Artful Dodger

An unsung power pop band of the '70s, Artful Dodger existed in the mid-'70s gap that separated the Raspberries from Cheap Trick. Sonically, Artful Dodger skewed toward the huge arena hooks of the Raspberries but they lacked the Paul McCartney infatuation of Eric Carmen, favoring a big roar that tamed the arena rock of the Who. Producer Jack Douglas helped give their eponymous 1975 debut muscle and he'd take some these tricks to Cheap Trick's first album in 1977, by which time Artful Dodger were starting to seem like the old guard -- they lacked Cheap Trick's punky attack and s...