Elo Kiddies

Last updated
"Elo Kiddies"
Elo Kiddies single cover.jpg
Dutch single cover
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Cheap Trick
B-side "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace"
ReleasedFebruary 1977
Recorded1976
Genre Rock, hard rock
Length3:41
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Rick Nielsen
Producer(s) Jack Douglas

"ELO Kiddies" is a song originally released by Cheap Trick on the 1977 album Cheap Trick . It was written by Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick's lead guitarist and primary songwriter. It was released as a single twice, in 1977 as an A-side backed by "Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace", and in 1979 as the B-side of the live "Ain't That a Shame" from Cheap Trick at Budokan .

Contents

"Elo Kiddies" has been included on a number of Cheap Trick's live and compilation albums, including Budokan II and other anniversary editions of Cheap Trick at Budokan , Sex, America, Cheap Trick and The Essential Cheap Trick . [1]

Meaning

"Elo Kiddies" is driven by Bun E. Carlos' drumming and Nielsen's power chords on the guitar. [2] The sardonic lyrics include several double entendres and the song has been interpreted in multiple ways, even by members of the band. [2] The most basic meaning is as a "hello, goodbye" story. [2] Nielsen viewed the song as being about the "real maniacs from nuclear power plants". [2] Another interpretation is that the song expresses a "cynical view of education." [2] Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, who considers this song one of his favorites, interpreted the song as telling kids to "go out and have fun and go nuts and go completely wild", but that even deeper is that the kids need to do this fast before they get older and have ulcers and headaches. [2] Basically, Carlos sums up his view of the song's message as "let's have fun, but better have it now." [2] Even the song's title is a play on words, since the "Elo" could simply mean "hello", or it could be "ELO", implying the song borrows ideas from the Electric Light Orchestra. [2] Author Steve Taylor has noted that the song is "vaguely autobiographical" and that it recognizes the band's admiration of Electric Light Orchestra founder Roy Wood. [3]

Reception

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine commented on the song's "thumping Gary Glitter perversion." [4] Charles Young of Rolling Stone magazine regarded both "ELO Kiddies" and "Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace" among the standout songs of the Cheap Trick album. [5] Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it as Cheap Trick's 8th greatest song, saying that it "established them as doyens of power pop, with the deceptively simple musicianship bringing out the full flavour of the track." [6] Classic Rock History critic Michael Quinn rated it Cheap Trick's 10th best song, saying that it "features everything we like about Cheap Trick: groovy guitars, good beats, and inane lyrics about God knows what." [7]

Music video

Cheap Trick filmed a promotional video of the song, directed by Chuck Lashon, in which the band performed the song while mugging for the cameras. [2]

Covers

The song has been covered by White Flag on their 2002 album History Is Fiction . [8] It was also covered by Crash Kelly on both their 2003 album Penny Pills and on their 2008 album Love You Electric. [9] [10] The Cry! also covered the song on the 2015 "Never Surrender: Cheap Trick Tribute" album, issued by Zero Hour Records. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheap Trick</span> American rock band

Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Their work bridged elements of '60s guitar pop, '70s hard rock, and the emerging punk rock sound, and would help set the template for subsequent power pop artists.

<i>Cheap Trick at Budokan</i> 1978 live album by Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick at Budokan is the first live album by American rock band Cheap Trick, and their best-selling recording. Recorded at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, the album was first released in Japan on October 8, 1978, and later released in the United States in February 1979, through Epic Records. After several years of constant touring but only middling exposure for the band, At Budokan steadily grew off radio play and word-of-mouth to become a high-selling success, kickstarting the band's popularity and becoming acclaimed as one of the greatest live rock albums of all time and a classic of the power pop genre.

<i>Heaven Tonight</i> 1978 studio album by Cheap Trick

Heaven Tonight is the third studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick. It was produced by Tom Werman and released on April 24, 1978. The album was remastered and released with bonus tracks on Sony's Epic/Legacy imprint in 1998. The album cover features lead singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson on the front, with guitarist Rick Nielsen and drummer Bun E. Carlos on the back.

<i>Cheap Trick</i> (1977 album) 1977 studio album by Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick is the debut studio album by the American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1977. It was released under Epic Records and produced by Jack Douglas, a frequent collaborator of the band. The album did not reach the Billboard 200 chart but did "bubble under" at number 207 for one week in April 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want You to Want Me</span> 1977 single by Cheap Trick

"I Want You to Want Me" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It is originally from their second album In Color, released in September 1977. It was the first single released from that album, but it did not chart in the United States in its original studio version, which was influenced by music hall styles.

<i>In Color</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Cheap Trick

In Color is the second studio album by Cheap Trick, released in 1977 and produced by Tom Werman.

