Over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted thirteen Top 40 hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". REO Speedwagon's mainstream popularity waned in the late 1980s, but the band remains a popular live act.
In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty entered the electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, coming in as a junior. On his first night, he met another student, Alan Gratzer. They held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dormitory, and soon started a rock band. Gratzer had been a drummer since high school, and was playing in a local group on the weekends, while Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano.
Doughty started to follow around Gratzer's band, eventually sitting in on a song or two. The keyboard player was the leader, but several other band members were unhappy with the situation. On the last day of the university's spring semester, guitarist Joe Matt called the band's leader and told him that he, drummer Gratzer, and bassist Mike Blair had decided to leave the band and start a new one with Doughty.
They made a list of songs to learn over the summer break, and Doughty landed a summer job to buy his first keyboard. On his Farfisa organ, he learned "Light My Fire" by The Doors. The members returned to school in the fall of 1967, and had their first rehearsal before classes even started. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck Doughty had studied in transportation history, and the initials are those of its founder Ransom E. Olds. Rather than pronouncing REO as a single word as the motor company did, they chose to spell out the name with the individual letters each pronounced ("R-E-O"). An ad in the school newspaper produced their first job, a fraternity party that turned into a food fight. They continued to perform cover songs in campus bars, fraternity parties, and university events. The first lineup consisted of Doughty on keyboards, Gratzer on drums and vocals, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals, Mike Blair on bass and vocals.
In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced Blair, Marty Shepard played trumpet and Joe McCabe played sax until McCabe moved to Southern Illinois University. Crownover played guitar for the group until the summer of 1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. Steve Scorfina (who would go on to found progressive rock/album-oriented rock band Pavlov's Dog) came aboard for over a year, composing with the band and performing live, before being replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970.
Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitarist and prolific songwriter who brought fresh original material to the band. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history.
The band signed to Epic Records in 1971. Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut where it recorded original material for its first album. The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell.
Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitar player and prolific songwriter who brought original material to the band including REO's signature song "Ridin' the Storm Out". With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history.
The band signed to Epic Records in 1971. Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut where it recorded original material for its first album. The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell.
The band toured relentlessly under guidance from early manager Irving Azoff. The band's most successful period featured lead vocalist Kevin Cronin who joined the band briefly for their second album T.W.O in 1972, and left in the middle of recording the Album "Ridin' The Storm Out" and returned in 1976, co-producing with Richrath their landmark Live: You Get What You Play For. Ridin' the Storm Out was completed with Michael Bryan Murphy on the microphone. Murphy stayed on for two more albums, "Lost in a Dream" and "This Time We Mean It", before Cronin returned to the fold in January 1976 and recorded "R.E.O.", which was released that same year.
They grew in popularity in the Midwestern United States during the early 1970s and peaked in popularity in the early 1980s. The band's first mid 70s FM hit was the Richrath composed concert fave "Ridin' The Storm Out", and their first gold record was a live album, 1977's "Live: You Get What You Play For". Their hard rocking live show was so integral to their success, their label released another live album in 1978, "More Live".
In 1977, Philbin was replaced with Bruce Hall to record the first studio album that reached platinum, "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish", released in 1978 which received FM radio airplay but fell short of the Top 40. In 1979, the band took a turn back to hard rock with the release of Nine Lives.
By 1981's "Hi Infidelity" they had reached a new peak, and the LP spawned several major radio hits including "Keep On Loving You", "Don't Let Him Go" and "Take It on the Run" which went to #5 on the US charts, and the Cronin composed "Time For Me To Fly, released on the "Tuna" album.
REO Speedwagon followed up the "Hi Infidelity" LP with the power ballad "Can't Fight This Feeling" from Good Trouble in 1982, and dented the charts again with 1984's "Wheels Are Turning" album, 1987's "Life as We Know It" was the last new release to go gold, before popularity waned, and their long winning streak subsided. Founding members Richrath & Gratzer left the band, essentially ending a 20 year arena rocking run, but the band's collections continued to sell and earn classic rock & retro power pop airplay. Richrath and Gratzer was replaced by Miles Joseph and Graham Lear, Cronin's band members from jazz ensemble called "The Strolling Dudes". And soon Lear and Joseph was replaced by Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) and Dave Amato.
Nowadays Reo Speedwagon remains a U.S concert circuit staple, mostly known as a crowd pleasing classic AOR genre rock band. Still fronted by longtime vocalist Cronin, currently the only original member in the 21st century touring lineup is keyboardist Neil Doughty. The hired guns brought in since have had stints in band's like Ted Nugent and Wang Chung. Spurred on by numerous re-packagings of their back catalog, and successful newer live recordings, in 2007 they released "Find Your Own Way Home" the group's first new studio album in more than ten years. Though it did not chart as an album, it produced two singles which appeared on Billboard's Adult Contemporary radio chart.
REO Speedwagon continues to tour regularly, performing mostly their classic hits. They are popular on the fair and casino circuits, but still team with other acts to play larger venues.
REO Speedwagon's birth place was reportedly a Red Lion Inn, on Green Street near the U of I campus (Champaign-Urbana, IL).
