Last October, Cherry Red/Hear No Evil released the 8-CD The Early Years 1971-1977, chronicling REO Speedwagon’s beginning on Epic Records.  And now they’re back with the follow-up set: The Classic Years 1978-1990, containing the group’s seven remaining Epic albums and a bonus live disc across 9 CDs, highlighting the period when REO Speedwagon became a household name.

The first album in the box, 1978’s You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish, found REO Speedwagon at a time of change.  Bassist Gregg Philbin, who had been with the group since 1968 had departed and been replaced by Bruce Hall.  Also, the band wished to have more control over their sound which led to lead singer Kevin Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath taking over as producers (with John Boylan serving as executive producer).  The gambit paid off: You Can Tune became the band’s first album to hit the Top 40, peaking at No. 29.  It also contained the hits “Roll With the Changes” and “Time For Me to Fly.”  “Time” went on to become one of REO Speedwagon’s best known songs.

A bit over a year later, Nine Lives hit store shelves.  It took the band back to a harder sound of their early days.  The LP hit a respectable No. 33 on the charts, but did not sell as well as its predecessor.  The only single off the album, “Only The Strong Survive” (a Richrath original, not the Jerry Butler song) failed to chart.  But REO Speedwagon’s chart fortunes were about to change.

Opting for a more AOR/pop sound, the band released Hi Infidelity in November, 1980.  Most of the tracks on the album were actually just demos with overdubs added.  The band had tried to re-record the songs in the studio but found they couldn’t match the power of their original versions.  Their instincts proved to be correct.  Hi Infidelity would become their biggest hit record, climbing to the top of the charts and becoming the biggest selling rock album of 1981.  It would eventually be certified 10x platinum.  Four singles were released with “Don’t Let Him Go” and “In Your Letter” reaching No. 24 and No. 20, respectively.  But the biggest hits were “Take It On the Run” climbing to No. 5 and “Keep on Loving You,” the power ballad which gave REO Speedwagon their first No. 1 song.

Following up such a massive success is always difficult, and it was no different for REO Speedwagon.  Epic was pressuring them for an album and Good Trouble was released in June, 1982.  Even with more than a year and a half between albums, the band felt the album was rushed, and members including Cronin and Hall relate in the box’s new liner notes that they don’t believe it lived up to expectations.  But the album still did fairly well, peaking at No. 7 on the charts and going 2x platinum with the single “Keep the Fire Burnin'” also hitting No. 7 on the singles chart.  However, perhaps showing the band’s opinion of the album, they haven’t performed a song from it in full other than “Keep the Fire” since 1983.

Taking their time to make sure they got the album they wanted, Wheels Are Turnin’ wasn’t released until November, 1984.  Ironically, Wheels matched Good Times performance on the charts nearly exactly, also peaking at lucky No. 7 and being certified 2x platinum in sales.  But the singles found more success.  “One Lonely Night” would break into the top 20, peaking at No. 19.  The biggest success came with another of the band’s now-signature anthems: “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”  Cronin’s power ballad gave the group their second chart-topper and they would perform the song at 1985’s Live Aid.

More than two years would pass before Life As We Know It was released in February, 1987.  Unfortunately, the results were not on par chart-wise for the band was with their last few albums, not getting into the Top 10 on the album charts, peaking at No. 28.  Two singles found moderate success with “That Ain’t Love” and “In My Dreams” breaking into the Top 20 at Nos. 16 and 19 respectively.

Life would be the group’s final original album of the 1980s and changes were ahead for REO Speedwagon.  Tensions were rising between Cronin and Richrath, who would leave the band in 1988.  One of the last songs on which he played, “Here with Me” from the 1988 compilation The Hits, would be the band’s last Top 20 song to date, hitting No. 20.  Another major personnel change occurred in 1988 as founding member and drummer Alan Gratzer departed the group to spend more time with his family.

