A Trick Up Their Sleeve

It's the stuff dreams are made of.

A struggling Midwest rock n' roll band releases a bunch of stateside albums to lukewarm reception.
Scoring a hit single in "Surrender" from Heaven Tonight, the Tricksters still faced the challenge on the domestic front, but due to the band's unprecendented and seemingly overnight success in Japan, as evinced by their (supposed-to-have-been) Japan only live album release At Budokan. Imports leaked into the US, which forced Epic to put out a domestic release.
For a band close to being dropped by their label, this feat finally did the trick, so to speak.

Riding on the international stardom garnered by their live album At Budokan, Cheap Trick steamrolled through the end of the 70's with an album that was sked to be released, but put on hold, due to the aformentioned Budokanmania.

Dream Police finally saw the light of day, hot on the heels of all the building furor and resulting fame, featuring new tracks that bomped as hard as the competition could conjure, yet shone with a Pop brilliance, boasting tight Beatlesque vocal harmonies to rival their idols and superb chops honed over years of touring.

Tracks like the lilting "Way Of The World," replete with crunchy guitars, that roaring Robin Zander baritone, with soaring strings thrown in, give the necessary oomph reminiscent of their live sets.
Experimentation also came into play in this stew, with lengthier opuses ("Gonna Raise Hell" and "Need Your Love"). Not to mention the hit singles in the mesmerizing ballad "Voices" and the runaway train-like title track.

All told, Cheap Trick went all-out with all its aces up their sleeves. Their 80's efforts may have paled in the ensuing years, but in 1979, the Universe conspired with Cheap Trick. Certainly a great trick, as well as a treat.