Not-So-Lonely Hearts: Cheap Trick, 'Sgt. Pepper Live' DVD

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"THE ESSENCE OF the Beatles with the Cheap Trick sound" is how singer Robin Zander describes the band's 40th-anniversary performance of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in a bonus interview on Cheap Trick's recent "Sgt. Pepper Live" DVD ($15.98). Dedicated to "Robin's Dad," the DVD captures the power-pop veterans at a 2007 benefit show, with all concert and DVD proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Performing the album live required more than a little help from their friends, so Cheap Trick recruited original "Sgt. Pepper" recording engineer Geoff Emerick, the New York Philharmonic, an Indian sitar band and, for "Within You Without You," Beatlemania vet Rob Laufer. (Laufer's resemblance to the late George Harrison is downright spooky.) While the woodwinds for "When I'm Sixty-Four" are spot-on, Ian Ball of Gomez brings unneeded vocal snark to a sweet song, in contrast to Joan Osborne, who seems to be having the time of her life on "Lovely Rita."

But it's primarily Zander who's trying not to sing out of key and mostly succeeds despite some ironic moments like sporting a contorted rock face while singing, "I used to be an angry young man."

His best song may be "She's Leaving Home," where it's easy to recognize Lennon's influence on Zander's vocal style. Drummer Bun E. Carlos gets a big moment during the "Abbey Road" encore of "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" — and dig the Beatles font on his drum kit)

Guitarist/raconteur Rick Nielsen saves his best moments for the bonus interview, although all four members have interesting thoughts as to which band should re-create Cheap Trick's opus, "Dream Police," for its 30th anniversary.

Written by Express contributor Paul Stelter
Photo courtesy Danny Clinch