<i>Rockford</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Cheap Trick

Rockford is the fifteenth studio album by Cheap Trick, released on June 6, 2006 by Big3. The album's title refers to Rockford, Illinois, the band's hometown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surrender (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1978 single

"Surrender" is a single by Cheap Trick released in June 1978 from the album Heaven Tonight. It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62. Its success in Japan, as well as the success of its preceding singles "Clock Strikes Ten" and "I Want You to Want Me", paved the way for Cheap Trick's concerts at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in April 1978 which were recorded for Cheap Trick at Budokan, the group's most popular album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dream Police (song)</span> 1979 single by Cheap Trick

"Dream Police" is a song written by Rick Nielsen and originally released in 1979 by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It is the first track on the group's album of the same name. The single peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Nielsen has stated that the song "is an attempt to take a heavy thought - a quick bit of REM snatched right before waking up - and put into a pop format." He also stated that "the song was about Big Brother watching you."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clock Strikes Ten</span> 1977 single by Cheap Trick

"Clock Strikes Ten" is a song released in 1977 by Cheap Trick on their second album, In Color. It was written by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen. It was released as a single in Japan, where it was a major hit and reached No. 1 on at least one singles chart. Its success, as well as the success of two follow up singles, "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender", paved the way for Cheap Trick's famous concerts at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in April 1978 that were recorded for the group's most popular album - Cheap Trick at Budokan.

"Hello There" is a song written by Rick Nielsen and first released on Cheap Trick's 1977 album, In Color. The song was also often used as the first song of Cheap Trick concerts, and as a result was the first song on the band's seminal live album Cheap Trick at Budokan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voices (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1979 single by Cheap Trick

"Voices" is a song written by Rick Nielsen and recorded by American rock band Cheap Trick which appeared on the album Dream Police. The single was released in 1979 and peaked at number 32 in the US. The single has become one of the band's more widely known tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Tight</span> 1982 single by Cheap Trick

"She's Tight" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1982 as the third single from their studio album One on One. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. It reached No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Need Your Love is a song written by Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson that was originally performed by American rock band Cheap Trick. The song appeared on Cheap Trick's 1979 album Dream Police. A live version was included on the 1978 album Cheap Trick at Budokan, which initially appeared only in Japan but eventually was in the United States in early 1979. Because Cheap Trick was immensely popular in Japan, the band's Japanese label demanded that At Budokan include three new songs. The three songs were "Ain't That a Shame", "Goodnight Now" and "Need Your Love."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auf Wiedersehen (song)</span> 1978 single by Cheap Trick

"Auf Wiedersehen" is a song co-written by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson and first released on the band's 1978 album Heaven Tonight. It was also released as a single as the B-side of "Surrender". Since its original release, it has also been released by Cheap Trick on several live and compilation albums, including Budokan II; Sex, America, Cheap Trick; The Essential Cheap Trick, and the 30th Anniversary Edition of Cheap Trick at Budokan, which also includes a DVD with a video performance of the song. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as one of the peaks of Heaven Tonight and as one of Cheap Trick's "stone-cold classics." It has often been used by the band to close their concerts. Since its original release, it has been covered by Anthrax, Cell, John Easdale, and Steel Pole Bath Tub.

"He's a Whore" is a song written by Rick Nielsen that was first released on Cheap Trick's 1977 debut album Cheap Trick. It has also appeared on a number of Cheap Trick compilation albums, including The Essential Cheap Trick. It has also been covered by many artists including Big Black, Neon and Vince Neil. Like many of Cheap Trick's songs, it was played in early midwest concerts starting in 1975.

"High Roller" is a song written by Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, and Tom Petersson that was first released on Cheap Trick's 1978 album Heaven Tonight. It later appeared on a number of Cheap Trick live and compilation albums, and was covered by Scrawl on their 1991 album Bloodsucker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Way of the World (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1980 single by Cheap Trick

"Way of the World" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1980 as a single from their fourth studio album Dream Police (1979). The song was written by Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander and produced by Tom Werman. In February 1980 it was released as a 7" vinyl single in the UK only, backed by "Oh, Candy," from the first Cheap Trick album, and peaked at #73. It attempted to capitalize on the success of the mid-1979 single "I Want You to Want Me" and the live album Cheap Trick at Budokan which both entered the top 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Girls</span> 1977 single by Cheap Trick

"Southern Girls" is a song written by Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson that was first released by Cheap Trick on their 1977 album In Color, produced by Tom Werman. It was also released as a single. It has been covered by a number of artists, including Bangs, Everclear and Gilby Clarke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stiff Competition</span> 1978 single by Cheap Trick

"Stiff Competition" is a song written by Rick Nielsen that first appeared on Cheap Trick's 1978 album Heaven Tonight. It is famous for the sexual double entendres in the lyrics, and subsequently appeared on live and compilation albums. In the UK, "Stiff Competition" was the B-side to Cheap Trick's second single from Heaven Tonight, "California Man."

References

  1. ↑ "ELO Kiddies". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hayes, M.; Sharp, K. (1998). Reputation Is a Fragile Thing. Poptastic. pp. 35, 39. ISBN   978-0-9662081-0-8.
  3. ↑ Taylor, S. (2006). A to X of Alternative Music. Continuum. p. 64. ISBN   978-0-8264-8217-4.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, S.T. "Cheap Trick". AllMusic . Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  5. ↑ Young, C. (May 5, 1977). "Cheap Trick". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  6. ↑ Dome, Malcolm (June 28, 2016). "The top 10 best Cheap Trick songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  7. ↑ Quinn, Michael (16 June 2022). "Top 10 Cheap Trick Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  8. ↑ "History is Fiction". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  9. ↑ "Penny Pills". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  10. ↑ "Love You Electric". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-09-05.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Cheap Trick Tribute".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.