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
Take It on the Run
REO Speedwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another, you been messin' around
They say you got a boyfriend
You're out late every weekend
They're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me down
But I know the neighborhood
And talk is cheap when the story is good
But I'm tellin' you, babe
That I don't think it's true, babe
And even if it is, keep this in mind
You take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
You're thinkin' up your white lies
You're puttin' on your bedroom eyes
You say you're comin' home but you won't say when
But I can feel it comin'
If you leave tonight, keep runnin'
And you need never look back again
You take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another, you been messin' around
The lyrics of REO Speedwagon's "Take It on the Run" tell a story of betrayal and suspicion. The singer has heard that their significant other has been "messin' around" from a chain of friends, but they don't want to believe it outright. They express skepticism, saying that "talk is cheap when the story is good," and that tales have a way of growing taller as they spread. However, they can't entirely shake the suspicion, hence the line "even if it is keep this in mind."
The chorus of the song is a clear ultimatum: "you take it on the run baby, if that's the way you want it baby, then I don't want you around." The singer is giving their partner the choice to admit to any wrongdoing and take responsibility, or to leave if they insist on keeping secrets. The final verse implies that the partner is indeed guilty, referring to "white lies" and the feeling that they won't come back if they leave.
Overall, the lyrics of "Take It on the Run" are a relatable and straightforward take on the pain of infidelity and the struggle to trust those around us. It's a song that captures the anger, frustration, and heartache that come with any kind of breach in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Heard it from a friend who
I heard a rumor about you from a friend
Heard it from a friend who
The rumor was passed along through a chain of friends
Heard it from another you been messin' around
The rumor is that you have been unfaithful
They say you got a boy friend
The rumor is that you have a boyfriend
You're up late every weekend
The rumor is that you stay out late every weekend
They're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me down
The rumor is causing me distress
But I know the neighborhood
I am familiar with the area and the rumors that circulate there
And talk is cheap when the story is good
People love to gossip, even if the rumor may not be true
And the tales grow taller on down the line
The rumors become more exaggerated as they are passed along
But I'm telling you, babe
I want to share my thoughts with you
That I don't think it's true, babe
I don't believe the rumor to be true
And even if it is keep this in mind
Even if the rumor is true, consider the following
You take it on the run baby
If you're guilty, face the consequences
If that's the way you want it baby
If you wish to run away from the situation, go ahead
Then I don't want you around
If you're going to be unfaithful, I don't want to be with you
I don't believe it, not for a minute
I don't believe the rumor, even for a second
You're under the gun so you take it on the run
You're feeling the pressure of the situation and are running away
You're thinking up your white lies
You're coming up with excuses to justify your behavior
You're putting on your bedroom eyes
You are using seduction to avoid confrontation
You say you're coming home but you won't say when
You claim to be returning home but won't specify a time
But I can feel it coming
I sense that our relationship is coming to an end
If you leave tonight keep running
If you decide to leave, don't stop running
And you need never look back again
And you should never turn back and come home
Take it on the run baby
Face the consequences of your actions
If that's the way you want it baby
If you choose to run away, so be it
Then I don't need you around
If you're going to deceive me, I don't want to be with you
I don't believe it, not for a minute
I don't believe the rumor at all
You're under the gun so you take it on the run
You're feeling pressured to run away
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Gary Dean Richrath
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlosstefanut7258
Doesn't matter if Cobra Kai bring you here. You are here just because you have a good taste in music. Enjoy the song.🤘🏻
@uriahhayes8314
Yea facts
@bryden3443
@@uriahhayes8314 50 seconds ago 😳😳
@uriahhayes8314
@@bryden3443 what?
@bryden3443
@@uriahhayes8314 never mind
@uriahhayes8314
@@bryden3443 lol what
@rafemanrafeman6705
The perfect song to blast on your way home from the beach in the summer with the windows down and the sun setting. Trust me
@dfr1833
I like you.
@JMFP01
Hell yeah, just did a sunset packy run, blasting this on the way home.
@ratter531
For those of us who lived it, the 80's will never be replicated, so many great bands and songs, miss that era so much.