NEW YORK (Sony Music) - For more than three decades
REO Speedwagon has personified pure American rock 'n' roll, and 33 of the band's finest songs from 1971 to 1999 are collected on the two-CD release 'The Essential REO Speedwagon' scheduled for release by Sony Music/Legacy Recordings on August 10, 2004.
Lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist
Kevin Cronin penned the compilation's liner notes. "It feels good to be in such good company among Sony/Legacy's successful 'Essential' releases," says Cronin.
REO Speedwagon, named for a fire engine, formed in the college town of Champaign, Illinois, in 1968. A few personnel changes have occurred over the years (including the departure of drummer Alan Gratzer and lead guitarist/songwriter Gary Richrath) yet the band's skill at evolving and creating a visionary style that blended everything from hot arena rock and heartfelt pop ballads is evident on such classics as 1978's 'You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish' and 1980's smash 'Hi Infidelity.'
REO Speedwagon had gradually built up a following and was headlining arenas and stadiums in the Midwest before breaking nationally.
In fact it took many albums, some more successful commercially and artistically than others, for REO Speedwagon to achieve widespread stardom. The band felt it had to deliver with 'Hi Infidelity,' its 11th release for Epic Records. The result was an album -- most of which was recorded in a mere three days - that stayed at No 1 on the Billboard charts for 15 weeks and has sold more than 10 millions copies in the United States alone. The band's biggest hits include the No 1 singles "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling" as well as "Ridin' The Storm Out," "Roll With The Changes," "Time For Me To Fly" and "Keep The Fire Burnin'."
"'The Essential REO Speedwagon' is the first collection to provide a solid overview of what we're about. I like that name because 'essential' is a more accurate reflection of the music; it's more than just a greatest-hits album. And I think it will appeal to our newer fans," says Cronin. "Over the past 10 years I have noticed that our audience has changed. It's now about 50/50 between people over 30 and under 30.
For these newer fans, 'The Essential REO Speedwagon' covers our career in chronological order."
Deciding on the track listing was no easy task. Cronin and compilation co-producer Al Quaglieri had been working on a potential box set but that plan evolved into 'The Essential REO Speedwagon.' The song selection fluctuated until the moment the deadline was reached.
Ultimately, a balance was struck combining hits and key album tracks that satisfied all parties.
"Going back to those songs was like looking at a high school yearbook. I still love these songs, and the incredible digital remastering that Al did really brings out the detail. It's like tuning a TV to get a sharper picture," Cronin says.
Fans will soon be enjoying new music from REO Speedwagon. The band's last studio effort was 1996's 'Building The Bridge' but work will commence later this year on a new album slated to surface in 2005. Cronin spent much of the recent years with his family and raising his young children; songwriting was less of a priority although he did write occasionally and has now nearly finished enough for the upcoming album.
"For me, songwriting is like drilling for oil," says Cronin. "I'm not a real scientific songwriter. I wrote 'Keep On Loving You' in 10 minutes in the middle of the night, and it took me 10 years to write 'Can't Fight This Feeling.' "
The 33 songs on 'The Essential REO Speedwagon' include: "Sophisticated Lady," "Music Man," "Golden Country," "Son Of A Poor Man," "Lost In A Dream," "Keep Pushin'," "(I Believe) Our Time Is Gonna Come," "Lightning," "Like You Do (Live)," "Flying Turkey Trot (Live)," "157 Riverside Avenue (Live)," "Ridin' The Storm Out (Live)," "Roll With The Changes," "Time For Me To Fly," "Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight," "Back On The Road," "Only The Strong Survive," "Don't Let Him Go," "Keep On Loving You," "In Your Letter," "Take It On The Run," "Keep The Fire Burnin'," "The Key," "One Lonely Night," "Live Every Moment," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "That Ain't Love," "In My Dreams," "Variety Tonight," "Here With Me," "Love Is A Rock," "Building The Bridge" and "Just For You."
REO Speedwagon Summer 2004 Tour Dates:
Friday, August 6th Ridgefield, WA Clark County Fair
Saturday, August 7th Kellogg, ID
Silver Mountain Amphitheater
Wednesday, August 11th Sturgis, SD Buffalo Chip Campground
Friday, August 13th Clio, MI Clio Amphitheater
Saturday, August 14th West Allis, WI Wisconsin State Fair
Wednesday, August 25th San Diego, CA Humphrey's
Friday, August 27th Lancaster, CA Antelope Valley Fair
Saturday, August 28th Reno, NV Reno Hilton
Sunday, August 29th Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
Tuesday, August 31st Pueblo, CO Colorado State Fair
Wednesday, September 1st Lincoln, NE Nebraska State Fair
Thursday, September 2nd Mitchell, SD Corn Palace
Saturday, September 4th Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay
Friday, September 10th Grand Prairie, TX Lone Star Park
Saturday, September 11th Hutchinson, KS Kansas State Fair
Sunday, September 12th Spencer, IA Clay County Fair
Friday, September 17th Puyallup, WA Western Washington Fair
Saturday, September 18th Redding, CA Winriver Casino
Saturday, October 23rd Lancaster, PA Millersville University
