| REO Speedwagon | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Champaign, Illinois, USA |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Hard rock |
| Years active | 1967 - present |
| Label(s) | Epic, Priority/Rhythm Safari, Castle, Speedwagon Recordings |
| Members | |
| Dave Amato Kevin Cronin Neal Doughty Bruce Hall Bryan Hitt |
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| Former members | |
PRINCIPAL Gary Richrath Alan Gratzer Gregg Philbin Terry Luttrell Mike Murphy EARLY OR SHORT-TERM Bill Fiorio (aka Duke Tumatoe) Jesse Harms Joe McCabe Graham Lear Miles Joseph Steve Scorfina Mike Blair Joe Matt Bob Crownover |
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REO Speedwagon is an American rock band which grew in popularity in the Midwestern United States during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. REO Speedwagon hits include "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." Both songs are power ballads, the former being prototypical of the genre and appearing on the group's most commercially successful album, Hi Infidelity, which also included the hit "Take It on the Run," a song that peaked at number five on the U.S. charts.
Contents |
History
Formation
REO Speedwagon took its name from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck, manufactured by the REO Motor Car Company. ("R.E.O." are initials of the company's founder, Ransom Eli Olds, who also founded Oldsmobile, once a division of General Motors.)
REO Speedwagon was formed by students attending the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois in the fall of 1967 to play cover songs in campus bars. The first line up consisted of Alan Gratzer on drums and vocals, Neal Doughty on keyboards, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals and Mike Blair on bass and vocals. In the spring of 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover and Gregg Philbin replaced Matt and Blair. Crownover played guitar for the group until the summer of 1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. Another guitarist, Steve Scorfina, came aboard briefly, and was replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970.
Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitar player and prolific songwriter who brought original material to the band including REO's signature song "Ridin' the Storm Out." With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history.
Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut after being impressed by a concert he attended in Illinois. He shopped the finished recordings for nearly a year before finding interest at Epic Records in New York City. Epic's legal staff was able to secure rights to the name and logo for the band at this time. The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell.
Early years
The band's debut album, REO Speedwagon, was released on Epic Records in 1971. One of the most popular tracks on this record was "157 Riverside Avenue." The title refers to the Westport, Connecticut address where the band stayed while recording in Leka's studio in nearby Bridgeport, and remains an in-concert favorite.
Although the rest of the band's line-up remained stable, REO Speedwagon switched lead vocalists three times for their first three albums. Luttrell left the band in early 1972, eventually becoming the vocalist for Starcastle. He was replaced by Kevin Cronin. Cronin recorded one album with the band, 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O., but left the band during the recording sessions for 1973's Ridin' The Storm Out because of missed rehearsals and creative disagreements. Ridin' the Storm Out was completed with Michael Bryan Murphy on the microphone. Murphy stayed on for two more albums, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, before Cronin returned to the fold in January 1976 and recorded R.E.O., which was released that same year.
REO Speedwagon's first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For (1977), was certified platinum. The band was dissatisfied with the producers on their studio albums because of their alleged inability to capture on tape the quality of the band's live show. The live album, which was self-produced, seemed to change that.
In 1977, Philbin was replaced with Bruce Hall to record You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish, released in 1978 which received FM radio airplay but fell short of the Top 40. In 1979, the band took a turn back to hard rock with the release of Nine Lives.
Mainstream success
The lineup was now set for the band's most popular era. In the fall of 1980, REO Speedwagon released Hi Infidelity, which represented a change in the music from hard rock to more pop-oriented material. Hi Infidelity spawned four hit singles written by Richrath and Cronin, including the #1 "Keep On Loving You", the #5 "Take It on the Run", "In Your Letter" (#20), and "Don't Let Him Go" (#24), and remained on the charts for 65 weeks, 32 of which were spent in the top ten, including three months at number one.
Good Trouble (1982) and Wheels Are Turnin' (1984) were follow-up albums which also did well commercially, the former containing the hit singles "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (U.S. #7) and "Sweet Time" (U.S. #26) and the latter containing the #1 hit single "Can't Fight This Feeling." 1987's Life as We Know It saw a decline in sales, but still managed to provide the band with minor hits.
