"Everything Works if You Let It" | ||||
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Single by Cheap Trick | ||||
from the album Roadie (soundtrack) | ||||
B-side |
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Released | May 1980 [1] | |||
Studio | Air Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:06 | |||
Label | Epic Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Rick Nielsen | |||
Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
Cheap Trick singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative Cover | ||||
![]() Japanese cover of "Everything Works if You Let It" |
"Everything Works if You Let It" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1980 as a single from the soundtrack of the film Roadie . [4] It was written by Rick Nielsen and produced by George Martin. [5] "Everything Works If You Let It" reached No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles. [6] [7]
Upon release, Billboard described the song as a "rocking uptempo composition", adding: "Disk has the group's trademarked stamp of pop innocence and instrumentation is upfront". [8] Cash Box listed the single as one of their "feature picks" during May 1980. They commented: "Rick Nielsen's buzzsaw guitar work sets the breakneck pace of the first single from Roadie. Robin Zander's Beatlesque vocals pack a pop wallop, prodded on by the expert rhythm section of Petersson and Carlos. A hot add for Top 40 AOR." [9] Record World called it a "guaranteed adrenalin-pumper" and said that "George Martin's pop production & the group's rock recklessness are a superb combination." [10]
In a retrospective review of the Roadie soundtrack, Whitney Z. Gomes of AllMusic stated: "Cheap Trick's killer opener shotguns the protagonist's motto "Everything Works If You Let It" into an unholy marriage of "Spirit of Radio" and "Hey Jude." This George Martin-ated miracle alone blows away side two..." [11] In 2016, Rolling Stone included the song in their list "10 Insanely Great Cheap Trick Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know". Author Tom Beaujour described the song as an "uptempo rocker with a killer riff and descending psychedelic bridge", which "stands with their best work". [2]
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
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Canadian RPM Top Singles [7] | 40 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] | 44 |