Turntable Tuesday — Cheap Trick’s ‘Dream Police’ - Artist Waves

How they made this kid’s day

I try to sleep, they’re wide awake, they won’t let me alone
They don’t get paid to take vacations or let me alone
They spy on me, I try to hide, they won’t let me alone
They persecute me, they’re the judge and jury all in one —

Cheap Trick — Dream Police

Dream Police was the fourth studio album released by the band. Released in 1979 and became their most commercially successful studio album, reaching #6 on the Billboard Chart

Released — September 21, 1979 — Epic Records

Recorded — Record Plant, Los Angeles, 1978–1979

Length 45:45

Producer Tom Werman

Album Photography — Reid Miles

Band Members

Robin Zander — lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Rick Nielsen — lead guitar, backing vocals
Tom Petersson — bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on “I Know What I Want”
Bun E. Carlos — drums, percussion

Track List — All songs written by Rick Nielsen, except where noted.

“Dream Police” — 3:49
“Way of the World” (Robin Zander, Nielsen) — 3:39
“The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems)” (Tom Petersson, Nielsen) — 5:12
“Gonna Raise Hell” — 9:20
“I’ll Be with You Tonight” (Nielsen, Zander, Bun E. Carlos, Petersson) — 3:52
“Voices” — 4:22
“Writing on the Wall” — 3:26
“I Know What I Want” — 4:29
“Need Your Love” (Nielsen, Petersson) — 7:39

Fun Fact —

Near the end of “Gonna Raise Hell” the backing orchestra plays riff from “Heaven Tonight”, the title track of their previous studio release, “Heaven Tonight”.

Music Video Directed by Arnold Levine, The “Dream Police” video begins by showing the band in a police line-up, as depicted on the album.

“I’ll never eat another double cheeseburger before bed”.

Bun E. Carlos

Bonus tracks (2006 Reissue)

In 2006 the band reissued Dream Police with 4 Bonus tracks –

“Way of the World” (live) — 3:59
“Dream Police” (No Strings Version) — 3:52
“I Know What I Want” (live) — 4:43
“The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems)” (live) — 6:16

How they made this kid’s day:

1980 — Shortly after the release of Dream Police. I skipped afternoon HS classes and took a city bus to see Cheap Trick at the local Tower Records, excited to get a signed copy of Dream Police. I stood in line patently waiting my turn, slowly moving towards the front of the line. Just a couple people to go! Excitement growing!… Then the announcement, “We are out of copies and the signing is over, Thank You” …What? .. I missed out???…… I went out to the parking lot, sat down sulking, I was devastated. Thinking about the long bus ride back home, empty handed….”This Sucks!”

I watched as the bands tour bus prepared to leave from across the parking lot. When I heard someone yell out, “Hey Kid!!!, Hey!! Kid!!! Come here!!!” — I looked up and it was Rick Nielsen waving at me from the door of the bus.…I ran over to the bus and he handled me a copy of “Heaven Tonight” signed by the entire band and said, “Sorry we ran out of the new one, will this work?”… No doubt the giant smile now on my face was proof that it would indeed work!!! .

**Cheap Trick’s “Heaven Tonight” signed by band — Sill in my collection to this today.. a little worn and faded, but the memory hasn’t faded… Thanks Guys for making that kids day !!!!!!**

All these years later, I wish I would have taken better care of it, but its still in collection and obviously played a bunch! Its been a while, but ….Thanks Guys.. that kid really appreciated it! …and Yes, It Worked !!!!!!!