Carnival Game (song)
| "Carnival Game" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Cheap Trick | |
| from the album Cheap Trick | |
| B-side | "You Let a Lotta People Down" |
| Released | 1997 |
| Genre | Rock, power pop |
| Length | 3:50 |
| Label | Victor |
| Songwriter(s) | Jerry Dale McFadden Rick Nielsen Robert Reynolds Robin Zander Tom Petersson |
| Producer(s) | Cheap Trick Ian Taylor |
| Cheap Trick singles chronology | |
|
"Baby Talk" (1997) "Carnival Game" (1997) "That '70s Song" (1999) | |
"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.[1]
As with the rest of the Cheap Trick album, "Carnival Game" was recorded at Pie Studios, Glen Cove, New York, and mixed at Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, New York.[2]
Release
[edit ]The song was released as a promotional single by Victor in Japan.[3] The B-side, "You Let a Lotta People Down", is an album track on Cheap Trick. The main release was issued in a 3" DJ promo CD with a snap-pack picture sleeve with lyrics.[4] The artwork used featured photographs of each band member with a black background.[5] In addition to this, a one track promotional-only CD was also produced, with a custom photocopied picture insert with all text in Japanese.[6]
Promotion
[edit ]During 1997, whilst promoting the album, the band performed the song live on the American TV show Hard Rock Live.[7]
Critical reception
[edit ]In a review of Cheap Trick, Carlo Wolff of The Boston Globe considered the song to have "ELO-style jauntiness" and described the song as "cute" and "harmony-laden".[8] Steven Mirkin of Entertainment Weekly felt that "Say Goodbye" and "Carnival Game" "approach[s] the [band's] earlier material's heady rush".[9] Jae-Ha Kim of the Chicago Sun-Times commented: "The wah-wah guitars in "Carnival Game" punch up the driving number."[10] He added: "Rick Nielsen's nimble lead guitar work in "Carnival Game" and the shimmery chorus of "Say Goodbye" herald their strengths."[11]
Curtis Bonney of the San Francisco Weekly wrote: "The standout tracks are fairly plentiful: the sugary Beatles-John Lennon - uh - stylings on "Carnival Game," "Yeah, Yeah," and "You Let a Lot of People Down." Nice chord progressions, nice hooks; you've heard them all, but you haven't, really."[12] Rob Seng of The Courier-Journal noted: "Although outside writing help is sometimes a harbinger of trouble, the contributions that the band gets here from the members of the Mavericks results in an engaging hook on "Carnival Game"."[13] In a 1997 concert review, Chris Riemenschneider of the Austin American-Statesman described "Carnival Game" as a "delightful poppy ditties a la "Oh, Candy"."[14]
Track listing
[edit ]- CD Single (VIDP-30002 - promo)
- "Carnival Game" - 3:50
- "You Let a Lotta People Down" - 4:27
- CD Single (CDS-463 - promo)
- "Carnival Game" - 3:49
Personnel
[edit ]Cheap Trick
- Robin Zander - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer
- Rick Nielsen - lead guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Tom Petersson - 12 string bass guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Bun E. Carlos - drums, percussion, producer
Additional personnel
- Ian Taylor - producer, engineer, mixing
- Glenn Preston - assistant engineer
- George Fullan, Rob Polhemus - 2nd engineer
- Bob Ludwig - mastering
- Peter F. Baynes - guitar technician
- Donna Brainard, Larry Mazer - management
- Angela K. Herl, Mike Herl - business management
References
[edit ]- ^ "Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Cheap Trick - Carnival Game at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Cheap Trick - Carnival Game (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Images for Cheap Trick - Carnival Game". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Cheap Trick - Carnival Game (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ YouTube (2009年01月23日). "Cheap Trick - Carnival Game - from Hard Rock Live". YouTube. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ Wolff, Carlo (29 May 1997). "Cheap Trick redux; a witty Boston survivor". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Steven Mirkin (1997年05月09日). "Cheap Trick Review". EW.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Chicago Sun-Times:: Search". Archived from the original on 2016年03月04日. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ "Google". Google.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Michael Batty (1997年05月28日). "Recordings - Page 1 - Music - San Francisco". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
- ^ Seng, Rob (7 June 1997). "All Trick, all treat". The Courier-Journal.
- ^ "NewsBank for Statesman". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2013年04月29日.
