- Format: EP
In 1980, bassist Tom Petersson left the band for a solo career. This had a noticeable effect on the band's chemistry; the four albums they recorded without him were inferior to the ones that came before, and their popularity faded. Petersson returned in time for the 1988 album "Lap Of Luxury", which was their comeback album. So what did Petersson do during those years in between? He formed a band with his then-wife Dagmar Peterson, and called it Tom Peterson and Another Language (his name was now spelled with one "s" instead of two). The band also included ex-Nazz drummer Thom Mooney and session guitarist Jeffrey Rollings. Their only released recording was a 1984 five-song EP on the now-defunct Enigma label.
The songs on the EP were co-written by Tom and Dagmar. Most of the vocals are by Dagmar, who sounds like a German-accented Debbie Harry, and Tom makes an occasional vocal appearance. Tom produced and arranged the record, which is nicely atmospheric at times; he also played guitar, piano, and 12- and 18-string bass. The music sounds like the type of post-Blondie new wave that was prominent in the early '80's, and is recommended for fans of that genre. Fans of Cheap Trick should note that only one song, the standout "Living In Another World", sounds remotely Trick-like. It may not leave you crying for more, but "Tom Peterson and Another Language" makes a cool 25-minute listen.
The talented Tom Petterson plays bass with those high rollers of rock, Cheap Trick. Petersson fell in with true-original Rick Nielsen back in the '60s and the two wandered Europe before landing in Fuse, a strangely progressive quintet who issued one unsuccessful release. Nielsen returned to America in the early '70s and told Petersson he was on the verge of success with a new band. Petersson was less than delighted when he found out the truth upon returning to the States, but stayed around as the duo eventually settled with Bun E. Carlos on the drums and Robin Zander's lead vocals.
Touring heavily and releasing a blistering opening salvo of classic records, Cheap Trick rose to great success, but at the height, Petersson became disenchanted and left the band immediately after Trick completed the radical All Shook Up with Sir George Martin. Petersson ironically pulled a "Yoko" move — leaving Trick to work with his wife Dagmar on Tom Peterson and Another Language (Petersson dropping the extra pseudo-Swedish 's' from his name). This mini-album of new wave wildness was the only thing heard from Petersson until he spilled beer in Nielsen's lap at a Duran Duran birthday party some years later.
Petersson rejoined Cheap Trick for a commercial, if not thoroughly artistic, return to form, Lap of Luxury. Petersson also worked with Concrete Blond and Precious Metal. In the '90s, Cheap Trick's star fell again and the quartet almost quit releasing new material, but still performed constantly. While living in Nashville, Petersson hooked up with multi-instrumentalist neighbor Doug Powell and the two joined the quasi-supergroup Swag which included Jerry Dale McFadden of Sixpence None the Richer, Robert Reynolds (the Mavericks), and Ken Coomer of Wilco. Oddly, Petersson threatened legal action against Swag in 2001 concerning membership, although his status with Cheap Trick was never in question. Petersson invented the massive 12-string bass which services distinguished clientele like Jeff Ament.