[2019-02-22] REO Speedwagon "The Classic Years 1978-1990" 9CD box set (HNE UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2018 11:42 pm

Description
By the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s, R.E.O. Speedwagon had won the hearts, minds and airwaves of continental North America. This hard won ascendance was comprehensively documented on the 8CD “Early Years 1971-1977” collection from HNE.

R.E.O. Speedwagon’s long history goes way back to their formation in Champaign, Illinois in 1967. Initially a covers band playing bars and fraternity houses, the initial line-up featuring Neal Doughty on keyboards and Alan Gratzer on drums and vocals, named themselves after the R.E.O. Speed Wagon, a model of American flat-bed truck. By the time they recorded their debut LP for Epic Records in 1971, the line-up had settled around Terry Luttrell on lead vocals, driving force Gary Richrath on guitar and Gregg Philbin on bass. By the release of second LP, “R.E.O./T.W.O.”, the band were joined by Kevin Cronin on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards. Following 1977’s self-explanatory “You Get What You Play For: Live”, Bruce Hall would replace long time bassist Gregg Philbin in time for the punningly titled “YOU CAN TUNE A PIANO BUT YOU CAN’T TUNA FISH” [1978].

As well as extensive liner notes from Malcolm Dome, this expansive 9 disc set features a wealth of bonus tracks. Produced By Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath with Paul Grupp, CD1 features “YOU CAN TUNE A PIANO BUT YOU CAN’T TUNA FISH”, which includes both long and short versions of the radio friendly ‘Roll With The Changes’, as well as a single edit for ‘Time For Me To Fly’. CD1 is completed by the rare promo LP, “LIVE AGAIN” from 1978, which features exclusive on-stage versions of ‘Son Of A Poor Man’, ‘(I Believe) Our Time Is Gonna Come’, ‘Flying Turkey Trot’, ‘Keep Pushin’’, ‘Ridin’ The Storm Out’, ‘Piano Interlude’ and ‘157 Riverside Avenue’

Produced by Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath with Kevin Beamish, CD2’s “NINE LIVES” [1979] includes a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Rock & Roll Music’, and concludes with Bruce Hall’s hard rocking road anthem, ‘Back On The Road Again’. Bonus Tracks are ‘Easy Money’ (Edit) plus rare live versions of ‘157 Riverside Avenue’ and ‘Ridin’ The Storm Out’

With CD3’s “HI INFIDELITY” [1980], R.E.O. truly conquered the American mainstream, with huge radio hits in ‘Don’t Let Him Go’, ‘Keep On Loving You’ and ‘Take It On The Run’. Once again it was produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath and Kevin Beamish and co-produced by Alan Gratzer.

CD4 kicks off with a collection of demos made for “HI INFIDELITY”, giving a unique insight into the creation of this huge record. CD4 is completed with live promo versions of ‘Don’t Let Him Go’, ‘Keep On Loving You’, ‘Take It On The Run’ and ‘In Your Letter’ as well as a 1989 reggae version of ‘Keep On Loving You’.

Once again produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Kevin Beamish & Alan Gratzer, CD5’s “GOOD TROUBLE” [1982] continued R.E.O.’s continued domination of the charts with ‘Keep The Fire Burnin’’.

CD6’s “WHEELS ARE TURNIN’” [1984] featured another massive hit in ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’. Bonus Tracks include a short version of ‘I Do’ Wanna Know’, ‘Live Every Moment’ (Edit) and ‘Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright)’ taken from The Goonies film soundtrack.

Produced By Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer and David DeVore, the bonus cuts on CD7’s “LIFE AS WE KNOW IT” [1987] are ‘Variety Tonight’ (Edit), ‘I Don’t Want To Lose You’, plus two versions of ‘Here With Me’. And as the sleeve proudly states, R.E.O. Speedwagon were still were Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer, Gary Richrath, Kevin Cronin and Bruce Hall.

It was three years before R.E.O. would release a new album, and by the time of CD8’s “THE EARTH, A SMALL MAN, HIS DOG AND A CHICKEN” [1990] Dave Amato had joined on lead guitar and Bryan Hitt was on drums and percussion. Bonus Tracks include two alternative versions apiece of ‘All Heaven Broke Loose’ and ‘Just For You’, plus ‘’Til The Rivers Run Dry’.

