If It Takes a Lifetime

Last updated
"If It Takes a Lifetime"
Cheap Trick If It Takes a Lifetime 2006 Single Cover.jpeg
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Rockford
Released2006
Genre Rock, power pop
Length3:44
Label Big3 Records
Cheap Trick Unlimited
Songwriter(s) Robin Zander, Tom Petersson, Rick Nielsen, Bun E. Carlos, Julian Raymond
Producer(s) Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick singles chronology
"Come On, Come On, Come On"
(2006)
"If It Takes a Lifetime"
(2006)
"Sick Man of Europe"
(2009)

"If It Takes a Lifetime" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 2006 as the third and final single from their fifteenth studio album Rockford . It was written by Robin Zander, Tom Petersson, Rick Nielsen, Bun E. Carlos and Julian Raymond, and produced by Cheap Trick, with co-production by Raymond.

Contents

"If It Takes a Lifetime" was released as a remixed promotional single, aimed at generating radio play. [1] The song's remix, named the "Little Steven Van Zandt Radio Edit", was created by the American musician and producer Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. In his weekly Billboard column, Little Steven's Underground Garage, Zandt listed the song as No. 2 of his Top 10 "Coolest Garage Songs". [2] In a 2006 interview with Star Press, Nielsen told Michelle Kinsey that "If It Takes a Lifetime" was the song he looked forward to playing most during a Cheap Trick concert. [3]

Promotion

On June 7, 2006, the band appeared on Rockline, a nationally syndicated radio interview program hosted by Bob Coburn, and performed the song live. [4] The band also performed the song on the Bart Connor-presented WGN America show MDA on September 4, 2006, [5] and an MSNBC show on September 25. [6]

Track listing

CD single (DPRO236788-2)
  1. "If It Takes a Lifetime (Little Steven Van Zandt Radio Edit)" - 3:41

Critical reception

Upon release, Marc Hirsh of The Boston Globe commented of the tracks on Rockford: "...along with "If It Takes a Lifetime," they sound blessedly like classic Cheap Trick songs and performances." [7] Alan Sculley of The Desert Sun noted: "The poppier side of Cheap Trick's sound emerges brightly on hook-laden Beatlesque songs such as "If It Takes A Lifetime" and "Every Night And Every Day"." [8]

Lou Friedman of PopMatters noted: ""If It Takes a Lifetime" is another ballad disguised as a rocker, and has a sing-along chorus to boot." [9] Alexander Müller of The-Pit described the song as "somewhat relaxed but equally good" as the album's previous track, "Perfect Stranger". [10] K. L. Poore of Audio Video Revolution noted: "...while listening to "If It Takes a Lifetime" I figure that Rick Nielsen went to his "catchy hook" trunk, pulled out 10 or 15 and crammed them into the same song." [11]

Ben Perry of 80's Metal Server said of the song: "For me, this is the easiest song on the album to get stuck in my head. No idea why, but it does... on a frequent basis and I do not even listen to this album much." [12] Andrew J. McNeice of MelodicRock.com considered the song to be "very Lap of Luxury-ish pop/rock". [13] Tony Bonyata of ConcertLivewire.com described the song as a "sugar-buzzed power-pop anthem". [14]

In a review of the 2008 compilation The Coolest Songs in the World, Vol. 5, Mark Deming of AllMusic said: "Van Zandt clearly knows a great single when he hears one, and "Pull Shapes," "Porno Movies," and "If It Takes a Lifetime" all get over on cool melodies, high spirits, and ineffable cool that defies generic classification." [15] Jed Gottlieb of The Phoenix wrote: "The first three tracks are irrelevant stabs at anemic Top 40. Cheap Trick haven't learned any new tricks, but they're as skilled (and enthused) as they were two decades ago." [16]

Personnel

Cheap Trick
Additional personnel

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bun E. Carlos</span> American musician

Brad M. Carlson, better known by the stage name Bun E. Carlos, is the original drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He recorded and performed with the band from 1973 to 2010. Carlos was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 as a member of Cheap Trick.

<i>Next Position Please</i> 1983 studio album by Cheap Trick

Next Position Please is the seventh studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick, produced by Todd Rundgren and released in 1983.

<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>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.

<i>Woke Up with a Monster</i> 1994 studio album by Cheap Trick

Woke up with a Monster is the twelfth studio album by Cheap Trick which was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1994. Produced by Ted Templeman, the album peaked at number 123 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was Cheap Trick's first and only album for Warner Bros., who dropped the band from their roster shortly after its release.

