Voices (Cheap Trick song)
Encyclopedia
"Voices" is the title of a song written by Rick Nielsen
and recorded by American rock band Cheap Trick
which appeared on the album Dream Police
. It was written by guitarist Rick Neilsen. The single was released in 1979 and peaked at #32 in the US. The single has become one of the band's more widely known tracks.
The song was originally recorded with Cheap Trick bass guitar
player Tom Petersson
singing the lead vocal, but it was later rerecorded for the Dream Police album with Cheap Trick's usual lead vocalist, Robin Zander
, singing the lead. On the released track, Petersson and Nielsen provide back up vocals. The song is unusual for Cheap Trick in that six or seven vocal tracks are layered in, making it impossible to replicate the sound on the album in live concerts. Steve Lukather
of the band Toto
plays acoustic guitar on the version of the song on Dream Police, but is uncredited.
Prior to its release on Dream Police, "Voices", backed by "Surrender
", was released as a single in the UK as a promotion for the upcoming album. However, when the album release was delayed, the single was quickly pulled. When Dream Police was finally on the verge of being released, Arnold Levine directed a promotional film of the band featuring "Voices" and two other songs from the album, "Dream Police
" and "Way of the World".
Subsequent to its original release on Dream Police, "Voices" has appeared on several Cheap Trick compilation albums, including The Greatest Hits
, The Essential Cheap Trick
, Collections, Playlist: The Very Best of Cheap Trick and The Music of Cheap Trick and the box set Sex, America, Cheap Trick
. A number of live versions have also been released. A performance from August 28, 1999 at Davis Park in Rockford, Illinois
was released on Silver
. A 2008 performance at Nippon Budokan
, Tokyo
was released on the DVD in the 30th anniversary edition Cheap Trick at Budokan. In 1980, Zander and Nielsen performed the song during an appearance on the television show Kids Are People Too.
of Rolling Stone Magazine described is as "disastrous" and "a ballad from a band that has absolutely no facility for ballads."
covered "Voices" on his 2001 debut album Meaningless.
episode "The Pineapple Incident
" where Ted has a hangover and Ted, Marshall, Lily and Barney have to find out the entire story by telling it from their point of view. The song is played when Ted gets drunk and calls Robin and plays the song on the jukebox and starts singing it until he falls over. Earlier in the episode, the show uses the guitar solo from the song during a sequence when Ted had passed out.
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
and recorded by American rock band Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
which appeared on the album Dream Police
Dream Police
Dream Police is a 1979 studio album by Cheap Trick. It was their fourth studio release, and third in a row produced by Tom Werman. It is the band's most commercially successful studio album, going to No...
. It was written by guitarist Rick Neilsen. The single was released in 1979 and peaked at #32 in the US. The single has become one of the band's more widely known tracks.
The song was originally recorded with Cheap Trick bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
singing the lead vocal, but it was later rerecorded for the Dream Police album with Cheap Trick's usual lead vocalist, Robin Zander
Robin Zander
Robin Wayne Zander is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Early life:Zander was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, the fourth of five children; he has two older brothers, and older and younger sisters....
, singing the lead. On the released track, Petersson and Nielsen provide back up vocals. The song is unusual for Cheap Trick in that six or seven vocal tracks are layered in, making it impossible to replicate the sound on the album in live concerts. Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
of the band Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
plays acoustic guitar on the version of the song on Dream Police, but is uncredited.
Prior to its release on Dream Police, "Voices", backed by "Surrender
Surrender (Cheap Trick song)
"Surrender" is a single by Cheap Trick released in June 1978 from the album Heaven Tonight. It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62...
", was released as a single in the UK as a promotion for the upcoming album. However, when the album release was delayed, the single was quickly pulled. When Dream Police was finally on the verge of being released, Arnold Levine directed a promotional film of the band featuring "Voices" and two other songs from the album, "Dream Police
Dream Police (song)
"Dream Police" is the title of a song written by Rick Nielsen and originally released in 1979 by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It was the opening track of Cheap Trick's album Dream Police. The single peaked #26 on the US single chart...
" and "Way of the World".
Subsequent to its original release on Dream Police, "Voices" has appeared on several Cheap Trick compilation albums, including The Greatest Hits
The Greatest Hits (Cheap Trick album)
The Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by Cheap Trick. It contains many of Cheap Trick's popular songs, as well as a previously unreleased cover version of The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour, which according to the liner notes, was an outtake from the Lap of Luxury album...
, The Essential Cheap Trick
The Essential Cheap Trick
The Essential Cheap Trick is the fourth compilation album by Cheap Trick, and part of Sony BMG's The Essential series. It contains at least one song from every album up to Special One , except the commercial failure The Doctor...
, Collections, Playlist: The Very Best of Cheap Trick and The Music of Cheap Trick and the box set Sex, America, Cheap Trick
Sex, America, Cheap Trick
Sex, America, Cheap Trick is a 1996 box set by the rock band Cheap Trick. It includes 17 previously unreleased songs, as well as the band's biggest hits...
. A number of live versions have also been released. A performance from August 28, 1999 at Davis Park in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
was released on Silver
Silver (Cheap Trick album)
Silver is the third live album released by Cheap Trick. It was performed at Davis Park in the band's hometown of Rockford, Illinois in 1999, to celebrate the band's 25th anniversary since their formation...
. A 2008 performance at Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
was released on the DVD in the 30th anniversary edition Cheap Trick at Budokan. In 1980, Zander and Nielsen performed the song during an appearance on the television show Kids Are People Too.
Critical reception
Critic Rick Clark of Allmusic described "Voices" as being "appealing melodic (albeit wimpy)" and Stephen Thomas Erlewine, also of Allmusic described it as one of Cheap Tricks finest songs. Critic Robert Coyne considers "Voices" to be Nielsen's "best ever ballad," but Dave MarshDave Marsh
Dave Marsh is an American music critic, author, editor and radio talk show host. He was a formative editor of Creem magazine, has written for various publications such as Newsday, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone, and has published numerous books about music and musicians, mostly focused on...
of Rolling Stone Magazine described is as "disastrous" and "a ballad from a band that has absolutely no facility for ballads."
Cover versions
Jon BrionJon Brion
Jon Brion is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer.-Early life:...
covered "Voices" on his 2001 debut album Meaningless.
Chart positions
| Chart (1979-1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 32 |
Other media
The song is featured in the How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
episode "The Pineapple Incident
The Pineapple Incident
"The Pineapple Incident" is the 10th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on November 28, 2005...
" where Ted has a hangover and Ted, Marshall, Lily and Barney have to find out the entire story by telling it from their point of view. The song is played when Ted gets drunk and calls Robin and plays the song on the jukebox and starts singing it until he falls over. Earlier in the episode, the show uses the guitar solo from the song during a sequence when Ted had passed out.