Hard times
However, by the end of the 1980s, the band's popularity had waned and the group began to disintegrate. In 1988-9, the band's future was uncertain as Gratzer retired and Richrath was asked to leave over disagreements with Cronin regarding musical direction. Cronin had been playing in a jazz ensemble called "The Strolling Dudes" with jazz horn player Rick Braun, Miles Joseph on lead guitar and Graham Lear on drums. Joseph and Lear subsequently replaced Richrath and Gratzer as members of REO Speedwagon.
The 1990 release The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, with Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) replacing Graham Lear on drums, Dave Amato debuting on lead guitar, and songwriter/keyboardist Jesse Harms was a commercial disappointment. Harms was disillusioned and his tenure in the group ended in early 1991. These lineup changes and Richrath's departure were a stinging blow to many fans, especially those of the band's harder-edged material from the 1970s which had been dominated by Richrath's unique style on the guitar.
Shortly after his departure, Richrath assembled former members of the midwestern band, Vancouver, to form a namesake band, Richrath. After touring for several years, the Richrath band released Only the Strong Survive in 1992 on the GNP Crescendo label. Richrath continued to perform for several years before disbanding in the late 1990s.
In the meantime, REO Speedwagon lost their recording contract with Epic, and ended up releasing Building the Bridge (1996) on the Priority/Rhythm Safari label. When that label went bankrupt, the album was released on the ill-fated Castle Records which also experienced financial troubles. REO Speedwagon ultimately self-financed this effort, which failed to chart.
Revival of the hits
Epic has released over a dozen compilation albums of REO Speedwagon recordings. These contain various combinations of older hits or obscure regional favorites. Some have been re-mastered, meaning the audio quality has been enhance by modern technology. 1999's The Ballads contained two new songs, as did the original "HITS" album.
Current
In 2000, REO teamed up with Styx for an appearance at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis, which was released as a live concert video Arch Allies: Live at Riverport. The REO portion of the show was released separately as a video package: Live - Plus (2001), and and audio CD: Extended Versions (2001).
REO once again teamed with Styx in 2003 for the Classic Rock's Main Event tour which also included Journey.
The band released a self-financed album entitled Find Your Own Way Home in April of 2007. Though it did not chart as an album, it produced two singles which appeared on Billboard's Adult Contemporary radio chart.
REO Speedwagon continues to tour, performing mostly their 70s and 80s hits. They are regulars on the fair and casino circuits, but still team with other acts to play larger venues.
Discography
Studio albums
- R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971)
- R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)
- Ridin' the Storm Out (1973) #171 US
- Lost in a Dream (1974) #94 US
- This Time We Mean It (1975) #74 US
- R.E.O. (1976) #159 US
- You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978) #29 US
- Nine Lives (1979) #33 US
- Hi Infidelity (1980) #1 US
- Good Trouble (1982) #7 US
- Wheels Are Turnin' (1984) #7 US
- Life as We Know It (1987) #28 US
- The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (1990) #129 US
- Building the Bridge (1996)
- Find Your Own Way Home (2007)
Live albums
- Live: You Get What You Play For (1977) #72 US
- Arch Allies: Live at Riverport (2000)
- Live - Plus (2001)
- Live Plus 3 (2001)
- Extended Versions (2001)
Compilation albums
- A Decade of Rock and Roll: 1970-1980 (1980) #55 US
- Best Foot Forward (1985)
- The Hits (1988) #56 US, #40 Top Pop Catalog albums
- Keep On Loving You - Best (Germany) (1991)
- Second Decade of Rock and Roll 1981 to 1991 (1991)
- Starbox (1993)
- Believe in Rock and Roll (1995)
- Subway in Tokyo (Japan) (1995)
- Hi Infidelity - Gold (1995)
- Only the Strong Survive (1998)
- Premium Best (1998)
- The Ballads (1999)
