baked into the tune with the help of Brian Kramp's massive tome, THIS BAND HAS NO PAST: HOW CHEAP TRICK BECAME CHEAP TRICK, discuss the retrospective nature of THE LATEST, and our adoration for go-go dancers. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/28161485

"Twisted Heart" 09/13/2023

"Twisted Heart" This week, we travel back to 1983 via 1996 to do some surgery on "Twisted Heart," a track recorded for the band's 1983 album NEXT POSITION PLEASE that didn't make its way to fan's ears until the SEX, AMERICA, CHEAP TRICK box set. Is NEXT POSITION PLEASE a better album with this darker tune included? What are we blaming the record company for this time around? You better believe me, this is going to be a good one. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/28021848

"Decaf" 08/23/2023

"Decaf" This week we go back to 2006 the album closer to the band’s fifteenth studio album, ROCKFORD, released on the devilish date of 6/6/06, “Decaf,” Is it about drugs? Is it about taking it easy? Or is it just a cup of coffee? /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/27833787

Metro Chicago, July 16 2023 08/10/2023

Metro Chicago, July 16 2023 Cheap Trick played as part of Metro Chicago's 40th anniversary celebration and Chris and Mike were there, in the flesh baby! This week on Cheap Tracks, we review the setlist, the performance, and the Sammy Hagar Beach Bar cocktails! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/27708702

"Gonna Raise Hell" w/ Tom Werman 04/13/2023

"Gonna Raise Hell" w/ Tom Werman Tom Werman, the man behind the boards for IN COLOR, HEAVEN TONIGHT, and DREAM POLICE drops by to discuss the barn burner, "Gonna Raise Hell" off of the band's '79 release that sat on a shelf due to the success of BUDOKAN. We get sidetracked discussing "Auf Weidershen," Catacombs in Quincy, IL, George Martin, and so much more! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/26537838

"Reach Out" w/ Miles Nielsen 03/30/2023

"Reach Out" w/ Miles Nielsen It's Cheap Trick Day in Illinois and to celebrate, Chris and Mike welcome a very special guest: the Prince Of Rockford, Miles Nielsen. Together, the boys look back on this fan favorite track from 1981's HEAVY METAL soundtrack and get sidetracked by "Borderline," Mr. Penis, Pete Comita, and conversations about growing up with a famous rock 'n' roll dad. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/26363076

"Takin' Me Back" w/ Gary Ladinsky 03/23/2023

"Takin' Me Back" w/ Gary Ladinsky Gary Ladinsky was the engineer on Cheap Trick's third studio album, HEAVEN TONIGHT, and today, he's taking Chris and Mike back to 1978 as they dive into "Takin' Me Back," the side two opener to the band's 1978 release. /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/26323377

"Radio Lover" 03/09/2023

"Radio Lover" This week Chris and Mike go all the way back to 1997 via 2017 as we look back on a long-time coming re-recording of a fan-favorite demo, “Radio Lover," the fourth song off the band's 18th release, WE'RE ALL ALRIGHT! /episode/index/show/cheaptracks/id/26180703

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