Aerosmith weren't the only one to put out a great compilation album of all of their best stuff in 1980, REO Speedwagon did likewise with "A Decade in Rock and Roll, 1970-1980." Unlike Aerosmith however, REO Speedwagon weren't being written off as finished. If anything, they were very much in their ascendency to rock and roll glory. What this album does is to celebrate ten great years of thrilling listeners to some brilliant rock albums.
As with many artists back then, I was also late jumping on the train in regards to REO Speedwagon. I didn't even hear of them until I was in the service for six months and saw one of their songs on a bar juke box. The name amused me straight away and for some reason that name kept appearing before me like some sort of beckon. As a result, I bought the "Nine Lives" album and I was hooked. I played that album to death and when someone suggested this album, I took up the suggestion and I don't regret it. I got to hear what I had been missing all these years. Some of their early songs like "Golden Country," "Keep Pushin" and "Son of a Poor Man" were great insights into what this band was made of. Even the material with Mike Murphy as lead singer doesn't disappoint. I thought putting the live versions of "157 Riverside Avenue" and "Riding the Storm Out" was a genius idea as those songs totally rock me. And of course there's the two big songs from "You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish:" "Roll With the Changes" and "Time For Me To Fly" although Kevin Cronin probably doesn't want me to mention the latter because according to what he said on "Family Guy," all the royalties go to his bitch ex-wife. It doesn't stop me from playing it though.
- Kevin Cronin on Family Guy
Track Listing:
1. Sophisticated Lady
2. Music Man
3. Golden Country
4. Son of a Poor Man
5. Lost in a Dream
6. Reeling
7. Keep Pushin
8. I Believe Our Time is Gonna Come
9. Breakaway
10. Lightning
11. Like You Do
12. Flying Turkey Trot
13. 157 Riverside Avenue
14. Riding the Storm Out
15. Roll With the Changes
16. Time For Me to Fly
17, Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight
18. Only the Strong Survive
19. Back On the Road Again
- REO Speedwagon
Kevin Cronin- rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Garry Richrath- lead guitar
Neil Doughty- keyboards, backing vocals
Bruce Hall- bass, backing vocals
Alan Gratzer- drums, percussion
Mike Murphy- lead vocals
Greg Philbin- bass
This album celebrates exactly what it says on the package, a decade in rock and roll. Ten years worth of good tunes and for those who aren't into compilations, this album will definitely entice you to check out their albums from this period. This album wouldn't be the end for them as they would go on to find commercial success but it celebrates a time when they were great because you will see as we journey further down the road, in the 70s REO Speedwagon were good, if not fantastic. In the 80s, they would settle for being popular.
Next post: Tragedies and Triumphs Part II
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
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