Cheap Trick: Robin Zander (vocals, guitar); Rick Nielsen (guitar); Tom Petersson (bass); Bun E. Carlos (drums).

Producers include: Cheap Trick, Tom Werman, George Martin, Roy Thomas Baker, Jack Douglas.

Reissue producers: Cheap Trick, Bruce Dickinson.

Includes liner notes by Ron Albanese.

Recording information: Budokon (1976-1999); Daytona Beach, FL (1976-1999).

Photographer: Rich Kwasniekski.

This is an "authorized" greatest hits collection in the sense that the band picked the selections themselves. It's preferable to the 1991 Greatest Hits comp for its slightly greater length (16 songs) and better choice of material; the single version of "Southern Girls" makes it on this time around, for instance. Still, like that other album with "Greatest Hits" in the title, it misses a number of rockers that fans might rate among their best work. The only previously unreleased item is a live 1988 performance of "The Flame"; a live version of "I Can't Take It" and their rendition of "That 70's Song (In the Street)," the latter famed for its use as a television theme, are the only tracks recorded after 1990. ~ Richie Unterberger

Die hard Trick completists, as well as those who have ever sung along to "Surrender" in a pub, will want to grab this one. While the one black mark is the lack of the earlier raw material, AUTHORIZED successfully mixes commercial ballads with down n' dirty rockers.

The LIVE AT BUDOKAN one-two punch of "I Want You To Want Me" and "Ain't That A Shame" shows the band in top form. "Southern Girls" is an overlooked, heavy pop classic written by the maniacal Rick Nielsen and bass ace Tom Petersson. "Stop This Game" is a raucous singalong from the new wave era that shows the band in sync with Producer George Martin. Vocalist Robin Zander shines on the slick, radio-friendly "Tonight It's You." Vintage Trick is represented by the beautiful "Mandocello," while a live version of "I Can't Take It" showcases the band's most recent MUSIC FOR HANGOVERS.

The band selected a great lineup of songs that would appeal to both the Cheap Trick novice ("Dream Police", "The Flame [live]") and fanatic ("That 70s Song [In The Street]"). Buy the CD, see the show, and relish in the power of this unique band.

Q (1/01, p.122) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...The bulk of these tracks date from [their] self-penned, late-'70s peak....combining hard rock riffs and Beatles-inspired pop with witty observations on teenage American life..."