Too Much (Cheap Trick song)

Last updated
"Too Much"
Cheap Trick Too Much Japanese Single 2003.jpg
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Special One
Released2003
Genre Rock, power pop
Length4:42
Label Victor
Songwriter(s) Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson
Producer(s) Chris Shaw, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick singles chronology
"My Obsession"
(2003)
"Too Much"
(2003)
"Perfect Stranger"
(2006)

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

Contents

Background

Like the previous two singles from the album "Scent of a Woman" and "My Obsession", "Too Much" was also a promotional single aiming for radio station play only. However, it was not released in America but in Japan only. [1] It was the band's last single for three years.

The song was written by Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson. [2] It was produced by both the band and Chris Shaw. Including the rest of the Special One album, the song was mastered at Masterdisk. [3]

Release

The single was released in Japan only as a promotional CD single, where it aimed solely at radio station play. It was not released through Big3 Records as with the band's American releases but via Victor. The release was a 1-track radio promotional only CD, housed in custom picture sleeve with Japanese bio and band picture. [1] The release artwork used a similar design to the front cover of the album Special One. [4]

Following the song's original release as a single and on the Special One album, the song was included on the 2004 live DVD From Tokyo to You, which was released through Steamhammer. However, it was not on the main DVD release of the same name but on the DVD+CD Set edition. [5] Another version also appeared on the 2005 extended play "Sessions@AOL". [6]

Promotion

No music video was created for the single, although the song was part of the band's live set around the time of the album's release. [7]

On August 25, 2003, the band performed the song live on Seattle EMP TV, along with "I Want You to Want Me", "Scent of a Woman" and "Surrender". [8]

On August 21, 2003, the band performed a set of songs for the session at AOL. The band performed various songs, with at least six songs from the Special One album, including "Too Much". On April 5, 2005, a five track extended play "Sessions@AOL" was released by the band, where the song was included as the second track. [6]

On July 1, 2003, the band played a short acoustic set at the new Apple store in Chicago as part of Apple's "Made on a Mac" series. The band played four songs - "Too Much", "I Want You To Want Me", "Scent of a Woman" and "Goodnight Now" which were recorded onto an Apple laptop using Pro Tools. Producer Harry Witz then took over to demonstrate editing and mixing the songs on the laptop. [9]

Track listing

CDr Single (CDS-1594)
  1. "Too Much" - 4:42

Critical reception

Upon release, The Buffalo News described the song as "pure, irresistible pop". [10] Dallas Morning News noted: "The harmonies on "Words" are very Beatles, while "Too Much" evokes John Lennon in his post-Beatles solo days". [11] Las Cruces Sun-News felt that "Too Much" was "one of their most effective ballads". [12] Star-News called the song "dynamic". [13]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted: "For three days, I didn't leave my house cuz I was obsessed with first "Words" and later "Too Much." Robin never stops aching and yearning and the diminishing minor chords ala George Harrison guitars will saw your soul in half. The band basically lays back – mean, lean and pretty from top to back – and lets Robin's voice carry the tunes." [14] The Lexington Herald Leader stated: "Zander sounds as comfortable with the light stroll of "Too Much" as he does with the raise-the-dead scream of "If I Could"." [15]

KNAC wrote: "..."Too Much," "My Obsession" and the title track prolong the boredom even further and find this once ferocious band sounding as tame and declawed as ever." [16] MelodicRock.com commented: "Despite the tempo drop, the song works really well here and is a great feel good mid-tempo pop track that would have been right at home on Zander's solo album. Another possible radio hit." [17] The Chicago Tribune felt the song was one of a number of tracks on Special One to be "replete with worn, lumbering melodies", and added the melody that been "stolen" from '70s soul group The Three Degrees. [18]

Personnel

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. The current lineup of the band consists of Zander, Nielsen and Petersson. Their work bridged elements of '60s guitar pop, hard rock, and punk rock, and would help set the template for subsequent power pop artists.

<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>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>The Doctor</i> (Cheap Trick album) 1986 studio album by Cheap Trick

The Doctor is the ninth studio album by Cheap Trick, released in 1986. It was produced by Tony Platt and reached No. 115 on the Billboard 200 Chart.

<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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Stop Fallin' into Love</span> 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.

<i>Robin Zander</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Robin Zander

Robin Zander is the debut solo album from American singer Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, released in 1993 by Interscope.

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

"Ghost Town" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, 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 number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<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.

"Back 'n Blue" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 as the opening track on their eleventh studio album Busted. It was written by Taylor Rhodes, Robert A. Johnson, Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, and produced by Richie Zito.

<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">If It Takes a Lifetime</span> 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.

<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">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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cheap Trick - Too Much (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  2. "Images for Cheap Trick - Special One". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  3. "Cheap Trick - Special One (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  4. "Images for Cheap Trick - Too Much". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  5. "From Tokyo To You - Cheap Trick : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  6. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Sessions@AOL - EP by Cheap Trick". Itunes.apple.com. 2005-04-05. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  7. "Too Much by Cheap Trick Song Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  8. [ dead link ]
  9. "#39 - Jul 03". Ctnewseurope.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  10. "News Archives: The Buffalo News". Nl.newsbank.com. 2003-07-18. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  11. "Archives | The Dallas Morning News, dallasnews.com". Nl.newsbank.com. 2003-08-03. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  12. "Newspaper Archive". Nl.newsbank.com. 2004-03-12. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  13. "Star-News". News.google.com.
  14. "JSOnline.com News Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 2003-10-24. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  15. [ dead link ]
  16. "Reviews - Cheap Trick Special One". Knac.Com. 2003-10-10. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  17. "Interactive Melodic CD Reviews". MelodicRock.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  18. "Cheap Trick Special One God bless Cheap Trick... - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2003-07-24. Retrieved 2013-03-03.