Despite the changes, the rest of REO Speedwagon decided to continue on.  Dave Amato (guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums) were brought in as replacements (several other members also joined for a brief period but did not become permanent members of the group).  Jesse Harms joined as an additional keyboardist and would pen many of the songs for the new lineup’s first album: The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and A Chicken, released in August, 1990.  But the new decade did not bring the same success as the previous one had.  The Earth only climbed to No. 129 on charts.  The lone single to chart was “Love Is a Rock” which hit No. 65 on the pop chart and No. 31 on the rock chart.  And with that, the group’s tenure at Epic was over with the label dropping the band.  Harms left the group in 1991, but the other members have stayed the same in the nearly 30 years since.  In that time, they have released three further studio albums on various labels and continue to tour.

Cherry Red/Hear No Evil’s new box offers a lot of bonus material, with every album except Good Trouble being expanded.  You Can Tune a Piano offers three single versions and the seven track EP “Live Again” from 1978.  Nine Lives and Wheels Are Turnin’ each add several single edits and versions, with Wheels also containing the band’s song for the Goonies soundtrack: “Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright).”  Life As We Know It adds two single edits and two songs from The Hits (the last songs Richrath and Gratzer performed on) while The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and A Chicken is expanded by three single versions and two songs from the 1999 compilation The Ballads.  Hi Infidelity gets the most generous expansion with a whole second disc devoted to bonus content.  Nine demos from the album (first released on a 2011 reissue) are joined by two single edits and five live tracks.  More live material can be heard on the tenth and final disc of the boxset which contains 17 tracks recorded at various locations from 1980 through 1990.

Matching the design of the previous box, all of the discs are housed in a clamshell case and come in individual paper sleeves replicating the original album artwork.  The 40-page full color booklet contains new liner notes by Malcom Dome which draw on new interviews with Cronin, Gratzer, Hall and Neal Doughty.  The book also has reproductions of some artwork from singles and advertisements.  The remastering was done by Tony Dixon at Masterpiece, London and is solid throughout.

The Classic Years 1978-1990 is quite simply a must own if you are a fan of REO Speedwagon.  Together with The Early Years box, you will find the most comprehensive look at the group’s Epic tenure.  The set’s bonus material, book and sound make an excellent package that anyone interested in this material should not hesitate to own.  If you would like to get a copy for yourself, we’ve got the ordering links below.

REO Speedwagon, The Classic Years 1978-1990 (HNE Recordings HNEBOX111 (U.K.), 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1: You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish (1-9, Epic JE 35082, 1980) single edits (10-12) and Live Again EP (Epic AS-410 (Canada), 1978)

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
10. Roll With The Changes (Short Version) (Epic promo single 8-50545, 1978)
11. Roll With The Changes (Long Version) (Epic promo single 8-50545, 1978)
12. Time For Me To Fly (Edit) (Epic single 8-50582, 1978)
13. Son Of a Poor Man (Live)
14. (I Believe) Our Time Is Gonna Come (Live)
15. Flying Turkey Trot (Live)
16. Keep Pushin’ (Live)
17. Ridin’ The Storm Out (Live)
18. Piano Interlude (Live)
19. 157 Riverside Avenue (Live)

Disc 2: Nine Lives (1-9, Epic FE 35988, 1979) and bonus tracks (10-12) 

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
10. Easy Money (Edit) (Epic single 9-50764, 1979)
11. 157 Riverside Avenue (Live) (from A Decade Of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980 – Epic KE2 36444, 1980)
12. Ridin’ The Storm Out (Live) (from A Decade Of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980 – Epic KE2 36444, 1980)

Disc 3: Hi Infidelity (Epic FE 36844, 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

Disc 4: Hi Infidelity bonus material

1. Someone Tonight (Crystal Demo)
2. Tough Guys (Crystal Demo)
3. In Your Letter (Crystal Demo)
4. Follow My Heart (Crystal Demo)
5. Take It On The Run (Crystal Demo)
6. Don’t Let Him Go (Crystal Demo)
7. Keep On Loving You (Crystal Demo)
8. Shakin’ It Loose (Crystal Demo)
9. I Wish You Were There (Crystal Demo)
10. Don’t Let Him Go (Edit) (Epic single 19-02127, 1980)
11. Take It On The Run (Edit) (Epic single 19-01054, 1980)
12. Don’t Let Him Go (Live @ McNichols Arena, Denver, CO – 4/25-26/1981) (from Live and In Color – Epic AS-1245, 1981)
13. Keep On Loving You (Live @ McNichols Arena, Denver, CO – 4/25-26/1981) (from Live and In Color – Epic AS-1245, 1981)
14. Take It On The Run (Live) (Epic promotional single (NL) PRO-148, 1981)
15. In Your Letter (Live) (Epic promotional single (NL) PRO-148, 1981)
16. Keep On Loving You ’89 (Reggae Version) (from The Second Decade Of Rock and Roll 1981 To 1991 – Epic EK 48527, 1991)

