Ghost Town (Cheap Trick song) explained

Ghost Town
Cover:	Cheap Trick 1988 Single Ghost Town.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Cheap Trick
Album:	Lap of Luxury
B-Side:	Wrong Side of Love
Released:	October 1988
Genre:	Rock, power pop
Length:	4:02
Label:	Epic
Producer:	Richie Zito
Prev Title:	Don't Be Cruel
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Let Go
Next Year:	1988

"Ghost Town" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1988 as the third single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury. It was written by Diane Warren and guitarist Rick Nielsen, and produced by Richie Zito. The song peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[1]

"Ghost Town" dated back to 1981 when Nielsen recorded a demo of the song during sessions for the band's One on One album. The song remained undeveloped until the sessions for Lap of Luxury when Warren added some contributions to the finished song.^[2]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Nick Morris and produced by Fiona O'Mahoney.^[3] It achieved heavy rotation on MTV.^[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Billboard commented, "What starts off sounding like vintage ELO develops into a yearning plea highlighted by Zander's vocal."^[5] Cash Box listed the single as one of their "feature picks" during November 1988. They stated, "A fine bit of writing by Nielsen and Warren, delivered with gusto by Zander on lead vocals. Cheap Trick is one of the most underrated bands ever."^[6] In a review of Lap of Luxury, Spin noted the "great vocal arrangements" and a "George Harrison soundalike guitar solo".^[7] Steve Huey of AllMusic described the song as a "grandly romantic power ballad".^[8]

Track listing

7-inch single

1. "Ghost Town" - 4:02
2. "Wrong Side of Love" - 3:59

7-inch single (US promo)

1. "Ghost Town" - 4:02
2. "Ghost Town" - 4:02

12-inch single (US promo)

1. "Ghost Town" - 4:02
2. "Don't Be Cruel" - 3:08
3. "Wrong Side of Love" - 3:59

CD single (US promo)

1. "Ghost Town" - 4:02

Personnel

Cheap Trick

• Robin Zander - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Rick Nielsen - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Tom Petersson - bass, backing vocals
• Bun E. Carlos - drums, percussion

Production

• Richie Zito - producer
• Phil Kaffel - engineer, mixer
• Jim Champagne, Bernard Frings, Mike Tacci, Bob Vogt, Toby Wright - second engineers

Charts

Chart (1988–89)	Peak position
New Zealand Singles Chart^[9]	29
US Billboard Hot 100	33
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks^[10]	32
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles^[11]	20

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cheap Trick Chart History . Billboard . 2018-03-02.
2. Book: Still Competition: The Listener's Guide to Cheap Trick - Robert Lawson - Google Books . 2017-11-13 . 9781525512254 . 2018-03-02. Lawson . Robert . FriesenPress .
3. Music Video: New Videoclips . . November 19, 1988 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 100 . 47 . 43 . 0006-2510.
4. Music Video: The Clip List . . December 24, 1988 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 100 . 52 . 58 . 0006-2510.
5. Single Reviews . . November 5, 1988 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 100 . 45 . 69 . 0006-2510.
6. Cash Box newspaper - 12 November 1988 - Single releases - page 18
7. Web site: SPIN - Google Books . July 1988. 2018-03-02.
8. Web site: Huey . Steve . Lap of Luxury - Cheap Trick . AllMusic . 2012-03-11.
9. Web site: Steffen Hung . Cheap Trick - Ghost Town . charts.nz . 2012-03-11 .
10. Web site: Cheap Trick Chart History . Billboard . 2018-03-02.
11. Book: Downey . Pat . Albert . George . Hoffman . Frank . Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993 . 1994 . Libraries Unlimited, Inc. . Englewood, Colorado . 1563083167 . 60 . registration . September 28, 2022.