Classic Years 1978-1990

By the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s, R.E.O. Speedwagon had won the hearts, minds, and airwaves of continental North America. This hard-won ascendance was comprehensively documented on the 8CD Early Years 1971-1977 collection from HNE.

R.E.O. Speedwagon’s long history goes way back to their formation in Champaign, Illinois in 1967. Initially a covers band playing bars and fraternity houses, the initial line-up featuring Neal Doughty on keyboards and Alan Gratzer on drums and vocals, named themselves after the R.E.O. Speed Wagon, a model of American flat-bed truck.

By the time they recorded their debut LP for Epic Records in 1971, the line-up had settled around Terry Luttrell on lead vocals, driving force Gary Richrath on guitar, and Gregg Philbin on bass. By the release of the second LP, "R.E.O./T.W.O.", the band were joined by Kevin Cronin on lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards.

Following 1977’s self-explanatory You Get What You Play For: Live, Bruce Hall would replace long-time bassist Gregg Philbin in time for the punningly titled YOU CAN TUNE A PIANO BUT YOU CAN’T TUNA FISH [1978]. As well as extensive liner notes from Malcolm Dome, this expansive 9 disc set features a wealth of bonus tracks.

Produced By Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath with Paul Grupp, CD1 features "YOU CAN TUNE A PIANO BUT YOU CAN’T TUNA FISH", which includes both long and short versions of the radio-friendly ‘Roll With The Changes’, as well as a single edit for ‘Time For Me To Fly’.

CD1 is completed by the rare promo LP, "LIVE AGAIN" from 1978, which features exclusive on-stage versions of ‘Son Of A Poor Man’, ‘(I Believe) Our Time Is Gonna Come’, ‘Flying Turkey Trot’, ‘Keep Pushin'’, ‘Ridin' The Storm Out’, ‘Piano Interlude’ and ‘157 Riverside Avenue’.

Produced by Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath with Kevin Beamish, CD2’s "NINE LIVES" [1979] includes a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Rock & Roll Music’, and concludes with Bruce Hall’s hard-rocking road anthem, ‘Back On The Road Again’. Bonus Tracks are ‘Easy Money’ (Edit) plus rare live versions of ‘157 Riverside Avenue’ and ‘Ridin' The Storm Out’.

With CD3’s "HI INFIDELITY" [1980], R.E.O. truly conquered the American mainstream, with huge radio hits in ‘Don’t Let Him Go’, ‘Keep On Loving You’ and ‘Take It On The Run’. Once again it was produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, and Kevin Beamish and co-produced by Alan Gratzer.