Wow, to hear some folks hear say that they've never heard of REO makes me feel old. REO Speedwagon started out right here in my hometown of Champaign, IL back in 1968. Three of the band's founders were students at the University of Illinois, and the band developed a huge following in local clubs before getting their big break and a recording contract. They always were and still are a great band to see live, really rocking the house on stage.
And TJR, if you're labeling REO as "80's soft rock", then you ought to listen to some of their music prior to 1981's "Hi Infidelity". Stuff like "Roll With The Changes", "Ridin' the Storm Out", and "157 Riverside Avenue" for example. They're a helluva rock band, and have always been one of my favorites, especially because of the local/hometown connection. But one thing I didn't like was that after the enormous commercial success of "Hi Infidelity" in '81, Kevin Cronin, the lead singer and chief songwriter began writing songs that were softer, and more "pop" in nature than the good, hard-rockin' storytelling songs on their albums in the '70's.
They did release an album of all new material a few years ago titled "Find Your Own Way Home." It was a very good album. If you want to hear them at their hard-rockin' best, pick up "Live: You Get What You Play For", or listen to the live cuts on "A Decade of Rock and Roll: 1970-1980".
