The Essential Cheap Trick

*The Essential Cheap Trick* is overflowing with a lively 36 tracks, starting off with the glittery stomp of “ELO Kiddies,” the first song off their 1977 self-titled debut. Following this number with the riff-rocking, fist-pumping “Hot Love” and the guitar pop gem “He’s A Whore” — also from the band’s first album — keeps the sequence running chronologically cool until the fourth track where the band made the decision to insert a 1998 live version of “Mandocello” with Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins. But the momentum immediately picks up again with the infectious “Clock Strikes Ten,” a hair-shaking rock ‘n’ roller from 1977’s *In Color* that recalls Ohio’s power pop pioneers Blue Ash. Add on “Hello There,” the minute-and-41-second anthem that set the tone for the essential 1979 youth rebellion film *Over The Edge* along with staple hits “Surrender” and “Dream Police” and it’s obvious that the first disc of this compilation is the better half. Still, with “She’s Tight” and a live version of “Hard To Tell,” the second disc rocks hard and heavy as well.