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R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Time for Me to Fly

3 votes

Take it on the Run

0 votes

Roll with the Changes

4 votes

In Your Letter

0 votes

157 Riverside Ave.

0 votes

Can't Fight this Feelin

1 votes

Keep the Fire Burnin

0 votes

Tough Guys

0 votes

Don't Let Him Go

2 votes

Ridin the Storm Out

1 votes

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 23 2010 08:07 AM

Being stranded on a desert island can be tough! Today consider which of the following selections (or one of your choosing off the grid) occupies your mix-tape for an eternity from REO Speedwagon, Champaign, Ill.'s most famous musical export. Note the selection below includes a few non-Kevin Cronin-sung songs: Like Journey, one of the bands REO is frequently lumped in with, REO started out with a completely different sound than the one that made them famous. Cronin was in and out of the band in its early years but eventually wrestled creative control for the monster Hi-Infidelity album which was inescapable in 1981. This caused plenty of tension with guitarist and founding member Gary Richrath, considered by REO's old-school fans to be the soul and creative superstar of the band. They are still at odds today. Remember after voting to go see REO with Pat Benatar at an indian-casino or state fair near you. Time for Me to Fly [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak6fZrkjWoA Take It On the Run [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmFfelxd8Tw Roll with the Changes [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGgLPriZUSA In Your Letter [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyU2RAQtxP4 157 Riverside Ave [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZHYESVW1-A Can't Fight this Feelin [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExSsKW85HcE Keep the Fire Burnin [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkkCh4bymjg Tough Guys [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0mhLbJJ9Ao Don't Let Him Go [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zwNUdk5roM Ridin the Storm Out [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTBv4kAdk_w

Willets Point Jul 23 2010 08:35 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

"One Lonely Night" had a funny video. Crap song, but a funny video.

The Second Spitter Jul 23 2010 08:53 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Geez, "Don't Let Him Go" is a weird song.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 09:15 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I saw a youtube performance where a Dennis DeYoung-less STYX brought Kevin Cronin --- REO had opened --- out to sing and play DeYoung's part on their encore, and I'm thinking, this is a great idea. Bands who've lost key members, but want to keep the flame alive, rather than tour with some yo-yo unknown up there taken Mr. Famous Guy's parts, and rather than hire a bigshot free-agent with no staying power who is only going to further alienate (and prevent a return of) the absent guy, they should merge with other shorthanded bands. Cronin gets up there and unlike some other interloper, he didn't have to apologize for his presence. He had rockstar moxy and all that because he's Kevin Fuckin' Cronin. Which ain't Dennis DeYoung, but it ain't nothin' either. What I'm saying is that I may pay no more than $3 to see a DeYoung-less Styx perform, and I may go no more than $2 to see whatever lineup REO Speedwagon is sporting. But to see REO STYXwagon? Well, I'd go as high $8, baby.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 09:21 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

[quote="The Second Spitter":1nqgpjve]Geez, "Don't Let Him Go" is a weird song.[/quote:1nqgpjve] Sounds like a Buckingham-led Fleetwood Mac song, I think, which not a lot of folks tend to emulate.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 23 2010 09:29 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

[quote="The Second Spitter"]Geez, "Don't Let Him Go" is a weird song.

AFAIC, that's also the winner. I'm having trouble thinking of a song any more bombastic than that one. Cronin can cheese up anything, but man, he gives you some fuckin vocals there on the key change and I also like the tasty geetar solo.

What "weird" were you referring to? The keyboard solo? The homoerotic lyric "he's got a long wick with a flame at both ends"?

Rockin' Doc Jul 23 2010 09:47 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I like the manual typewriter in the video of "In Your Letter". Kids today would likely be rather puzzled by such a machine. Kid, "What's that?" Dad, "That's a typewriter. It was used to type letters and term papers when I was growing up." Kid, "Where's the monitor?" Dad, "It didn't have a screen. You typed the words and they went directly on the paper." Kid, "That stupid. What if you messed up." Dad, "Well, you used Liquid Paper or White Out to correct the mistakes." Kid, "Liquid Paper. What's that?" Dad, "Never mind."

