CHEAP TRICK next position please FE38794

Power Pop Perfection: Cheap Trick’s ‘Next Position Please’ (FE 38794)

Today’s entry features a beloved classic from the power pop masters. We are examining the 1983 US pressing of Next Position Please by Cheap Trick, released on Epic Records with the catalog number FE 38794.

The Rundgren Connection

Released in 1983, this album is famous for the collaboration between the band and producer Todd Rundgren. Rundgren’s influence brought a tighter, more melodic sound back to the band, often compared to The Beatles (specifically the Rubber Soul era). The album kicks off with the explosive “I Can’t Take It” (written by Robin Zander) and features the Rundgren-penned “Heaven’s Falling.” Interestingly, the track “Dancing The Night Away” (a cover of The Motors) was the only track not produced by Rundgren; it was produced by Ian Taylor and included at the label’s insistence to have a radio single. Despite the label interference, many die-hard fans consider this one of their strongest artistic statements.

Pitman Pressing & Hype Sticker

This specific copy is a Pitman Pressing, manufactured at the Columbia Records Pressing Plant in Pitman, New Jersey. This is identified by the faint “P” stamped in the runout matrix (e.g., `STERLING Ⓗ P`).

Collector’s Condition

What makes this copy particularly desirable is the preservation of the packaging. It retains the original Hype Sticker on the shrink wrap, a detail often discarded over the years. It also includes the original printed inner sleeve, completing the package for a pristine snapshot of 1983 American rock.