"If It Takes a Lifetime" was released as a remixed promotional single, aimed at generating radio play.[1] The song's remix, named the "Little Steven Van Zandt Radio Edit", was created by the American musician and producer Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. In his weekly Billboard column, Little Steven's Underground Garage, Zandt listed the song as No. 2 of his Top 10 "Coolest Garage Songs".[2] In a 2006 interview with Star Press, Nielsen told Michelle Kinsey that "If It Takes a Lifetime" was the song he looked forward to playing most during a Cheap Trick concert.[3]
Promotion
On June 7, 2006, the band appeared on Rockline, a nationally syndicated radio interview program hosted by Bob Coburn, and performed the song live.[4] The band also performed the song on the Bart Connor-presented WGN America show MDA on September 4, 2006,[5] and an MSNBC show on September 25.[6]
Track listing
CD single (DPRO236788-2)
"If It Takes a Lifetime (Little Steven Van Zandt Radio Edit)" - 3:41
Critical reception
Upon release, Marc Hirsh of The Boston Globe commented of the tracks on Rockford: "...along with "If It Takes a Lifetime," they sound blessedly like classic Cheap Trick songs and performances."[7] Alan Sculley of The Desert Sun noted: "The poppier side of Cheap Trick's sound emerges brightly on hook-laden Beatlesque songs such as "If It Takes A Lifetime" and "Every Night And Every Day"."[8]
Lou Friedman of PopMatters noted: ""If It Takes a Lifetime" is another ballad disguised as a rocker, and has a sing-along chorus to boot."[9] Alexander Müller of The-Pit described the song as "somewhat relaxed but equally good" as the album's previous track, "Perfect Stranger".[10] K. L. Poore of Audio Video Revolution noted: "...while listening to "If It Takes a Lifetime" I figure that Rick Nielsen went to his "catchy hook" trunk, pulled out 10 or 15 and crammed them into the same song."[11]
Ben Perry of 80's Metal Server said of the song: "For me, this is the easiest song on the album to get stuck in my head. No idea why, but it does... on a frequent basis and I do not even listen to this album much."[12] Andrew J. McNeice of MelodicRock.com considered the song to be "very Lap of Luxury-ish pop/rock".[13] Tony Bonyata of ConcertLivewire.com described the song as a "sugar-buzzed power-pop anthem".[14]
In a review of the 2008 compilation The Coolest Songs in the World, Vol. 5, Mark Deming of AllMusic said: "Van Zandt clearly knows a great single when he hears one, and "Pull Shapes," "Porno Movies," and "If It Takes a Lifetime" all get over on cool melodies, high spirits, and ineffable cool that defies generic classification."[15] Jed Gottlieb of The Phoenix wrote: "The first three tracks are irrelevant stabs at anemic Top 40. Cheap Trick haven't learned any new tricks, but they're as skilled (and enthused) as they were two decades ago."[16]
Personnel
Cheap Trick
Robin Zander – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer
Rick Nielsen – lead guitar, backing vocals, producer
Tom Petersson – bass guitar, backing vocals, producer