R.E.O. Speedwagon were very much a live act, and this mammoth nine disc set concludes with a collection of rare and exclusive live recordings, including ‘Don’t Let Him Go’, ‘Take It On The Run’ and ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ from Kemper Arena in 1985, ‘Keep The Fire Burning’ and ‘Roll With The Changes’ from Rockford Metro Centre 1983, ‘Back On The Road Again’ from Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu 1989 and ‘Keep On Lovin’ You’ from Indianapolis in 1984.

[tracklisting][CD1]
You Can Tune A Piano But You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978):
1. Roll With The Changes
2. Blazin’ Your Own Trail Again
3. Time For Me To Fly
4. Lucky For You
5. The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot
6. Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight
7. Runnin’ Blind
8. Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?
9. Sing To Me
Bonus Tracks:
10. Roll With The Changes (Short Version)
11. Roll With The Changes (Long Version)
12. Time For Me To Fly (Edit)
Live Again (Promo 1978):
13. Son Of A Poor Mann
14. (I Believe) Our Time Is Gonna Come
15. Flying Turkey Trot
16. Keep Pushin’
17. Ridin’ The Storm Out
18. Piano Interlude
19. 157 Riverside Avenue

[CD2]
Nine Lives (1979):
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
Bonus Tracks:
10. Easy Money (Edit)
11. 157 Riverside Avenue (Live)
12. Ridin’ The Storm Out (Live)

[CD3]
Hi Infidelity (1980):
1. Don’t Let Him Go
2. Keep On Loving You
3. Follow My Heart
4. In Your Letter
5. Take It On The Run
6. Tough Guys
7. Out Of Season
8. Shakin’ It Loose
9. Someone Tonight
10. I Wish You Were There

[CD4]
Bonus Tracks / Previously Unreleased Demos:
1. Someone Tonight
2. Tough Guys
3. In Your Letter
4. Follow My Heart
5. Take It On The Run
6. Don’t Let Him Go
7. Keep On Loving You
8. Shakin’ It Loose
9. I Wish You Were There
10. Don’t Let Him Go (Edit)
11. Take It On The Run (Edit)
Live Promo:
12. Don’t Let Him Go
13. Keep On Loving You
14. Take It On The Run
15. In Your Letter
16. Keep On Loving You (89 Reggae Version)

[CD5]
Good Trouble (1982):
1. Keep The Fire Burnin’
2. Sweet Time
3. Girl With The Heart Of Gold
4. Every Now And Then
5. I’ll Follow You
6. The Key
7. Back In My Heart Again
8. Let’s Be-Bop
9. Stillness Of The Night
10. Good Trouble

[CD6]
Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984):
1. I Do’ Wanna Know
2. One Lonely Night
3. Thru The Window
4. Rock ‘N Roll Star
5. Live Every Moment
6. Can’t Fight This Feeling
7. Gotta Feel More
8. Break His Spell
9. Wheels Are Turnin’
Bonus Tracks:
10. I Do’ Wanna Know (Short Version)
11. Live Every Moment (Edit)
12. Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright) (Remix)
13. Gotta Feel More (Radio Mix Long Version)
14. Gotta Feel More (Radio Mix Short Version)
15. Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright) (The Goonies Ost)

[CD7]
Life As We Know It (1987):
1. New Way To Love
2. That Ain’t Love
3. In My Dreams
4. One Too Many Girlfriends
5. Variety Tonight
6. Screams And Whispers
7. Can’t Get You Out Of My Heart
8. Over The Edge
9. Accidents Can Happen
10. Tired Of Gettin Nowhere
Bonus Tracks:
11. Variety Tonight (Edit)
12. I Don’t Want To Lose You (The Hits)
13. Here With Me (The Hits)
14. Here With Me (Radio Edit)

[CD8]
The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog And A Chicken (1990):
1. Love Is A Rock
2. The Heart Survives
3. Live It Up
4. All Heaven Broke Loose
5. Love In The Future
6. Half Way
7. Love To Hate
8. You Won’t See Me
9. Can’t Lie To My Heart
10. L.I.A.R
11. Go For Broke
Bonus Tracks:
12. All Heaven Broke Loose (Album Version – More Guitar)
13. All Heaven Broke Loose (Single Version – More Vocal)
14. Just For You (Radio Edit)
15. Just For You (The Ballads – Full Length Version)
16. ’Til The Rivers Run Dry (The Ballads)

