"Everything Works if You Let It" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1980 as a single from the soundtrack of the film Roadie.[2] It was written by Rick Nielsen and produced by George Martin.[3] "Everything Works If You Let It" reached No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles.[4][5]
| "Everything Works if You Let It" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Cheap Trick | ||||
| from the album Roadie (soundtrack) | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | May 1980[1] | |||
| Studio | Air Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:06 | |||
| Label | Epic Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Rick Nielsen | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| Cheap Trick singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative Cover | ||||
 Japanese cover of "Everything Works if You Let It" | ||||
Critical reception edit
Upon release, Billboard described the song as a "rocking uptempo composition", adding: "Disk has the group's trademarked stamp of pop innocence and instrumentation is upfront".[6] Cash Box listed the single as one of their "feature picks" during May 1980. They commented: "Rick Nielsen's buzzsaw guitar work sets the breakneck pace of the first single from Roadie. Robin Zander's Beatlesque vocals pack a pop wallop, prodded on by the expert rhythm section of Petersson and Carlos. A hot add for Top 40 AOR."[7] Record World called it a "guaranteed adrenalin-pumper" and said that "George Martin's pop production & the group's rock recklessness are a superb combination."[8]
In a retrospective review of the Roadie soundtrack, Whitney Z. Gomes of AllMusic stated: "Cheap Trick's killer opener shotguns the protagonist's motto "Everything Works If You Let It" into an unholy marriage of "Spirit of Radio" and "Hey Jude." This George Martin-ated miracle alone blows away side two..."[9] In 2016, Rolling Stone included the song in their list "10 Insanely Great Cheap Trick Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know". Author Tom Beaujour described the song as an "uptempo rocker with a killer riff and descending psychedelic bridge", which "stands with their best work".[10]
Track listing edit
- 7" single
- "Everything Works if You Let It" - 3:06
- "Way of the World" - 3:41
- 7" single (UK release)
- "Everything Works if You Let It" - 3:06
- "Heaven Tonight" - 5:38
- 7" single (Canadian promo)
- "Everything Works if You Let It" - 3:06
- 7" single (US promo)
- "Everything Works if You Let It" - 3:06
- "Everything Works if You Let It" - 3:06
Chart performance edit
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles[5] | 40 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 44 |
Personnel edit
- Cheap Trick
- Robin Zander - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Rick Nielsen - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Tom Petersson - bass, backing vocals
- Bun E. Carlos - drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- George Martin - producer of "Everything Works if You Let It"
- Geoff Emerick - engineer on "Everything Works if You Let It"
- Tom Werman - producer of "Way of the World" and "Heaven Tonight"
References edit
- ^ "Cheap Trick - Everything Works If You Let It / Way Of The World - Epic - USA - 9-50887". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ^ "Roadie (1980)". IMDb.com. 13 June 1980. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
- ^ "Cheap Trick - Everything Works If You Let It (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ a b Billboard. "Cheap Trick Everything Works If You Let It Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ^ a b "Item: 197 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ^ Billboard magazine - Billboard's Top Single Picks - May 24, 1980 - page 82
- ^ Cash Box newspaper - Reviews: Singles - May 24, 1980 - page 21
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 24, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ Whitney Z. Gomes. "Roadie [Original Soundtrack] - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ^ Beaujour, Tom (2016-04-05). ""Everything Works If You Let It" (1980) | 10 Insanely Great Cheap Trick Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-04-08.