Epic EK44202
All titles except “I Don’t Want To Lose You” and “Here With Me” transferred to digital and package assembled at Pacific Sound, Chatsworth, CA by David DeVore
“I Don’t Want To Lose You” and “Here With Me”:
Lead Vocals, Guitar: Kevin Cronin
Lead Guitar: Gary Richrath
Keyboards, Synths: Neal Doughty
Drums: Alan Gratzer
Bass Guitar: Bruce Hall
Background Vocals: Tommy Funderburk
Programming and Additional Synths; Eric Persing
Mastered at Future Disc by Steve Hall and David DeVore Prepared for Compact Disc by Joe Gastwirt at CBS Records Studio
Thanks to Goodnight LA Staff – Vicki and Mark – “Hey Keith, How Much Do You Want For That Chair Again?” KC
REO Speedwagon is:
Kevin Cronin
Gary Richrath
Neal Doughty
Alan Gratzer
Bruce Hall
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A brief split between Cronin and the band occurred in ’73 which led to the recruitment of Mike Murphy for three albums, namely the seminal ‘Ridin’ The Storm out’ (1973), ‘Lost In A Dream’ (1974) and ‘This Time We Mean It’ (1975). Cronin happily returned to the fold and the gentle momentum of the previous seven years suddenlty took on a new urgency – the band were on their way to the top.
The ‘REO’ album in 1976 really pushed the boat out into the ocean and set the engine roaring, proving that the Speedwagon was really capable of moving up into a gear few bands knew existed and the remarkable double live album ‘Live – You Get What You Play For’ (1977) underlined their supreme qualities, both as performers and musicians – their dynamism and range was unsurpassed in hard rock circles.
Philbin left the band in 1978, replaced by Bruce Hall and thus began the most successful period in the band’s career – a purple patch that is still consistent and strong a decade later. ‘You Can Tune A Piano But You Can’t Tuna Fish’ in that same year spawned (ouch!) the group’s first ever top 40 single, namely ‘Roll With The Changes’ and ’79’s ‘Nine Lives’ LP continued the upward surge.
In 1981, REO really hit paydirt with the spectacular ‘Hi Infidelity’ album, which not only topped the U.S. charts for 6 months, not only was the biggest selling rock LP of that year, not only provided a number one single with ‘Keep On Lovin You’, but also provided the group with a long overdue international stature, the golden touch long recognized in America now began to spread across the globe, a process certainly continued by ‘Good Trouble’ (1982), ‘Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984) and the recent ‘Life As We Know It’ (1987) records, all of which maintained the standards of yore, while developing the approach.
So, here we are. It’s 1988, it’s ‘The Hits’ and it says so much for the strength-in-depth and quality control of this fabulous outfit that you could happily put together several variations on this ‘Hits’ theme – all of which would be of an enviably high standard.
So what does REO mean to me? Hmmm, look at the song listing for this album – that says it all! It’s a celebration of one of the finest rock acts of all times. So, crack pen the accolades, burst those lungs in ecstasy and get that record on the turntable – the engine might now be 20 years old but it’s still in tune and ready to rock on!
Malcolm Dome
Music Writer/Critic
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1. I Don’t Want To Lose You
(Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg)
Denise Barry Music and Billy Steinberg Music (ASCAP) © 1983
Produced by Keith Olsen for Pogologo Corporation
2. Here With Me
(Kevin Cronin and Rick Braun)
Fate Music (ASCAP) and Rouram Music (BMI) © 1988
Produced by Keith Olsen for Pogologo Corporation
3. Roll With The Changes
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1978
Produced by Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath with Paul Grupp
Executive Producer: John Boylan
4. Keep On Loving You
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1980
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Kevin Beamish
Co-Producer: Alan Gratzer
5. That Ain’t Me
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1986
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer and David DeVore
6. Take It On The Run
(Gary Richrath)
Slam Dunk Music (ASCAP) © 1980
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Kevin Beamish
Co-Producer: Alan Gratzer
7. In My Dreams
(Kevin Cronin and Tom Kelly)
Fate Music and Denise Barry Music (ASCAP) © 1986
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer and David DeVore
8. Don’t Let Him Go
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1980
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Kevin Beamish
Co-Producer: Alan Gratzer
9. Can’t Fight This Feeling
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1984
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer
Production Assistant: David DeVore
10. Keep Pushin’
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1976
Produced by John Stronach
11. Time For Me To Fly
(Kevin Cronin)
Fate Music (ASCAP) © 1978
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath with Paul Grupp
Executive Producer: John Boylan
12. One Lonely Night
(Neal Doughty)
Part-Time Publishing (ASCAP) © 1984
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath and Alan Gratzer
Production Assistant: David DeVore
13. Back On The Road Again
(Bruce Hall)
Large Music (ASCAP) © 1979
Produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath with Kevin Beamish
Associate Producer: Alan Gratzer
Production Assistant: Gary Lubrow
14. Ridin’ The Storm Out
(Gary Richrath)
Slam Dunk Music (ASCAP) © 1973
Produced by John Stronach, Gary Richrath, John Henning
Design: David Coleman
Photography: Harry Mittman
Art Direction: Tony Lane/Nancy Donald
