I could swear I’ve asked this before. I just don’t remember the answer and can’t find the thread.
In the official video for Cheap Tricks “She’s tight” at the very end (about 2:43) who is the goof playing keyboards?
Roy Thomas Baker?
Aye: that’s RTB.
Alright. Thanks for the answer.
But how did you guys know? Did you recognize him? I have no idea who that is.
He’s listed as the producer for that track on the Greatest Hits album, if that helps. I’d never heard of him. And he does look pretty damn goofy, don’t he?
RTB is very recognizable, very well known. He was a hugely successful and influential producer all through the '70s and '80s (he did continue working just not as visibly successfully in later years), working with an enormous roster of artists in rock and pop/rock.
Meh. I don’t pay too much attention to producers. Especially from albums I bought almost 40 years ago. One on One is my favorite Cheap Trick vinyl, BTW.
I didn’t; you recalled having done the whole asked-and-answered bit in a thread you said you now couldn’t find, and so I shrugged and set to findIng that, is all.
Now that the OP’s question has been answered, I’m curious about that five-neck guitar that Rick Nielsen is playing in the video. Is that just a gimmick, or are all five necks actually playable? I’d think you’d be smacking yourself in the face with the upper part of the guitar trying to reach down to that bottom neck.
You woulda hated my roommate in college - he arranged our couple thousand LPs according to what they had in common w/ each other, such as shared personnel, producers, common influences, etc. Yeah, no one other than the 2 of us could find a damned thing! 
Youtube is your friend! Rig Rundown - Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen - YouTube
Starting at 9:45 they talk about the 5 neck. The tech let slip that Nielsen rarely plays the fifth neck, to the point where he doesn’t even tune it any more.
As much as I love Rick and the Trick, “Gimmick” is the operative word to describe the bulk of his catalog, I think.
I saw Nielsen and Cheap Trick live my senior year of high school (1990-1991), and got to see him play the monstrosity. I don’t recall him playing the bottom neck, though.
No way eh. Rick had a stylistically goofy image but his songwriting and guitar-playing are top-notch. Plus he was in a kick-ass band; that helps.
ETA: This is from a few years ago, but it totally fucking rocks:
He never got laid in college, did he?
i do not disagree. But the Gimmick factor was huge with Mr. Nielsen. I fear it overshadows his true genius.
Edit: Same is gonna be said for Jack White someday.
Heh. Showing my age, but I saw them in clubs in the 70’s before anyone knew who the hell they were and before you were even an itch in your pappys pants.
CT is still furiously loyal to those of us in northern Illinois/southeastern Wisconsin even after 40+ years.
The five neck guitar has its own Wikipedia page!
Apparently one of the early designs was for it to be circular so he could spin from neck to neck.
Yeah, starting college in 78, I had a good friend who was pretty close to them from Rockford. Their 1st 3 albums - pre-Budokan - are definitely NOT gimmicky.
Then, years later, I think I recall seeing the guys from American Pickers meet w/ and buy some stuff from Rick.
Oh yeah - my roomie - later the singer in the band in which I played bass - has a longtime steady girl. Truly was a weird dude, tho.
You found the old thread? How?