Principal Members (1971)
Gary Richrath - Guitar
Alan Gratzer - Drums
Gregg Philbin - Bass
Terry Luttrell - Vocals
Mike Murphy - Vocals
Current Lineup
Kevin Cronin - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Dave Amato - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Bruce Hall - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Neal Doughty - Keyboards
Bryan Hitt - Drums, Percussion
http://www.speedwagon.com
Golden Country
REO Speedwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With all of your money your poor can be fed
You strut around and you flirt with disaster
Never really carin' just what comes after
Well your blacks are dyin' but your back is still turned
And your freaks are cryin' but your back is still turned
You better stop your hidin' or your country will burn
The time has come for you my friend
Before we leave we must make a stand
Mortgage people you crawl to your homes
Your security lies in your bed of white foam
You act concerned but then why turn away
When a lady was raped on your doorstep today
Well your blacks are cryin' but your back is still turned
And your freaks are dyin' but your back is still turned
You better stop your hidin' or your country will burn
The time has come for you my friend
To all this ugliness we must put an end
Before we leave we must make a stand, oh yeah
Golden country your face is so red
With all of your money your poor can be fed
You strut around and you flirt with disaster
Never really carin' just what comes after
Well your blacks are dyin' but your back is still turned
And your freaks are cryin' but your back is still turned
You better stop your hidin' or your country will burn
The time has come for you my friend
To all this ugliness we must put an end
Before we leave we must make a stand
Before we leave we must make a stand
The lyrics of REO Speedwagon's "Golden Country" offer a poignant social commentary on the state of America in the 1970s. Through the use of vivid imagery and poetic language, the lyrics of this song expose the hypocrisy and indifference of those with power and wealth towards the struggles of the marginalized and oppressed in American society.
The line "Golden country your face is so red, with all of your money your poor can be fed" juxtaposes the lavishness of the wealthy with the pervasive poverty of the underprivileged. The song urges the listener to take action against the injustice and inhumanity that persist in society while also pushing back against complacency.
The imagery of "mortgage people" reinforces the idea of the privileged turning a blind eye to the suffering of others, while also highlighting the stark divide between the haves and have-nots. The repeated refrain, "the time has come for you my friend, to all this ugliness we must put an end, before we leave we must make a stand" emphasizes the importance of taking action and fighting against the status quo.
Overall, "Golden Country" is a call to action, challenging the listener to confront the societal issues that have plagued the United States for centuries, and to fight for a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Golden country your face is so red
The country is personified as a wealthy man who is drunk on power, with a face that is red from pride and arrogance.
With all of your money your poor can be fed
Despite the wealth of the country, poverty still exists and its leaders do little to address it.
You strut around and you flirt with disaster
The country takes unnecessary risks without considering the potential consequences.
Never really carin' just what comes after
The country is not concerned about the long-term consequences of its actions.
Well your blacks are dyin' but your back is still turned
The marginalized and oppressed groups, such as black people, are suffering and being ignored by the country's leaders.
And your freaks are cryin' but your back is still turned
The outcasts and those who are different are also suffering and being ignored.
You better stop your hidin' or your country will burn
The country needs to face its problems and work towards solutions, or else it will face disastrous consequences.
The time has come for you my friend
There is urgency and a need for action to be taken.
To all this ugliness we must put an end
The problems of the country must be addressed and resolved in order to create a better future for all.
Before we leave we must make a stand
The responsibility to make changes lies with everyone, and action needs to be taken before it is too late.
Mortgage people you crawl to your homes
The mortgage industry is addressed, and those who work in it are depicted as being subservient and powerless.
Your security lies in your bed of white foam
Despite the perceived safety of their positions, those who work in the mortgage industry are not immune to the problems affecting the country.
You act concerned but then why turn away
Despite pretending to care, those in the mortgage industry do little to address the problems affecting their clients and the country as a whole.
When a lady was raped on your doorstep today
The hypocrisy of the mortgage industry is highlighted by pointing out a specific instance where they failed to protect someone in need.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARY RICHRATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brooklyn Joe
Gary Richrath..was one of the greatest guitar players that ever hit the strings...
Lydia Newton
Absolutely. ...
Mark Chambers
I've watched everything I can find with Gary Richrath in it for the simple reason of his death and finding out my close friend Allan Warner were first cousins and there was so many things I wanted to ask about Gary that only Allan would know he up and dies on me, both had problems with drugs in the pass, both had unbelievable talent, sad for me they both had to go way before their time should of been, RIP-Gary-&-Allan
Angela Charters
Gary Richrath could play anything. His son plays also...
TBNR Sports
Peoria !
Paul Bradley
@Michael Baker Yeah I keep forgetting how conservatives and Republicans care about non- White people- my bad
John Allen
What kills me is he was never given the respect he deserved. I loved his sound!!!
Jack LCII
@MC DATACOMM
I was there !!!
Thanks for sharing !!!
Jack LCII
The hell he wasn't stop your crying !!!
daniel correard
@Clear Water well as a life long reo fan I have to say I like your comments and I think you are right i was just going by everything I heard about hendrix i never really heard him play and I've always though gary showed just how good and how underrated he was in the flying turkey trot. and like you do. very good to converse with another reo fan