Released 1990 Length 4:42 Producer(s) Richie Zito | Genre Rock, Power Pop Label Epic Records | |
Writer(s) Taylor Rhodes, Robert A. Johnson, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander | ||
"Back 'n Blue" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released as the fourth single from their 1990 album Busted. The song was written by American songwriter/producer/musician Taylor Rhodes, American rock and blues guitarist Robert A. Johnson, guitarist Rick Nielsen and vocalist Robin Zander.
Contents
The song peaked at #32 on the American Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The song was not edited and remained the same length as the full album version.
The song was produced by Richie Zito who had previously produced the band's 1988 album "Lap of Luxury" as well as the entire "Busted" album.
Background
After the success of the American number one hit "The Flame" from the previous album "Lap of Luxury", the band recorded "Busted" with a similar format, with the lead single "Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love" peaking at #12 on the US charts. The album failed to be as successful as the label had hoped, and about a year after the release of "Busted", Epic Records dropped Cheap Trick from their label.
This release would prove to be the band's final release of new material under Epic Records although the 1991 compilation "The Greatest Hits" featured a previously unreleased song from the "Lap of Luxury" sessions, a cover of The Beatles track "Magical Mystery Tour" which would be released as the final promotional single under Epic Records by the band.
No music video was created for the song although unofficial footage exists of the band performing the track live on numerous occasions around the time of the album's release.
Track listing
- "Back 'n Blue" - 4:42
Critical reception
Popdose.com spoke of the song in a review of the album, writing "When the needle touched down into the groove of the first track on side one, Back ‘N Blue, I was greeted with some moderately cool rock guitar riffage, some well placed na-na-na’s and a tough Robin Zander vocal. The title of the song continued CT’s tradition of having fun with words (in this case, altering a cliché for their own purposes), but the song itself didn’t reflect that fun. It plodded, and probably would have been better off in the hands of Bon Jovi."