<i>Cheap Trick</i> (1997 album) 1997 studio album by Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick, commonly referred to as Cheap Trick '97, is the second eponymous album, and thirteenth studio album, by the American rock band Cheap Trick, produced by the band and Ian Taylor and released on Red Ant Records and Alliance Entertainment. The album is referred to as "Cheap Trick II" when it is referenced on the promotional DVD that was released with the band's Special One album in 2003. Ian Taylor had previously engineered the One On One LP in 1982 and produced a handful of other tracks from 1983's Next Position Please LP, as well as the title track for the 1983 Sean S. Cunningham comedy film Spring Break.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flame (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1988 single by Cheap Trick

"The Flame" is a power ballad released in 1988 by the American rock band Cheap Trick and the first single from their tenth album Lap of Luxury. It was written by songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Want My Love</span> 1982 single by Cheap Trick

"If You Want My Love" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1982 as the lead single from their sixth studio album One on One. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. It reached number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woke Up with a Monster (song)</span> 1994 single by Cheap Trick

"Woke Up with a Monster" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1994 as the lead single from their twelfth studio album Woke Up with a Monster. It was written by Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Tom Petersson, and produced by Ted Templeman. The song was released by Warner Bros. Records as a promotional-only single in the United States, aimed at generating radio play. It reached No. 16 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks and remained on the chart for six weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're All I Wanna Do</span> 1994 single by Cheap Trick

"You're All I Wanna Do" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1994 as the second single from their twelfth studio album Woke Up with a Monster. The song was written by Jim Peterik, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Terry Reid and Tom Petersson, and produced by Ted Templeman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Goodbye (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1997 single by Cheap Trick

"Say Goodbye" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1997 as the lead single from their thirteenth studio album Cheap Trick. The song was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen, lead vocalist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, and was produced by Cheap Trick and Ian Taylor.

<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">Scent of a Woman (song)</span> 2003 single by Cheap Trick

"Scent of a Woman" is a single by American rock band Cheap Trick, released as the lead single from their 2003 album Special One. It was the band's first single in four years, from their first studio album in six years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfect Stranger (Cheap Trick song)</span> 2006 single by Cheap Trick

"Perfect Stranger" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 2006 as the lead single from their fifteenth studio album Rockford. It was written by Linda Perry, Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos, and produced by Perry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Obsession</span> 2003 single by Cheap Trick

"My Obsession" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 2003 as the second single from their fourteenth studio album Special One. It was written by Tom Petersson, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Julian Raymond, and produced by Chris Shaw and Cheap Trick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Much (Cheap Trick song)</span> 2003 single by Cheap Trick

"Too Much" is a single by American rock band Cheap Trick, released as the third and final single from their 2003 album Special One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didn't Know I Had It</span> 1994 single by Cheap Trick

"Didn't Know I Had It" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1994 as the fifth and final single from their twelfth studio album Woke Up with a Monster. It was written by Rick Nielsen and Todd Cerney, and produced by Ted Templeman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnival Game (song)</span> Single by Cheap Trick

"Carnival Game" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1997 as the third and final single from their thirteenth studio album Cheap Trick. It was written by Jerry Dale McFadden, Rick Nielsen, Robert Reynolds, Robin Zander and Tom Petersson, and produced by Cheap Trick and Ian Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Wake Up Tomorrow</span> 2016 single by Cheap Trick

"When I Wake Up Tomorrow" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 2016 as the second and final single from their seventeenth studio album Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello. It was written by Julian Raymond, Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson, and produced by Raymond and Cheap Trick. Released as a promotional single in the United States, "When I Wake Up Tomorrow" reached No. 24 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

References

  1. "Cheap Trick - If It Takes A Lifetime (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  2. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 2006-07-15. p.  18 . Retrieved 2013-03-01 via Internet Archive. cheap trick if it takes a lifetime.
  3. "Seasoned band has new bag of Tricks". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2006-09-07. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  4. "Cheap Trick LIVE on Rockline". Trickworld.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  5. YouTube (2006-09-11). "Cheap Trick - If It Takes A Lifetime". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  6. YouTube (2006-09-30). "Cheap Trick - If It Takes A Lifetime". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  7. "CHEAP TRICK ; ROCKFORD BIG 3". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2006-06-23. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  8. "New Cheap Trick CD gives fans cause to celebrate". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2007-02-23. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  9. Friedman, Lou. "Cheap Trick: Rockford". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  10. The-Pit.de (2006-06-23). "Cheap Trick: Rockford". The-Pit.de. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  11. "Cheap Trick - Rockford". Avrev.com. 2006-09-01. Archived from the original on 2014-04-21. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  12. "Cheap Trick - Rockford". 80smetalserver.com. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  13. "Interactive Melodic CD Reviews". MelodicRock.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  14. "Cheap Trick - Rockford CD review". Concertlivewire.com. 2006-06-06. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  15. Deming, Mark (2008-04-08). "The Coolest Songs in the World, Vol. 5 - Various Artists : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  16. JED GOTTLIEB (2006-08-01). "Cheap Trick - CD Reviews". Thephoenix.com. Retrieved 2013-03-01.