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 09:56 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I really would have guessed there'd be four songs in this poll, rather than 10, and indeed four songs I recognize right out, a few I recall when I click, and three-four are new to me.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 09:59 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Wait! You left out "Keep on Lovin' You," which was their breakthrough song and spent four glorious weeks at number one in the magical spring of 1981.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 23 2010 10:10 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

So I did! I had it conflated with "Can't Fight This Feelin" -- as far as I were concerned they were the same song.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 10:21 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

They both dropped the g, it's true, but key differences abound. One is a "sustainin' the relationship" song, the other is a 'startin' the relationship" song.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 10:21 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

They both dropped the g, it's true, but key differences abound. One is a "sustainin' the relationship" song, the other is a 'startin' the relationship" song. Maybe the G key on Kevin Cronin's typewriter was busted. Hey, maybe he's really named Kevin Croning, only we never had any way of knowing.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 23 2010 10:43 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I always considered it a signature of the 70s/80s Arena Rock Superstars (Kansas, Styx, REO, Journey) to drop their G's a la Lovin Touchin Squeezin. I should say I've looked it up and those song titles actually include G's but they didn't look right on the page. There a Hi-Infidelity song called Shakin' It Loose spelled like that.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 23 2010 01:10 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

only 2 votes so far... c'mon people.

TransMonk Jul 23 2010 01:30 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I begrudgingly voted Ridin the Storm Out. REO falls in line with Journey as a band that I would never want to be trapped on a Desert Island with. Also, the Styx-wagon plays every other month at a county fair or casino in my neck of the woods. A Styx without DeYoung is not a Styx I want to see.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 01:37 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I've got to give them some props for "In Your Letter." Who sits down and says, "Hey, let's bring back the Neil Sedaka sound!"?

G-Fafif Jul 23 2010 01:55 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

While it's frankly unforgivable that "Keep on Loving You" was left off the ballot (I wouldn't have voted for it but that was the song that brought the 'wagon rolling into the American eardrum), I went with "Roll With The Changes" because it meets my minimal requirements for R.E.O. excitement. The hit I enjoyed while it was a hit the most was "Keep The Fire Burnin'" but it's basically "Roll With The Changes" but shorter. If you're gonna stick me on a desert island, I'm going to need long, exciting songs. And I'm going to need to roll with the changes, obviously. My oldest friend in the world used to regularly espouse the theory that R.E.O. kind of set the stage for the MTV-ization of the charts by being the kind of band that, prior to 1981, only got played on the AORs as opposed to CHRs. While R.E.O. wouldn't be mistaken for Adam Ant or whatever, it loosened playlists by his reckoning. You certainly couldn't avoid them there for a while. Those of us inundated with "Keep on Loving You" were somewhat surprised by the peppier "Don't Let Him Go" and then they turned around and shocked us with "In Your Letter". Versatility that would make Super Joe McEwing envious. OTOH, their followup hit to "Keep On Loving You," "Take It On The Run" was a watered-down version of "Time For Me To Fly". The "R" in R.E.O. stood for deRivative. The Donnas did a simmering version of "KOLY": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyJNYrZafbo I was pretty sure "I Can't Fight This Feeling" was written, recorded and released when it was to reflect an undying crush I was nursing at the time. I've since retracted that sentiment. Casey Kasem couldn't resist mentioning, at the 'wagon's height, that one of their earlier albums was "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish."

