[2013-06-03] REO Speedwagon "You Can Tune A Piano" and "Nine Lives" Collector's Editions (Rock Candy UK)

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully remastered sound shaped from 24 bit digital technology / Features 'Roll With The Changes', 'Time For Me To Fly' and 'Say You Love Me...' / 16 page full colour booklet - 3,500 word essay, new interview with Kevin Cronin, enhanced artwork and rare photos.

Named after a flatbed truck, REO Speedwagon muscled their way to ever increasing popularity during the 1970s, releasing album after album until the tide of their persistence eventually turned into a gigantic tsunami wave. The 1980 album 'Hi-Infidelity' elevated the band to superstar status, with new fans convinced that they were an overnight success. Nothing however could have been further from the truth.

The amusingly titled 'You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish', originally released in 1978, was the band's seventh studio album and was their first to boast a slightly more polished sound. The songs too were tighter and more precise, leaving little room for the bar room extemporisation that had been their mainstay previously. In fact, the album contained a number of tracks that would later go on to define REO's clean cut but aggressive style such as 'Roll With The Changes', 'Time For Me To Fly' and 'Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight'.

Part of this new found blossoming of creativity was due to the innate combustibility of the relationship between vocalist Kevin Cronin and guitarist Gary Richrath, two men who would, at this time, define the band's sound. New bassist Bruce Hall, Cronin's unique vocal style and Richrath's raunchy guitar work was starting to make a unique combination. Truly one of their finest albums.

Tracklist
1. Roll With The Changes
2. Time For Me To Fly
3. Runnin' Blind
4. Blazin' Your Own Trail Again
5. Sing To Me
6. Lucky For You
7. Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?
8. The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot
9. Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CL0XIQA/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CL0XIQA/?tag=imwan-21

Nine Lives

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully remastered sound shaped from 24 bit digital technology / Features 'Heavy On Your Love', 'Drop It' and 'Back On The Road Again' / 16 page full colour booklet - 3,500 word essay, new interview with Kevin Cronin, enhanced artwork and rare photos.

The title says it all. REO Speedwagon had been knocking out albums since the early seventies, forever the support band and virtually unknown outside their American mid-west stomping ground. Naming their album 'Nine Lives' was a tribute to the fact that they had managed to record nine albums for Epic Records, a truly amazing feat bearing in mind that they had yet to secure a hit single or even secure a foothold in the trendy East and West Coast concert halls.

The band's previous album had signalled a shift in style towards a slightly more refined sound and 'Nine Lives' continued with that transition. This time around the sound was more forthright, with Richrath and Cronin really hitting their stride, reminiscent of the classic vocal/guitar foil of say Plant/Page or Tyler/Perry. Tracks such as 'Heavy On Your Love', 'Only The Strong Survive', 'Drop It' and 'Back On The Road Again' suggested a band on the cusp of something very big indeed.

Although 'Nine Lives', originally issued in 1979 and produced by the band and Kevin Beamish, didn't achieve massive sales it did reposition the band as vital contenders, something that came to fruition on the following album 'Hi-Infidelity'. It was also a record that was in synch with the times; sharp shooting yet melodic hard rock sitting somewhere between Aerosmith and Cheap Trick with great songs and even greater attitude.

Tracklist
1. Heavy On Your Love
2. Drop It (An Old Disguise)
3. Only The Strong Survive
4. Easy Money
5. Rock & Roll Music
6. Take Me
7. I Need You Tonight
8. Meet Me On The Mountain
9. Back On The Road Again

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CL0XIR4/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CL0XIR4/?tag=imwan-21

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

I'm not a fan but are these albums more Rock oriented than what followed? I always loved Gary Richrath's guitar work and tone but that was it really.

Byron's Ghost · **Joined:** 28 Oct 2008 **Posts:** 90

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

I'm not a fan but are these albums more Rock oriented than what followed? I always loved Gary Richrath's guitar work and tone but that was it really.

Short answer - yes.

These 2 albums are not only my favorite REO's in the catalog - these are also the "sweet spot" in terms of the balancing act between hooky hard rock in the CHEAP TRICK mold and sappy AOR. I happen to like "Hi Infidelity" but its a different beast entirely from these two LPs. And if you like Richrath he's on fire on these 2 with some great solos on songs like "Only the Strong Survive" and "Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight".

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Byron's Ghost wrote:

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

I'm not a fan but are these albums more Rock oriented than what followed? I always loved Gary Richrath's guitar work and tone but that was it really.

Short answer - yes.

These 2 albums are not only my favorite REO's in the catalog - these are also the "sweet spot" in terms of the balancing act between hooky hard rock in the CHEAP TRICK mold and sappy AOR. I happen to like "Hi Infidelity" but its a different beast entirely from these two LPs. And if you like Richrath he's on fire on these 2 with some great solos on songs like "Only the Strong Survive" and "Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight".

Byron's right on here. :ohyes:

Well said. :thumbsup:

I will be getting these.

fac51 · **Joined:** 18 Apr 2008 **Posts:** 1

These are both great records and nice to see them get some reissue love, but where are the bonus tracks? Sadly, REO's reissues have been void of any unreleased material, Hi Infidelity notwithstanding.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

My hunch is to keep licensing fees to a minimum "Rock Candy" has chosen not to add bonus tracks. With that said, I have these reissues and really enjoy them.

Jimbo · 19 Jul 2006

REO would make an excellent candidate for one of those complete albums box sets from Sony.

kajafan · **Joined:** 10 Apr 2009 **Posts:** 656

Nine Lives is essential REO and Tuna has its moments (and anyway I love the punnery in the title and album art).

[2013-06-03] REO Speedwagon "You Can Tune A Piano" and "Nine Lives" Collector's Editions (Rock Candy UK)

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