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In Color (1977) was produced by Tom Werman, who brought a polished, radio-friendly sound to songs like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Southern Girls." While it sold well, it lacked the chaotic, high-energy punch of Cheap Trick (1977) or their live performances.
The result was a version of In Color that sounded less like a pop record and more like a proto-punk assault. "I Want You to Want Me" was transformed from a bouncy tune into a driving, desperate rocker. The Mystery of the Unreleased Master
He took the original multi-track tapes from 1977 and stripped them down. He removed the "commercial" sheen that Werman had applied. The result was released in 1998 on the Cheap Trick anthology box set, Sex, America, Cheap Trick . cheap trick in color steve albini sessions 1998 cd flac new
Track listing (suggested ordering — adjust to match master)
The band recorded these tracks with legendary engineer Steve Albini to reclaim the "power" they felt was missing from Tom Werman's "shiny" original production. Production Style
The core of the "Cheap Trick in color steve albini sessions 1998" consisted of the band, with Albini at the helm, re-cutting the album's original 10 tracks from scratch. The intention was to capture the band's raw, live energy. The approach was direct, with the band playing together live in the studio and adding only a few overdubs. The goal was to create a version of In Color that finally sounded the way they heard it in their heads—tough, immediate, and devoid of the "fluffy" sheen they despised. 🎸 In Color (1977) was produced by Tom
A good pair of open-back headphones (or monitors). Turn it up until the room buzzes.
Throughout the late 90s, the "Albini sessions" circulated on bootleg forums and early music-sharing sites. While sometimes listed with 1998, these are generally recognized as late 1997 sessions.
The contrast between the original In Color and the Steve Albini sessions is dramatic. The original is a polished, layered power-pop classic. The 1998 re-recordings, in contrast, are raw, aggressive, and immediate. The Mystery of the Unreleased Master He took
By 1998, Steve Albini had built a reputation as the ultimate anti-producer. His "recording as a documentary" style—using minimal effects, natural reverb, and punishingly honest microphone placement—was the polar opposite of the slick, radio-friendly sound that plagued 1970s power-pop reissues.
For over twenty years, Cheap Trick wanted to set the record straight. By 1997, free from major label constraints and experiencing a critical renaissance after releasing their acclaimed self-titled 1997 album, the band decided to re-record In Color exactly how they originally envisioned it. Enter Steve Albini: The Anti-Producer
Werman opted for a slick, pop-centric production style, smoothing over the band's rough edges with clean equalization and prominent choruses. While the album became a power-pop landmark and spawned timeless hits like "I Want You to Want Me" and "Clock Strikes Ten," the band members themselves were notoriously unhappy with the final product. They felt Werman’s production neutered the ferocious, heavy-metal-adjacent energy they brought to their live shows.