By: Andrew Blitman
Contributing Writer
For as long as I can remember, there has been a link between cars and rock ‘n’ roll. Bruce Springsteen drove his “Pink Cadillac” to the “Cadillac Ranch”. Ireland had Thin Lizzy, the nickname for Ford’s Model T. Detroit gave birth to Motown Records. Champaign, Illinois, saw the genesis of REO Speedwagon, one of my favorite rock bands.
Founded in 1967 by University of Illinois students Neal Doughty and Alan Gratzer, REO Speedwagon is best known for its unique heartland blend of hard rock and country. The band, named after a turn-of-the-century brand of flatbed truck, swiftly gained a regional following. During the 1970s, REO saw its first platinum album (You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish) sell more than 2 million copies. Thanks to hits like “Roll with the Changes” and “Time for Me to Fly”, the band became a household name in the Midwest by 1978. However, REO Speedwagon went truly mainstream after the successful debut Hi Infidelity (1980), which released famous ballads like “Keep on Loving You” (#1) and “Take It on the Run” (#5). Doughty, Gratzer, and new members like Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, and Gary Richrath remained popular for the rest of the decade.
By the end of the decade, their popularity had faded. The band broke up due to disagreements about the future of its music. Financial troubles plagued Epic Records, the band’s label. All seemed lost. REO Speedwagon fell into obscurity. The future looked bleak. Thankfully, Epic Records revived the band’s old material as the 1990s progressed. Numerous compilation albums were released, highlighting REO’s former glory. Songs like “Golden Country”, “Only the Strong Survive”, and “Ridin’ the Storm Out” returned to the airwaves as classic rock resurged in popularity. Due to the success of those compilation albums, the band reunited and released a new album in 2007. By 2009, REO was back on the touring scene. REO Speedwagon still performs today, this time for a younger generation of rock and roll enthusiasts…like me.
Since I discovered the band’s music two years ago, I have searched its discography for hits. Much to my surprise, the lyrics to those songs were more meaningful than the music behind them. At the top of my playlist are songs about persistence, like “Roll with the Changes” and “Ridin’ the Storm Out”. “Golden Country”, though not a single, is particularly significant for its wisdom, that great power requires great responsibility. “Only the Strong Survive” is another favorite for the reassurance its lyrics offer to those who are suffering. I also enjoy the love ballads that made REO famous, “Keep on Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling”, for their emotional and lyrical complexity.
No REO Speedwagon playlist is complete without the masterpiece that internationally legitimized the band—“Take It on the Run”. Never overplayed, the song earned its airtime. Whenever it is played, it evokes the doubt, the jealousy, and the suspicion associated with unfaithful partners, the spirit of Hi Infidelity. However, you won’t feel cheated after listening to REO Speedwagon.
In fact, I highly recommend exploring REO Speedwagon’s amazing collection. You won’t be disappointed by this chapter of Rock and Roll’s living history! For more, check the links below:
“Golden Country”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3VqY9dp8SE
“Take It on the Run”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l9ZbnzUUKg
“Only the Strong Survive”
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