But I think it served its purpose because people at the record company heard it, REO Speedwagon fans heard itif they didnt hear it on the radio they heard us playing it live. The Flying Cloud was the first car to use Lockheed's new hydraulic internal expanding brake system and featured styling by Fabio Segardi. On the very first night, he met who would be his lifetime friend and bandmate, Alan Gratzer, and the two held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dorm. One album I know I "bought" from the Columbia House Record and Tape Club was REO Speedwagon's 1978 classic,You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish.There are . As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. Free shipping for many products! They did have a lot of members leave, but they stayed together during their prime years, for which I have to give them credit. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band's explosive Hi Infidelity which contained the . [15] Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt[16] until 2023 when Doughty was replaced by former Iron Butterfly and Whitesnake member Derek Hilland.[17]. before leaving during sessions for the 1973 follow-up. You probably knew them well at the height of their popularity in the early 80s, listening to them non-stop on the radio on the way to work or grocery store. Heavy Metal Wiki is a FANDOM Music Community. He and Cronin had gone through collaborative ups and downs over the years, but 1989 was the breaking point. Doughty retired from touring with REO in January 2023, though remains an official member. The announcer sort of got it right. Speedwagon) is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Whenever any two people work closely together it brings about a sort of creative tension. And sure enough, it ended up working out. Richrath had wanted to join the band and knew that he could take them to a new level with his artistry and songwriting. Drop files here. It also contains affiliate links in which we earn a fee from qualifying sales. Cronin: Well, I will tell youI was thinking about this todaythis year (2016) will be the year that I get back to knucklin down. The first track REO recorded featuring Bruce's vocals was Back On the Road Again from 1979, which was also a successful single . Who are the members of REO Speedwagon today? - Short-Fact Songs for which he is the sole composer include "Sky Blues" from 1974, "One Lonely Night" from 1984 and "Variety Tonight" from 1987. Here is the Q&A interview with Kevin Cronin: DK: When did you join REO Speedwagon, andhow did you developa key role as the bands singer & songwriter? Required fields are marked *. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. So the band got together after the tour, and we decided we werent going to make another record until we felt we could., The bands newest album, Wheels Are Turnin, is bringing REO back to terms with its audience via two singles, a rocker called I Dowanna Know (Cronins answer to all of the unsolicited advice he received after REO hit it big) and a ballad, Cant Fight This Feeling.. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Because of all the traveling wed done, and the work wed been doing over the years, we all just arrived at this place where we really needed each other as brothers for mutual support. Speedwagon" written across the blackboard when he walked into the classroom. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; [7] The final REO model of 1936 was a Flying Cloud. In 1980 their album Hi Fidelity sold more than 10 million copies, about a quarter of all of the band's album sales. Kevin Cronin - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, piano Gary Richrath - electric guitars Bruce Hall - bass Neal Doughty - Hammond organ Alan Gratzer - drums Additional personnel Steve Forman - percussion Tom Kelly - backing vocal Richard Page - backing vocal Chart performance Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications See also