Stop This Game

Last updated
"Stop This Game"
Cheap Trick 1980 Single Dutch Release Stop This Game.jpeg
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album All Shook Up
B-side "Who D'King"
ReleasedOctober 1980 [1]
Genre
Length3:45
Label Epic Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) George Martin
Cheap Trick singles chronology
"Day Tripper (Live)"
(1980)
"Stop This Game"
(1980)
"World's Greatest Lover"
(1981)

"Stop This Game" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1980 as the lead single from their fifth studio album All Shook Up . It was written by Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, and produced by George Martin. [2] "Stop This Game" reached No. 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 32 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles. [3] [4]

Contents

Critical reception

Upon release, Billboard described the song as one that "starts off on a mellow note before some thunderous guitar licks take charge and the tune becomes a forceful rocker. Lead vocals are full of gut level intensity." [5] In a review of All Shook Up, Billboard described the song as an "epic, mid-tempo rocker". [6] David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the song as one of the album's "clever pop curves", describing it as recalling The Who and noting the "dense, pseudo-ELO orchestration". [7] In a retrospective review of the album, Stewart Mason of AllMusic recommended the song by selecting it as an AMG Pick Track. [8]

The song did best in the group's home base of northern Illinois, where it reached #27 on superstation WLS-AM in Chicago. It spent 14 weeks in the Top 40 on their weekly survey. [9]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "Stop This Game" – 3:45
  2. "Who D'King" – 2:16
7" single (US promo)
  1. "Stop This Game" – 3:50
  2. "Stop This Game" – 3:50

Personnel

Additional personnel

Chart performance

Chart (1980–81)Peak
position
Canadian RPM Top Singles [4] 32
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 48
US Cash Box [10] 44

Related Research Articles

<i>One on One</i> (Cheap Trick album) 1982 studio album by Cheap Trick

One on One is Cheap Trick's sixth studio album, and seventh release in general. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, it was released in 1982 via Epic Records and was the first Cheap Trick album to feature their new bassist Jon Brant.

<i>Standing on the Edge</i> (Cheap Trick album) 1985 studio album by Cheap Trick

Standing on the Edge is the eighth studio album by the American rock group Cheap Trick, released by Epic in 1985. The album was produced by Jack Douglas, the producer of Cheap Trick's 1977 debut album Cheap Trick. Standing on the Edge reached No. 35 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for 18 weeks.

<i>All Shook Up</i> (Cheap Trick album) 1980 studio album by Cheap Trick

All Shook Up is the fifth studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick. Released in 1980, it was produced by former Beatles producer George Martin. As such, this was the first studio album since their debut to be produced by someone other than Tom Werman.

<i>Busted</i> (Cheap Trick album) 1990 studio album by Cheap Trick

Busted is the eleventh studio album released by Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 and peaked at number 44 on the US album charts. After the success of "The Flame" from the previous album Lap of Luxury, the band recorded Busted with a similar format, especially on the single "Can't Stop Fallin' into Love." The single peaked at number 12 on the US charts. The album failed to be as successful as the label had hoped, and about a year after the release of Busted Epic Records dropped Cheap Trick from their label. There were three videos shot for this LP; "Can't Stop Fallin' into Love," "If You Need Me," and "Wherever Would I Be."

<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.

The Flame (Cheap Trick song) 1988 single by Cheap Trick

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

Cant Stop Fallin into Love 1990 single by Cheap Trick

"Can't Stop Fallin' into Love" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 as the lead single from their eleventh studio album Busted. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen, lead singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, and produced by Richie Zito.

If You Want My Love 1982 single by Cheap Trick

"If You Want My Love" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1982 as the first single from their sixth studio album One on One. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. It reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and almost topped the Australian chart, where it peaked at No. 2 for two weeks.

Shes Tight 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. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Tonight Its You 1985 single by Cheap Trick

"Tonight It's You" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1985 as the lead single from their eighth studio album Standing on the Edge. It was written by Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Jon Brant and Mark Radice, and produced by Jack Douglas. "Tonight It's You" reached No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks Chart.

Ghost Town (Cheap Trick song) 1988 single by Cheap Trick

"Ghost Town" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1988 as the third single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury. It was written by Diane Warren and guitarist Rick Nielsen, and produced by Richie Zito. The song reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Woke Up with a Monster (song) 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.

Never Had a Lot to Lose 1989 single by Cheap Trick

"Never Had a Lot to Lose" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1989 as the fifth and final single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury (1988). It was written by lead vocalist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, and produced by Richie Zito. The song reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Say Goodbye (Cheap Trick song) 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 produced by Cheap Trick and Ian Taylor.

Way of the World (Cheap Trick song) 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.

Everything Works If You Let It 1980 single by Cheap Trick

"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. It was written by Rick Nielsen and produced by George Martin. "Everything Works If You Let It" reached No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles.

If It Takes a Lifetime 2006 single by Cheap Trick

"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.

Reach Out (Cheap Trick song) 1981 single by Cheap Trick

"Reach Out" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1981 as a single from the soundtrack of the 1981 film Heavy Metal. It was written by Bob James and Pete Comita, and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Although the film's soundtrack album reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200, "Reach Out" was not a commercial success and failed to make a chart appearance.

Long Time Coming (Cheap Trick song) 2017 single by Cheap Trick

"Long Time Coming" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 2017 as the only single from their eighteenth studio album We're All Alright!. It was written by Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and Julian Raymond, and produced by Raymond and Cheap Trick. Released as a promotional single in the United States, "Long Time Coming" reached No. 36 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock Airplay chart.

Worlds Greatest Lover (Cheap Trick song) 1981 single by Cheap Trick

"World's Greatest Lover" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1981 as the second and final single from their fifth studio album All Shook Up (1980). The song was written by Rick Nielsen and produced by George Martin.

References

  1. "Cheap Trick - Stop This Game / Who D' King - Epic - USA - 19-50942". 45cat. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  2. "Cheap Trick - Stop This Game at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  3. 1 2 Billboard. "Cheap Trick Stop This Game Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  4. 1 2 "Item: 264 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  5. Billboard magazine - Billboard's Top Single Picks - November 8, 1980 - page 62
  6. "Billboard - Google Books". 1980-11-08. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  7. David Fricke (1981-03-19). "All Shook Up | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  8. Mason, Stewart. "All Shook Up - Cheap Trick". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  9. WLS Musicradio Survey, February 14, 1981
  10. Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 20, 1980