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
Roll with the Changes
REO Speedwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To make the break that we are on the brink of
My cup is on the table, my love is spilling
Waiting here for you to take and drink of
So if you're tired of the same old story
Oh, turn some pages
I will be here when you are ready
I knew it had to happen, felt the tables turnin'
Got me through my darkest hour
I heard the thunder clappin', felt the desert burnin'
Until you poured on me like a sweet sun shower
So if you're tired of the same old story
Oh, turn some pages
I will be here when you are ready
To roll with the changes, ooh
So if you're tired of the same old story
Oh baby, turn some pages
I will be here when you are ready
To roll with the changes, baby
Roll with the changes
Ah, you know you know you know you got to
(Keep on rollin') Oh yeah
(Keep on rollin') Ooh roll with the changes
Keep on rollin' (Keep on rollin', keep on rollin')
Oh, now roll with the changes, oh, baby
(Keep on rollin') Oh, babe (Keep on rollin')
Oh, you got to learn to roll with the changes
Got to, got to, got to, got to keep on rollin'
(Keep on rollin'), got to learn to, got to learn to
Got to learn to roll
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', ooh)
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', ooh)
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', ooh)
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', ooh, aah)
The lyrics to REO Speedwagon's "Roll with the Changes" express a willingness to embrace change and move forward in life. The singer addresses a woman, stating that he is ready to make a break from the past and take a new direction. He offers his love and support as they face these changes together. The metaphor of "turning some pages" suggests that there are new chapters to be written in their lives, and that they have the power to shape their own story.
The second verse reflects on the singer's personal journey through difficult times. He describes feeling lost and overwhelmed, but finding hope and renewal in his connection with this woman. The imagery of a "sweet sun shower" underscores the sense of rejuvenation and vitality that she brings into his life. The chorus reaffirms the message of resilience and adaptability, urging listeners to keep pushing forward despite the challenges that may arise.
Overall, "Roll with the Changes" is a song about embracing change, taking control of one's own narrative, and finding strength and support in the love of others. It is an empowering message that encourages listeners to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
As soon as you are able, woman I am willing
I am ready to make a change in our relationship whenever you are ready.
To make the break that we are on the brink of
Let's end this relationship that we are about to end soon.
My cup is on the table, my love is spilling
I have so much love to give you and I am waiting for you to take it.
Waiting here for you to take and drink of
I am patiently waiting for you to accept my love.
So if you're tired of the same old story
If you are tired of things staying the same in our relationship,
Oh, turn some pages
then let's make a change.
I will be here when you are ready
I will be here for you whenever you are ready to make a change.
To roll with the changes, yeah, yeah
To accept and embrace the changes in our relationship.
I knew it had to happen, felt the tables turnin'
I knew that a change was coming and I could feel things shifting.
Got me through my darkest hour
Your love got me through a difficult time.
I heard the thunder clappin', felt the desert burnin'
I went through a tough time and realized that I needed your love.
Until you poured on me like a sweet sun shower
When you finally showed love to me, it felt like a ray of sunshine in a desert.
So if you're tired of the same old story
If you are tired of things staying the same in our relationship,
Oh, turn some pages
then let's make a change.
I will be here when you are ready
I will be here for you whenever you are ready to make a change.
To roll with the changes, ooh
To accept and embrace the changes in our relationship.
So if you're tired of the same old story
If you are tired of things staying the same in our relationship,
Oh baby, turn some pages
then let's make a change.
I will be here when you are ready
I will be here for you whenever you are ready to make a change.
To roll with the changes, baby
To accept and embrace the changes in our relationship.
Roll with the changes
Let's accept the changes and move forward together.
Ah, you know you know you know you got to
You know that we need to make a change in our relationship.
(Keep on rollin') Oh yeah
Let's keep moving forward together.
(Keep on rollin') Ooh roll with the changes
Let's keep accepting and embracing the changes in our relationship.
Keep on rollin' (Keep on rollin', keep on rollin')
Let's keep moving forward and not look back.
Oh, now roll with the changes, oh, baby
Let's embrace change and move forward together, my love.
(Keep on rollin') Oh, babe (Keep on rollin')
Let's keep moving forward together, my love.
Oh, you got to learn to roll with the changes
You need to learn to accept and embrace the changes in our relationship.
Got to, got to, got to, got to keep on rollin'
We have to keep moving forward together.
(Keep on rollin'), got to learn to, got to learn to
We have to keep moving forward and adapting to the changes in our relationship.
Got to learn to roll
We have to learn to accept and embrace the changes in our relationship.
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', oooh)
Let's keep moving forward together.
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', oooh)
Let's keep moving forward together.
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', oooh)
Let's keep moving forward together.
(Keep on rollin', keep on rollin', oooh, aah)
Let's keep moving forward together and not look back.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kevin Patrick Jr. Cronin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mommyharris4778
One of THE BEST groups of all time. The 70’s and early 80’s were a great time to be alive.
@fabriziotomasoni2037
Absolutely yes it was the best time ever ❤
@scottwells3973
Gary Richraft is easily one of the biggest underrated guitar players ever...the dude was awesome! Rest easy, Gary!
@justdone1251
Billy Squire would embarrass him. Cheryl Crow knows more power chords than that clown 🤡.
I'm going to say it..... WITH hesitation.... Ace Frehley's a better guitar holder on stage.?
@sbgog93
@Just Done damn bro you tried to troll but it was pretty weak 🤣
@crikker9447
@sexy man very weak
@vlrissolo
Scott Wells who went to NHS? ANY CHANCE?
@vincentrobinson9325
🤘🏻😭 RIP G.R.
@vanterry08
Dear God in heaven! Please bring back the great music before I die!!! This was absolutely the best era in rock in my lifetime and has been so degraded by the garbage today. Feel good, rock good and totally rememberable times! So happy to have lived through it! So sad it’s gone. 😢
@AnitaBarneycastle
Agreed!!!