Edgy DC Jul 23 2010 02:08 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I'm going with "Time for Me to Fly." I confess that I like Cronin's voice. It's warm and decent, engaging and honest, and he's good at playing the buddy who's going to get you to stop feeling sorry for yourself and back in the game. That's a healthy thing for a 14-year-old, I think. And the band adds some rich 70s harmonies (Eagles, Chicago) behind him. But I didn't like the other guy singing on the last song. Kind of creepy, you ask me. Anyhow, "Time for Me to Fly" can (and should!) be to dudez what "I Will Survive" is to chickzz, a romantic Declaration of Independence, a shot of harmonic whiskey to steel your nerves as you cut the cord. "I make you laugh, and you make me cry." Indeed! Stop making him cry, you awful woman! The bigger question: was that his real hair?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 23 2010 02:56 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I knew from wandering around in record stores for so many years that REO Speedwagon wasn't some overnight success. They had their own separater card and a thick collection of albums inside it including "You Can Tuna Piano" which had a picture of a fish with a tuning fork in his mouth. And Greg was right about their format-bending capabilities back in '81, although before then they were the kinda band you might hear only sometimes on WPLR in New Haven. The only way they made it to NY radio was on "King Biscuit Flour Hour." Cronin always struck me as so earnestly Midwestern he may as well be from Canada. When Infidelity hit, I tolerated the wimpy ballads and secretly liked "Tough Guys" but it was "In Your Letter" that really turned me on them, because it seemed like they would do anything just to have a hit. I probably went around hating them for 20 years because of that.

Rockin' Doc Jul 23 2010 04:12 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I have a lot of high school and college memories associated with REO SPeedwagon's music. Their peak exposure came with You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish and of course, Hi Infidelity. I voted for "Roll With The Changes" much earlier in the thread.

metsguyinmichigan Jul 23 2010 04:21 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

My in-laws are from Champaign, Ill where the band is from, so there are some warm feelings. I like "Don't Let Him Go."

Farmer Ted Jul 23 2010 04:25 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

I think they are all, essentially, the same song.

cooby Jul 23 2010 08:50 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Never a big fan of theirs, not their own fault, but rather because an old boyfriend of mine, let's call him DICK, liked them. But years later, I did like "Can't Fight this Feeling Anymore"

The Second Spitter Jul 23 2010 11:17 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":wrzyoqub] What "weird" were you referring to? The keyboard solo? The homoerotic lyric "he's got a long wick with a flame at both ends"?[/quote:wrzyoqub] The whole concept of a guy singing about another guy's exploits with chicks.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 23 2010 11:41 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Agreed, SS. Holding my nose, and Rolling with the Changes.

Edgy DC Jul 24 2010 08:36 AM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

