Oreo Speedcookies!3 Out Of 5 Stars
REO Speedwagon was one of those American Bands that could have only happened in the 70's. A midwestern-boogie band with a hot live show, they built their rep in the heartland and got a record deal based on their rabid - if not widespread - following. Their first few albums were bland, unexceptional affairs, most notable for the mundanity of their songs and sound. Then, like so many acts from the "Frampton Comes Alive" era, their double live album expanded their audience outside their heartland base. Which also menat that the next album was make-it-or-break-it.
In 1978, that meant tightening up the sound, pushing (in and out and back in again) singer Kevin Cronin to the forefront, making guitarist Gary Richrath tighten up the solos, and writing a batch of songs that was more than bar-band-boogie jams. "You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish" did all of that and gave the rock world one of the worst titular puns, plus REO's first major hit single with "Time for Me To Fly" and a rock radio staple with "Roll With The Changes." The album "Nine Lives" stayed the course with two songs on this set, and then came the blast.
"Hi Infidelity" became the group's high water mark in both sales and performance, putting REO into the leagues of Journey and Styx. Their first number one album, two top ten power ballads (including "Keep On Loving You" at number one) and platinum several times over, 6 of this album's 10 songs are on this set. One of them is the oddly girl-group sounding, "In Your Letter." "Good Trouble" slipped a bit; no singles, but three songs in this set, including concert fave "Keep The Fire Burning." However, one album later and "Wheels Are Turning" put the wheels back on the wagon. "Can't Fight This Feeling" went to number one and a million wedding receptions, while "I Do'Wanna Know" is probably my fave REO rocker (and makes an appearance on the bonus disc).
That was about it, as the ensuing albums began the diminishing returns, albeit with good songs and the power ballads like "In My Dreams." The good extras include a few odd-album cuts like "Just for You" and "Here With Me" from compilations and "Where You're Going" from the soundtrack to The Goonies movie. Now, as a three CD set, this is about all the REO you'll probably ever need. You get all the glory days singles and some of the better tunes from the waning days. But you're also hit with the realization that REO wasn't a very good band until "You Get What You Play For Live," which means you have to wallow through eleven 'meh' cuts on disc one before the good stuff kicks in.
Be that as it may, for your 80's nostalgia money, this is the REO set to get. If even this is too much, you can get "The Hits" or "The Ballads" collections (or even just "Hi Infidelity") for what you need.
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