[CD9]
1. Don’t Let Him Go (Kemper Arena 1985)
2. Tough Guys (Kemper Arena 1985)
3. Take It On The Run (Kemper Arena 1985)
4. I Do’ Wanna Know (Kemper Arena 1985)
5. Can’t Fight This Feeling (Kemper Arena 1985)
6. Keep The Fire Burning (Rockford Metro Centre 1983)
7. Roll With The Changes (Rockford Metro Centre 1983)
8. That Ain’t Love (Kiel Auditorium, St Louis 1987)
9. Back On The Road Again (Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu 1989)
10. Live It Up (Club Eastbrook, Grand Rapids)
11. Roll With The Changes (Denver, CO 1981)
12. Ridin’ The Storm Out (Denver, CO 1981)
13. Keep On Lovin’ You (Indianapolis, IN 1984)
14. Johnny B. Goode (Indianapolis, IN 1985)
15. Can’t Fight This Feeling (Grand Rapids, MI 1990)
16. Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight Alpine Valley, WI 1980)
17. Time For Me To Fly (St. Louis, MO 1987)[/tracklisting]

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KZBRKXM/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KZBRKXM/?tag=imwan-21

JosephC · **Joined:** 27 Jan 2011 **Posts:** 2656

This box starts out great, but by the time it gets to the end...….

JosephC · **Joined:** 27 Jan 2011 **Posts:** 2656

The other sort of interesting thing about this is I believe Sony still hold the rights for each of these albums. They are still listed as the label for the individual Hi Infidelity CD release, so by that I'm making the assumption that the ownership has not gone to REO Speedwagon and remains with the label that originally put out these albums (although at the time would have been CBS/Columbia which was later sold to Sony). This is all just a big assumption though, and I could be completely wrong about all of this (and would appreciate it if someone would tell me if I am wrong).

Anyway, if Sony does still own these recordings, then it's really nice to see them being licensed out to a smaller label to keep these titles on the market in a physical format. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue if Sony isn't really interested in making CDs anymore. Sony used to be the leader for putting out some of these attractive complete album collections, but that seems to really have gone by the wayside the last few years. Obviously it's very doubtful that a big "property" like Journey or Ozzy Osbourne would be licensed out for this type of collection, but maybe somebody like Nugent would be a real possibility.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

I'm wondering.... from 1978, it starts with You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish and ends in 1990 with The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Between '78 and '90, they only released 7 albums. There were no live disc in those years. So, I'm wondering what discs 8 and 9 are.

We'll find out soon I'm sure.

Oh, and Rock Candy remastered You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish, Nine Lives, Good Trouble and Wheels Are Turnin'. I own those remasters and they sound great.

JosephC · **Joined:** 27 Jan 2011 **Posts:** 2656

See the tracklist in the UK link above.

Disc One: You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (plus 10 bonus tracks)
Disc Two: Nine Lives (plus 3 bonus tracks)
Disc Three: Hi Infidelity
Disc Four : Hi Infidelity bonus disc (16 songs...the 9 song Crystal Demos plus 7 more tracks)
Disc Five: Good Trouble
Disc Six: Wheels Are Turnin' (plus six bonus tracks)
Disc Seven: Life as We Know It (plus four bonus tracks...includes the two new songs from "The Hits" compilation)
Disc Eight: The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (plus 5 bonus tracks)
Disc Nine: various live stuff (17 songs)

WynnWikman · **Joined:** 24 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 207

I'm impressed! I had been waiting for Columbia to put out a set with all their original releases, but this set (along with the first) is much better.

I would love to see something this extensive with some other CBS artists including the Romantics.

Wynn

hbsbla · **Joined:** 18 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 615

My preorder was cancelled due to lack of availability.

Linda · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2018 7:09 pm

It will be back at Amazon USA, at the same link. Not sure why the listing went dormant, but the the release itself hasn't been cancelled.

Linda · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:07 pm

See, it's back now (and hopefully for good):

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KZBRKXM/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KZBRKXM/?tag=imwan-21

eelkiller · **Joined:** 10 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 1681

Hoping the same care as the first set is done with regards to the mastering, the first box sounds very nice.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Well, even though I own the Rock Candy remasters of most of these, I went ahead and sprung for it. Jamming to it right now and I have to say this set sounds sweet. So far, I've listened to Tuna and am going thru Hi Infi right now.