It's not too late to catch upcoming dates on the Love on the Run tour with REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar: July 24, 2010, Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona July 30, 2010, Agua Caliente Casino, Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA August 21, 2010, Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City, Cleveland, OH August 22, 2010, Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, Canandaigua, NY That's a pretty lean schedule. Surely they're playing dates without the Benatars in between. They are! July 25, 2010, Tims Toyota Center, Prescott Valley, AZ July 27, 2010, The Mountain Winery, Saratoga, California July 28, 2010, Wells Fargo Center For The Arts, Santa Rosa, California July 31, 2010, The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, California August 01, 2010, Ironstone Vineyards Amphitheatre, Murphys, CA August 17, 2010, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, IA (my dream gig, right there) August 19, 2010, PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH August 20, 2010, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI But maybe such gigs are not giving you the Kevin Cronin intimacy you desire. Well then, join Kevin and special guests Doug Davidson (TV actor?), Mark Goodman (original MTV perosnality?), and Eric Martsolf (soap opera dude?) on the Rick Springfield & Friends Cruise this November 15-20. meantime, Kevin, ever the Salt 'N' Pepa fan, wants you to "Keep Pushin'." No, of COURSE he didn't type the G. July 15, 2010 Howdy Strangers Howdy Strangers, I know, I used to be so much better at keeping in touch with you all. Believe me, I appreciate you guys supporting our various internet sites...I just wish I were better equipped to navigate them by myself. But alas, I remain fluent only in the art of emailing, and the occasional word processing task. So I am pecking this letter into my laptop, and will later send it off to our staff for proper vetting, (making sure I haven't put my foot too far into my mouth, nor misspelled any easy words. I usually get the big ones right, it's those everyday common nouns that get me every time. I would have won my third grade spelling bee if I had remembered where the "u" goes, in buisness...er, business), but I digress. We are three-ish weeks into the "Love On The Run" tour, with the Benatars. Patty's voice is stronger than ever, and Neil plays such great guitar. Add original drummer Myron Grumbacker, and bassist, (and Dave Amato ex-roommate), Mick Mahan, and you have a rock solid rhythm section. I feel lucky that I get to hear their show through the walls every night. Singer-songwriter, and our good young friend, Keaton Simons, has been warming up the crowds with his soulful voice, nimble acoustic guitar work, and beautiful songs, and is a real treat...so get to the concert on time so you don't miss Keaton. Meanwhile, REO Speedwagon had one of those gigs for the ages in St. Louis on Saturday night. We always work hard, every night, no matter what, but some shows everything just clicks. Bryan laid down the perfect tempos. Dave, Bruce, and Neal all played with such passion. Riverport Amphitheater was packed, and the audience was so into it. It was just a great night, in the city that really gave our band its start. We headlined a sold out concert at St. Louis' Busch Stadium in 1979...before the Hi Infidelity album came out.... Speaking of which, our nightly tribute to that ubiquitous record is turning out to be so much fun every night. The whole Bob Coburn radio ramp-up gets the crowd ready, the video screens explode with Hi Infidelity images, and then we play side one. (For those of you who missed the whole LP thing, music used to be delivered via 12 inch black plastic disks, with music content on both sides...five songs on side one, then you got up, and flipped the record over and listened to the songs on side two. Kind of a hassle by today's standards, but a ritual that holds nostalgic value for those of us who grew up with it.). We snuck "Like You Do" into the set list, and it was so powerful that we are keeping it in the show for the rest of the summer. I don't mind saying that you should not miss this tour, and I'm not just saying that because I want to sell tickets to the concerts...well, maybe I am, but you guys really do need to come out and celebrate with us. This is a very special time, commemorating 30 years since we recorded Hi Infidelity, and we are having a total blast! Now, on a totally different, but equally exciting subject...I am going to be joining my friend, Rick Springfield, on his annual Caribbean concert cruise this coming November. You guys are all invited to grab a ticket to ride, hop on the boat, and rock out with Rick, and your old buddy, kc. There will be concerts by each of us, and a bunch of other activities, and opportunities to hang out with our friends and fans, as we sail around da Islands in an awesome ocean liner. I need as many REO people as possible to come with me, in case there is a tug-of-war, or a Mojito drinking contest! We need to take those Springfielders down ;-) It is gonna be a lot of fun, and plus, what else are you doing in November anyway? Check the link for more details and ticket info. All Aboard!! Okay, the bellman just showed up to haul my luggage down to the bus for a night trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa. We are recording our show at Moondance Jam on Friday for Direct TV, then a show in Minneapolis on Saturday, and sweet home Chicago on Sunday. Four in a row...are you ready to go? keep pushin', kc

G-Fafif Jul 24 2010 02:31 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Keep pushin' or Keep On Rollin'? Make up your mind, kc.

Frayed Knot Jul 24 2010 05:02 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1gjyzdc1]only 2 votes so far... c'mon people.[/quote:1gjyzdc1] The others chose to jump off the island and drown themselves instead.

cooby Jul 24 2010 09:04 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Didn't they sing Keep on Loving You?

Rockin' Doc Jul 24 2010 09:11 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

[quote="cooby"]Didn't they sing Keep on Loving You?

Yes, it was on Hi Infidelity and was their lone #1 single.

G-Fafif Jul 24 2010 10:49 PM Re: R.E.O, No: Stranded with the Speedwagon

Actual "KOLY" lyric: Instead you lay in the grass All coiled up and hissin' I thought they were singing something about Houston, as if inspired by Urban Cowboy