Tracks 1-9 from Hi Infidelity: 30^th Anniversary Edition – Epic/Legacy 88697 69579-2, 2011

Disc 5: Good Trouble (Epic FE 38100, 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

Disc 6: Wheels Are Turnin’ (1-9, Epic QE 39593, 1984) and bonus tracks (10-15)

1. I Do’ Wanna Know
2. One Lonely Night
3. Through 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’
10. I Do’ Wanna Know (Short Version) (Epic promo single 34-04659, 1984)
11. Live Every Moment (Edit) (Epic single 34-05412, 1984)
12. Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright) (Remix) (Epic U.K. single A-6850, 1985)
13. Gotta Feel More (Radio Mix Long Version) (Epic 12″ promo EAS-2091, 1985)
14. Gotta Feel More (Radio Mix Short Version) (Epic 12″ promo EAS-2091, 1985)
15. Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright) (from The Goonies: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Epic SE 40067, 1985)

Disc 7: Life As We Know It (1-10, Epic FE 40444, 1987) and bonus tracks (11-14)

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 Getting Nowhere
11. Variety Tonight (Edit) (Epic promo single 34-07055, 1987)
12. I Don’t Want To Lose You (from The Hits – Epic OE 44202, 1988)
13. Here With Me (from The Hits – Epic OE 44202, 1988)
14. Here With Me (Radio Edit) (Epic promo single 34-07901, 1988)

Disc 8: The Earth A Small Man His Dog and A Chicken (1-11, Epic E 45246, 1990) and bonus tracks (12-16)

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. I.A.R.
11. Go For Broke
12. All Heaven Broke Loose (Album Version – More Guitar) (Epic promo single ESK 4186, 1991)
13. All Heaven Broke Loose (Single Version – More Vocal) (Epic promo single ESK 4186, 1991)
14. Just For You (Radio Edit) (Epic/Legacy promo single ESK 42413, 1999)
15. Just For You (from The Ballads – Epic/Legacy EK 69425, 1999)
16. Till The Rivers Run Dry (from The Ballads – Epic/Legacy EK 69425, 1999)

Disc 9: Live Tracks

1. Don’t Let Him Go (Live @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO – 7/25/1985)
2. Tough Guys (Live @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO – 7/25/1985)
3. Take It On The Run (Live @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO – 7/25/1985)
4. I Do’ Wanna Know (Live @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO – 7/25/1985)
5. Can’t Fight This Feeling (Live @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO – 7/25/1985)
6. Keep The Fire Burning (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL – 7/15/1983)
7. Roll With The Changes (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL – 7/15/1983)
8. That Ain’t Love (Live @ Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO – 7/18/1987)
9. Back On The Road Again (Live @ Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI – 1989)
10. Live It Up (Live @ Club Eastbrook, Grand Rapids, MI – 11/23/1990)
11. Roll With The Changes (Live @ McNichols Arena, Denver, CO – 7/2/1981)
12. Ridin’ The Storm Out (Live @ McNichols Arena, Denver, CO – 7/2/1981)
13. Keep On Lovin’ You (Live @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN – 12/31/1984)
14. Johnny B. Goode (Live @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN – 1/1/1985)
15. Can’t Fight This Feeling (Live @ Club Eastbrook, Grand Rapids, MI – 11/23/1990)
16. Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight (Live @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI – 7/27/1980)
17. Time For Me To Fly (Live @ St. Louis, MO – 7/18/1987)

Tracks 1-10 released on The Second Decade Of Rock and Roll 1981 To 1991 – Epic EK 48527, 1991
Tracks 11-17 released on Setlist: The Very Best Of REO Speedwagon Live – Epic/Legacy 88697 70277-2, 2010)