Ain’t That a Shame (Live 1978)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Ain’t That a Shame (Live 1978)" by Cheap Trick from their iconic album Cheap Trick at Budokan. This high-energy cover of Fats Domino’s classic, recorded at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan in April 1978, captures the band’s raw power and the wild enthusiasm of their Japanese fans. One juicy tidbit from the recording: the guitar trade-offs in this live version were slightly different from the vinyl release when it first hit CD in the U.S., possibly due to an unpolished mix, giving early CD listeners a unique take on the track. The song was a last-minute addition to the setlist, pushed by Epic Records Japan to include “new songs” for the live album, which helped it become a radio staple in the late ‘70s, climbing to #35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The legend of At Budokan grew from the band’s Beatlemania-like reception in Japan. When Cheap Trick landed in Tokyo on April 22, 1978, they were mobbed by fans at the airport, with photographer Bob Alford recalling scenes of “gangs of Japanese fans chasing them everywhere, trying to rip their clothes off.” The intensity carried over to the Budokan shows, where 12,000 screaming fans nearly drowned out the band. In a 2008 interview with writer Jeb Wright, guitarist Rick Nielsen admitted the oft-repeated story that “I Want You to Want Me” was a last-minute setlist addition was “half true, half story,” but the same energy applied to “Ain’t That a Shame,” which was chosen to fulfill the label’s demand for fresh material. A post on X from @cheaptrick on October 8, 2022, noted that the album, initially meant for Japan only, sparked such demand in the U.S. from radio buzz that it was released stateside in February 1979.

Cheap Trick didn’t just stumble into this frenzy—they built their sound through years of grinding in Midwest bars. Formed in Rockford, Illinois, in 1974, the band—vocalist Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, and drummer Bun E. Carlos—blended power pop’s catchy hooks with hard rock’s edge. Their quirky image, with Zander and Petersson as the heartthrobs and Nielsen and Carlos as the eccentric “nerds,” was honed through relentless gigging. Before Budokan, they released three studio albums—Cheap Trick (1977), In Color (1977), and Heaven Tonight (1978)—which earned critical praise but modest U.S. sales. Their big break came in Japan, where their Beatles-esque appeal exploded, leading to the Budokan shows that made them global stars. In a 2023 AXS TV interview, Zander, Petersson, and Nielsen shared how opening for bands like KISS and Queen taught them to deliver electrifying live performances, a skill that shines in “Ain’t That a Shame.”

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Cheap Trick on their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they post tour updates and throwbacks like the 30th anniversary of At Budokan. Fans also gather at sites like Cheap Trick’s official fan club and the Cheap Trick Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over setlists and rare vinyl finds. The band’s still rocking, with Nielsen’s wild guitar riffs and Zander’s soaring vocals keeping the spirit of Budokan alive. So, crank up “Ain’t That a Shame” and let the Zoo Crew take you back to that sweaty, screaming night in Tokyo!