Honestly, I think these sound a wee bit better than the RC remasters. The extra tracks are nice, too.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Mark MN wrote:

Well, even though I own the Rock Candy remasters of most of these, I went ahead and sprung for it. Jamming to it right now and I have to say this set sounds sweet. So far, I've listened to Tuna and am going thru Hi Infi right now.

Honestly, I think these sound a wee bit better than the RC remasters. The extra tracks are nice, too.

Thanks for the heads up review Mark, mine should arrive next week!

eelkiller · **Joined:** 10 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 1681

Mine arrived today, will give 'er a listen next week when time permits. I probably will not "wear out" the latter studio material; I bought it mainly for the earlier albums and the bonus stuff.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

It's official (to me at least)........ this set is awesome. I've listened to the first 6 discs so far. The remastering is better than Rock Candy's. Period. End of story.

Am I the only one out there that actually thinks Good Trouble is a great album? I wore that one out back in the day and enjoyed hearing it here versus the RC copy I have. I remember being slightly disappointed in RC's remaster of it.... not that it was bad, just not what I was expecting.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Thanks for the review Mark. I have a few of the Rock Candy re-masters and if I agree with your assessment on my listening I will sell my RC's.

I should have my set from the UK for my traditional Saturday night listening.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Rick A wrote:

Thanks for the review Mark. I have a few of the Rock Candy re-masters and if I agree with your assessment on my listening I will sell my RC's.

I should have my set from the UK for my traditional Saturday night listening.

Lemme know what you think.

It almost makes me mad getting all the RC remasters. Who woulda thought these two box sets would've came out? I sure didn't.

Next for a huge box set? Aerosmith!

Spoiler: show

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Oh, you being a bad boy again Mark. I almost wetted myself about the Aerosmith Spoiler.

But yeah, I would never had guess that a) they would do one) and b) excellent sound as you say w/bonus at a great price. Man, I will be awaiting the postman.

I'll let you know what I think. So psyched!

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

One more thing... make sure you blast these. They're not mastered loud. Well, maybe a wee bit. I think the sound level on these is perfect. Not too loud and not too quiet.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Mark MN wrote:

One more thing... make sure you blast these. They're not mastered loud. Well, maybe a wee bit. I think the sound level on these is perfect. Not too loud and not too quiet.

Oh, that's even better. I rather the amp do the "power" boost than the CD loudness mastering. Probably why they sound so great.
Who did the mastering Mark, Andy Pearce? Also, did you get the first box 'Early Years' and if so your thoughts on that one?

eelkiller · **Joined:** 10 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 1681

The first box sounds very nice, definite improvement over my original CDs.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Rick A wrote:

Mark MN wrote:

One more thing... make sure you blast these. They're not mastered loud. Well, maybe a wee bit. I think the sound level on these is perfect. Not too loud and not too quiet.

Oh, that's even better. I rather the amp do the "power" boost than the CD loudness mastering. Probably why they sound so great.
Who did the mastering Mark, Andy Pearce? Also, did you get the first box 'Early Years' and if so your thoughts on that one?

Same guy as the first box, Tony Dixon. viewtopic.php?p=2934309#p2934309

Yeah, I got the first box. Again, it sounds great. I bought it mainly for the live album. I hadn't heard it in over 30 years until I bought the box.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Mark MN wrote:

Rick A wrote:

Mark MN wrote:

One more thing... make sure you blast these. They're not mastered loud. Well, maybe a wee bit. I think the sound level on these is perfect. Not too loud and not too quiet.

Oh, that's even better. I rather the amp do the "power" boost than the CD loudness mastering. Probably why they sound so great.
Who did the mastering Mark, Andy Pearce? Also, did you get the first box 'Early Years' and if so your thoughts on that one?

Same guy as the first box, Tony Dixon. viewtopic.php?p=2934309#p2934309

Yeah, I got the first box. Again, it sounds great. I bought it mainly for the live album. I hadn't heard it in over 30 years until I bought the box.

Loving the box set, trying to get the first box but Cherry Red , Import CD's and Amazon UK are w/o stock. Wow! :ohno:

The label needs to do a reprint. :ohyes:

[2019-02-22] REO Speedwagon "The Classic Years 1978-1990" 9CD box set (HNE UK)

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