"Up the Creek" | ||||
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Single by Cheap Trick | ||||
from the album Up the Creek soundtrack | ||||
B-side | "Up the Creek (Acappella Intro)" | |||
Released | 1984 | |||
Genre | Rock Power Pop | |||
Length | 3:03 (single) 3:58 (album) | |||
Label | Epic Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Rick Nielsen Randy Bishop | |||
Producer(s) | Spencer Proffer | |||
Cheap Trick singles chronology | ||||
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"Up the Creek" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released as a single in 1984 from the soundtrack of the 1984 film Up the Creek . [1] The song was written by Rick Nielsen and Randy Bishop, and produced by Spencer Proffer. [2]
Years after its release, both Nielsen and drummer Bun E. Carlos have been critical of the song. Nielsen told John Krewson of The A.V. Club in 1997: "Now that was a bad song! I co-wrote that... no, wait, let's see... I can't remember. Maybe I actually wrote that whole thing. Man! I must've been high. That was one of the worst songs - put it this way, it was one of the worst movies that's ever been out. Song-wise, it fit right in with the movie." [3] Carlos was once asked why the song had not appeared on a Cheap Trick compilation, to which he replied "'cause it sucks." [4]
A music video was filmed in Los Angeles to promote the single. It was directed by Dominic Orlando and achieved light rotation on MTV. [5] [6] In his 1997 interview with The A.V. Club, Nielsen said: "[The] video was the worst we've ever done. We've done some bad, bad ones, but that took the cake." [3]
Upon release, Jim Bohen of Daily Record described the song as a "decent hard rocker". [7] Bob Andelman of St. Petersburg Times commented that the songs contributed by Cheap Trick, the Beach Boys and Heart "all have appealing hooks but are surrounded by prattle." [8] Lawrence Van Gelder of The News-Press wrote: "Neither the music by the likes of Cheap Trick and the Beach Boys can elevate this movie from the ranks of failed derivations." [9]
In a review of the film, The Morning Call described the song as "awful". [10] In a retrospective review of the film's soundtrack, Doug Stone of AllMusic described the song as "ridiculous" and added: "Even these distinguished junk dealers abandoned this piece." [4] In his 2017 book Still Competition: The Listener's Guide to Cheap Trick, Robert Lawson described the song as one with "all the hallmarks of a decent Cheap Trick tune - goofy lyrics, a catchy chorus, and a terrific vocal from Zander." [11]
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Top Rock Tracks [12] | 36 |
Additional personnel
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.
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. It was the first studio album since their debut to be produced by someone other than Tom Werman.
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.
"The Flame" is a power ballad released in 1988 by the American rock band Cheap Trick as the first single from their tenth album, Lap of Luxury. It was written by songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham, and was produced by Richie Zito. "The Flame" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1988; it also reached number one in Australia and Canada.
"Mighty Wings" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1986 as the third single from the soundtrack of the film Top Gun. It was written by Harold Faltermeyer and Mark Spiro, and produced by Faltermeyer.
"I Want You" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1982 as the second single from their sixth studio album One on One. The song was written by Rick Nielsen and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. It was released as a single in the Netherlands only, reaching No. 48 there.
The Latest is the sixteenth studio album by the American hard rock and power pop band Cheap Trick, released on June 23, 2009. The album was produced by Cheap Trick, Julian Raymond, and Howard Willing and was issued on CD, as well as limited pressings on vinyl and 8-track tape. The Latest is the final studio album by the band to feature original drummer Bun E. Carlos who left the band in 2010.
"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.
"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 peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"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.
"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.
"Kiss Me Red" is a song written by the songwriting duo of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and first released in 1984 for the soundtrack of the short-lived TV series Dreams, where it was performed on the show by the fictional title band. The song was notably covered by Cheap Trick in 1986 on their ninth album The Doctor, and by ELO Part II in 1990 for their album Electric Light Orchestra Part Two.
"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. "Stop This Game" reached No. 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 32 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles.
"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.
"It's Only Love" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1986 as the lead single from their ninth studio album The Doctor. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and lead vocalist Robin Zander, and produced by Tony Platt. The song failed to chart in the US. Despite the commercial failure of the song, the music video is notable for the use of American Sign Language.
"I Can't Take It" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1983 as the second single from their seventh studio album Next Position Please. The song was written by Robin Zander and produced by Todd Rundgren.
"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.
"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.
Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello is the seventeenth studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick. The album was released on April 1, 2016, by Big Machine Records. The album is the first in the band's history to not feature Bun E. Carlos on drums, instead featuring Daxx Nielsen on drums.
"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.