This Friday night on the Lebrain Train at 7pm we will be talking to book author Robert Lawson who has written the ultimate recording history of Cheap Trick titled “Still Competition”.
Needless to say we will be doing a deep dive into the Cheap Trick albums as well as focusing on Roberts other two books, Razama-Snaz which details the recorded output of Nazareth and Robert’s recently released book “Wheatfield Empire”: Listeners Guide to The Guess Who.
Over the course of the book’s 261 pages, Robert digs deep going way back to 1967 when the band with various Trick members started as the “Grim Reapers”.
22 Trick albums are fully written about as well as Robin Zander’s two solo albums that came and went without notice as well as compilations that former drummer Bun E Carlos has put together over the years are examined thoroughly.
Each album is broken down into four sections. Background, Videos, Release And Reception, Reissues- Remasters and Re-Recordings.
Such a great breakdown of each album. No stone is left unturned as I even discovered things that Robert put in this book that I had no idea about and I’ve been listening to Cheap Trick since 1979!
Robert did his homework here folks, and one of the best things I can say about “Still Competition” is when Cheap Trick had an album that was iffy at best Robert says so.
No sugercoating!
From a personal standpoint I look forward to yacking with the guys about “The Doctor” release from 86!
It’s going to be a great chat Friday night with Robert and you can pick up his books at Amazon for a very good price!
deKe's Vinyl Reviews & More... 
Friday will be great. I like how much effort Robert put into the later years. I also like the details about B-sides and rarities. If CT are pissed off about this book it is only because it is honest.
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We will get the scoop!
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I have a lot of questions for him about Record Store management too.
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That’s awesome!
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This will be a great discussion. I will be getting this book after my review series.
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Why wait?? Just do it!
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I won’t read it until after the reviews as I don’t want to taint my opinions.
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I will hold u to that!
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I like books when people put in the effort to make it definitive
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The best is Robert gives an honest opinion. If it sucks he says it. I respect that
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I read somewhere that Zander is not happy with this book. Is that true?
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I believe both Robin and Rick aren’t happy about it. We will ask Rob about that. I really don’t get why as CT lets face it had some problems putting out good albums in the 80s even into the early 90s.
I have read the book and Lawson calls it as it is…
CT should be happy a fan took the time to write the book.
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If Aaron is Mr. Books you have to be Dr. Books.
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Whoa! I would never give advice pertaining to anything medical fella! But if I had to my advice to anyone would be ‘don’t throw stones at glass houses.” lol
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lol, I mean a Dr. as in the Dr. Johnny Fever sense.
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Haha 😂 I’m good with that
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very cool! It says something about a band when they’re popular enough and have worked long enough that someone writes a book about their albums. I heard Cheap Trick are one of the headliners at the I-heart Festival this year… that should help them raise their profile a bit once again
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I’ve only got At Budokan so far – but I think Cheap Trick is probably a group that I know more than I think I know.
His Guess Who book sounds intriguing too!
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Actually The Guess Who I don’t know much about other than a few records and of course the songs that are always played on radio. Robert has done some great writing on these books.
Budokan is a great starting point Geoff. That one is in my all time Top 5
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