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
River Of Life
REO Speedwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Which way do you flow?
I seem to be lost
Which way should I go?
I trusted you once
Ah, you didn't come through
I really resent
River, you are flowing upstream
Now with you, you're taking my dream
River, river, where will you fall?
'Cause I've been waiting in awe
Where will you fall?
River of death
Ah, who will you take?
I'd like to know
For my own sake
I've got some things
Ah that I'd like to do
Whether or not
Well, it's all up to you
River, you are flowing upstream
Now with you, you're taking my dream
River, river, where will you fall?
'Cause I've been waiting in awe
Where will you fall?
Oh, that river of life keeps flowing
And no one knows where it's gone, where it's going
Oh, that river of life keeps flowing
And no one knows where it's gone
Oh, that river of life keeps flowing
And no one knows where it's gone, where it's going
Oh, that river of life
River, you are flowing upstream
Now with you, you're taking my dream
River, river, where will you fall?
'Cause I've been waiting in awe
Where will you fall?
The lyrics of REO Speedwagon's song "River of Life" are a reflection of the uncertainty of life and the frustration that comes with it. The first verse references the confusion and aimlessness that can come with feeling lost in life. The singer trusted the river before, but it failed to deliver, causing resentment. The river is a metaphor for life, and alludes to the idea that sometimes life brings us to unexpected places, and when things don't go as planned, it can be hard to move on.
The chorus asks the river where it will fall, as if questioning where life will take us next. The line "with you, you're taking my dream" suggests that the singer feels like their hopes and aspirations are being carried away with the current. The second verse speaks to the inevitability of death, and the unknowns that come with it. The singer expresses a desire to do things in life while they still can, but acknowledges that whether or not they are able to accomplish them is ultimately up to the river, or fate.
Overall, the lyrics of "River of Life" convey a sense of uncertainty and the feeling of being at the mercy of life's unpredictable nature. It is a reminder to take control of what is within our power, and recognize what isn't, while keeping in mind that life will continue to flow regardless.
Line by Line Meaning
River of life
Addressing the inexplicable journey of life
Which way do you flow?
Questioning the direction of life
I seem to be lost
Admitting the inability to navigate life
Which way should I go?
Expressing the desire for guidance
I trusted you once
Recalling moments of hope and faith in life
Ah, you didn't come through
Highlighting disappointment and betrayal from life
I really resent
Expressing anger and bitterness towards life
What else could I do?
Questioning the options when faced with life's challenges
River, you are flowing upstream
Contrasting the difficulties of life with an upstream river
Now with you, you're taking my dream
Reflecting on the potential unfulfilled dreams due to life's challenges
River, river, where will you fall?
Pondering the uncertain fate of life
'Cause I've been waiting in awe
Expressing anticipation and expectation for the future
River of death
Acknowledging the inevitability of death in life
Ah, who will you take?
Asking who will be affected by death
I'd like to know
Expressing a desire for understanding and clarity
For my own sake
Indicating a personal interest in the answer
I've got some things
Listing potential goals and aspirations in life
Ah that I'd like to do
Expressing personal desire and motivation
Whether or not
Highlighting the uncertainty of achieving goals in life
Well, it's all up to you
Addressing the role of life in the realization of goals and outcomes
Oh, that river of life keeps flowing
Emphasizing the constant and inevitable nature of life's journey
And no one knows where it's gone, where it's going
Stating the unknown and mysterious nature of life
River, river, where will you fall?
Repeating this line to reinforce the uncertainty of life's path
'Cause I've been waiting in awe
Reiterating the anticipation and expectation for the future
Where will you fall?
Asking the question once again to underscore the song's theme
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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