- Take It on the Run (2001)
- Simply the Best (2001)
- Keep On Rollin' (2002)
- The Essential REO Speedwagon (2004)
Charted singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 | US MSR | US A.C. | UK singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | "Ridin' the Storm Out" | 94 | - | - | - | You Get What You Play For |
| 1978 | "Roll with the Changes" | 58 | - | - | - | You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish |
| 1978 | "Time for Me to Fly"1 | 56 | - | - | - | You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish |
| 1980 | "Keep On Loving You" | 1 | 9 | - | 7 | Hi Infidelity |
| 1981 | "Take It on the Run" | 5 | 6 | - | 19 | Hi Infidelity |
| 1981 | "Don't Let Him Go" | 24 | 11 | - | - | Hi Infidelity |
| 1981 | "In Your Letter" | 20 | - | 26 | - | Hi Infidelity |
| 1981 | "Tough Guys" | - | 25 | - | - | Hi Infidelity |
| 1981 | "Out of Season" | - | 59 | - | - | Hi Infidelity |
| 1982 | "Keep the Fire Burnin'" | 7 | 2 | - | - | Good Trouble |
| 1982 | "Sweet Time" | 26 | - | - | - | Good Trouble |
| 1982 | "The Key" | - | 34 | - | - | Good Trouble |
| 1982 | "Stillness of the Night" | - | 19 | - | - | Good Trouble |
| 1982 | "Good Trouble" | - | 51 | - | - | Good Trouble |
| 1984 | "I Do' Wanna Know" | 29 | 5 | - | - | Wheels Are Turnin' |
| 1985 | "Can't Fight This Feeling" | 1 | - | 3 | 16 | Wheels Are Turnin' |
| 1985 | "One Lonely Night" | 19 | 17 | 10 | - | Wheels Are Turnin' |
| 1985 | "Live Every Moment" | 34 | - | - | - | Wheels Are Turnin' |
| 1987 | "That Ain't Love" | 16 | 5 | - | - | Life as We Know It |
| 1987 | "Variety Tonight" | 60 | 28 | - | - | Life as We Know It |
| 1987 | "In My Dreams" | 19 | - | 6 | - | Life as We Know It |
| 1988 | "Here with Me" | 20 | - | 9 | - | The Hits |
| 1990 | "Live It Up" | - | 6 | - | - | The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken |
| 1990 | "Love Is a Rock" | 65 | 31 | - | - | The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken |
| 2007 | "I Needed to Fall" | - | - | 25 | - | Find Your Own Way Home |
| 2008 | "Find Your Own Way Home" | - | - | 23 | - | Find Your Own Way Home |
- 1 Re-released in 1980; peaked at #77
In addition to the above, REO Speedwagon has several songs that never charted as singles but occasionally obtain airplay on classic rock stations. Those include "Keep Pushin'", "157 Riverside Avenue", "Back on the Road Again", "Golden Country", "Like You Do", and "Only the Strong Survive".
Videography
Concerts
- 1979: Champagne Jam 79
- 1981: Live Infidelity
- 1985: Wheels Are Tourin'
- 1991: Video Anthology 1978 - 1990
- 2000: Styx and REO Speedwagon Arch Allies Live at Riverport
- 2001: Live - Plus (from same concert as "Arch Allies")
- 2001: Live Plus 3 (from same concert as "Arch Allies")
- 2002: Extended Versions - The DVD Collections (from same concert as "Arch Allies")
- 2002: Real Artists Working
- 2007: XM Artist Confidential
- 2008: PBS "SoundStage"
See also
References
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External links
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REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run (l
REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run (l
Author: angelofsky2
Keywords: REO Speedwagon Take It On The Run (l
Added: August 27, 2008
REO Speedwagon - Roll with the Changes
REO Speedwagon performing Roll with the Changes.
Author: styxfan06
Keywords: REO Speedwagon Roll with the Changes Detroit
Added: August 27, 2008
REO Speedwagon - Back on the Road Again
Here's REO Speedwagon performing Back on the Road Again.
Author: styxfan06
Keywords: REO Speedwagon Back on the Road Again Detroit
Added: August 26, 2008
REO SPEEDWAGON LIVE "RIDIN THE STORM OUT" 8-08-08
REO SPEEDWAGON LIVE @ THE ALLEGANY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND. RECORDED 8-08-08 JUST A LITTLE VIDEO BEFORE CAM WENT DEAD!!!
Author: cass21502
Keywords: REO SPEEDWAGON LIVE "RIDIN THE STORM OUT" 8-08-08
Added: August 26, 2008
Daniel and Lindsey (Extreme dating)
this is with Devon Sawa as Daniel and Amanda Detmer as Lindsey. Music by Reo Speedwagon " I can't fight this feeling."
Author: katielee1959
Keywords: Sawa detmer Reo Speedwagon
Added: August 24, 2008