He called John Boylan, a producer he liked, and asked whether, in that case, hed start over. Originally the company was to be called "R. E. Olds Motor Car Company", but the owner of Olds' previous company, then called Olds Motor Works, objected and threatened legal action on the grounds of likely confusion of names by consumers. But we know just because we say we can do it doesnt mean a thing, until we do it.. ALSO SEE: Rock out with these 30 old Star Hits music magazines from the 80s. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Subscribe now. The failure of this program and the effects of the Great Depression caused such losses that Olds ended his retirement during 1933 and assumed control of REO again, but resigned in 1934. Despite a slow start, by the mid-eighties, the bands hit singles Keep On Loving You and Cant Fight This Feeling had topped the charts, and they were known across the globe. Its funnyeven though it was 35 years ago, it still feels like it was just yesterday to me, because I remember writing it so vividly. The Model 8-31 was priced at $2,145. The band also briefly added saxophonist Joe McCabe and trumpeter Marty Shepard to its lineup in 1968. DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. His most notable playing includes the Hammond organ solo on "Roll with the Changes" and the honky-tonk piano work on "157 Riverside Avenue". Speedwagon was released in October of 1971 and credited all five members (Doughty, Gratzer, Richrath, Philbin, and Luttrell) as the writers of all eight songs.While single "Sophisticated Lady" just missed the Hot 100, the album's second track, "157 Riverside Avenue," has remained the most popular song from . Hi Infidelity blew the doors off the joint and people went back and discovered (early albums like) You Can Tune a Piano, But You Cant Tuna Fish and discovered R.E.O/T.W.O, and all the songs on those albums. I think the main reason that I got the gig, was that REO had released one album, and they were working on songs for their second album for Epic Records. The REO Motor Car Company was a company based in Lansing, Michigan, which produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. They continued to work at the music, performing stage shows, touring, and recording. Paul Leka, record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, CT where it recorded original material for the first album, which included Richrath, Gratzer, Dought, Philbin and Luttrell. Normally I go full speed, and every once in a while take a day to rest, but these past two weeks have been bizarre, he said with amazement. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It could be that you are wondering whether you are in the right place. Boylan said yes. "During dress rehearsal, they introduced us as Reo Speedwagon," said Cronin, as reported by Rolling Stone. To ensure a reliable supply of parts, he organized a number of subsidiary firms, like the National Coil Company, the Michigan Screw Company, and the Atlas Drop Forge Company. , Your email address will not be published. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. [17] Members [ edit] Current [ edit] Former [ edit] Timeline [ edit] Their keyboard player was the leader, but the others wanted out. After we did it, Gary and I sat in Johns office and called up radio stations and asked them to play it and see if they got a phone response. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. Roll with the Changes (Uploaded to YouTube by REO Speedwagon). We were kids from Cloud Nine. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). And wallah! Lansing is home to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum. But then once I got done with the craftsmanship part of it, I thought HeyI think I could hear this song on the radiopeople might want to listen to it. Its funny, when youre just starting out as a songwriterwhen youre trying to figure things out and see what your path is and where youre headingas I reminisce and think about it, it seems I have these sweet memories of that time. He and Cronin had gone through collaborative ups and downs over the years, but 1989 was the breaking point. It is estimated that REO produced around 20,000 of these trucks and, unlike the original Studebaker trucks which were also used by the United States, the REO versions were only for export to the Soviet Union. I used to think we had to play fast, loud and hard all the time. Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. Richrath was 65. As of late, its received quite a bit of FM airplay, and the latest LP, a live two-record set, entered the Rock World record chart at 160 with a bullet, and Cashboxs at 186 with a bullet. Bruce Hall joined REO Speedwagon after the You Get What You Play For tour. They perform about 100 dates a year. The band began when college freshman and keyboard player Neal Doughty met drummer Alan Gratzer on his first day at the University of Illinois in the fall of 1966. [1] Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, with Terry Luttrell taking his place on lead vocals. They flew us over to get our gold record. Even though all of REO's hits came after current lead singer Kevin Cronin joined the band, keyboardist Neal Doughty is the only original member. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and lead vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty. But did you wonder how on earth they got their name? We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. Cronin: I first joined the band in 1972. Each of us thought there was just one way to go his own.. Three years later, in 1957, Reo's vehicle manufacturing operation became a subsidiary of the White Motor Company. [8], The 1931 Reo Royale was a trendsetting design, introducing design elements that were a precedent for true automotive streamlining in the American market. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. On this he learned to play Light My Fire by The Doors. Who are the original members of REO Speedwagon? Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. I appreciate the well-researched background story on REO Speedwagon here, and the links. [1] Currently, he is using synths made by Korg and Yamaha and tours with a Hammond B3 organ routed through Leslie speaker cabinets. The band itself has never left the road, hitting the tour circuit with ongoing regularity. A convertible Victoria was listed at $3,195 but only one is known to have been built. The name was used on a lower-priced 6-cylinder model through 1935. guitarist Gary Richrath At about $35, theyre affordable too. Songs for which he is the sole composer include "Sky Blues" from 1974, "One Lonely Night" from 1984 and "Variety Tonight" from 1987. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. Through it, we work off each other, work things out, and improve because of it. amzn_assoc_title = "REO Speedwagon"; All told, the band would have 12 Top 40 singles through the 1980s. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt [16] until 2023 when Doughty was replaced by former Iron Butterfly and Whitesnake member Derek Hilland. Despite the fact that the latest album, You Get What You Play For, sold 41,000 copies in Kansas City alone during the first three weeks of release, singer/guitarist Kevin Cronin still isnt satisfied. "During dress rehearsal, they introduced us as Reo Speedwagon," said Cronin, as reported by Rolling Stone. Free shipping for many products! Find out more here. The record company people told me to stick with the band, he said, then laughed. Does REO Speedwagon have all original members? His first track written for REO was Lost In A Dream from 1974 (co-wrote with Mike Murphy). Cant Fight This Feeling is definitely the song that when most people think of me as a songwriter, thats the first one that comes to their head. Keep On Loving You (Uploaded to YouTube by REO Speedwagon). and New York audiences are more picky, he continued. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? Beginning in 1933, the Royale also featured as an option REO's semi-automatic transmission, the Self-Shifter. Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, withTerry Luttrelltaking his place on lead vocals. REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping album, Hi Infidelity. Today Mark and Cristina welcome REOs lead singer, Kevin Cronin and his beautiful wife Lisa. Soon after, the band membership began to rotate quite a bit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. On the very first night, he met who would be his lifetime friend and bandmate, Alan Gratzer, and the two held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dorm. They also toured the UK arena circuit with Status Quo in December 2016. [2] The pronunciation, however, was as a single word. Wed fight over whose tunes would go on an album, how loud each instrument should be, how each instrumental line should be played (as to style and attack). When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. Philbin left the following year, withBruce Halltaking his place. Were going in, says Cronin, in a totally different way. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. He realized that the band needed songs. Their album Hi Infidelity received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies. Cronin left, paving the way for Michael Bryan Murphy; Murphy filled the frontman slot for three records. Getting gigs in the Midwest, however, is no problem at all. Starting bid: US $6.99 [ 0 bids] Shipping: $6.45 Economy . So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. 2023 American Profile, All Rights Reserved. [12][13] Also in 1989, Bryan Hitt replaced Lear on drums,[14] while Jesse Harms joined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 album The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. [5] In early 1972, shortly after the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Luttrell left REO Speedwagon following a disagreement with Richrath. The current lineup of REO Speedwagon consists of Cronin, original member Neal Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums). It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. Unfortunately, the years of the classic line-up were over by 1988. Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946 in Evansville, Indiana) is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. So when I finished Cant Fight This Feeling, I realized that yeah, Ive gotta make this move. Ive gotta do what Im saying in this songIve got to make this happen. For tax reasons a group of shareholders successfully challenged the liquidation in a proxy fight in September 1955, and forced REO to take over a tiny nuclear services company called Nuclear Consultants, Inc. in a reverse takeover. Free shipping for many products! Speedwagon through 2009's Not So Silent Night . [1] REO Speedwagon released their debut album, R.E.O. [5] During 1925, however, Scott, like many of his contemporaries/competitors, began an ambitious expansion program designed to make the company more competitive with other automobile manufacturers by offering cars in different price ranges. By 1907, REO had gross sales of $4.5 million, and the company was one of the four wealthiest automobile manufacturers in the U.S. After 1908, however, despite the introduction of improved cars designed by Olds, REO's share of the automobile market decreased due in part to competition from emerging companies like Ford and General Motors. Theres something going on emotionally for me, usually some kind of a feeling that I either dont understand yet, or I understand and havent figured out how to express it yet. So I sat there and looked at my lyric notebook and if you think about it, the opening line of the song is I cant fight this feeling any longer. That was likeBingo! [1] Are you and the band working on a new studio album? Hes looking over the hills.. Before REO Speedwagon was formed, Neal Doughty had entered the electrical engineering program as a junior in 1966. I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. Olds Motor Works soon adopted the popular name of its vehicles, Oldsmobile (which, along with Buick and Cadillac, became a founding division of General Motors Corporation). Marty Shepard also came in as trumpet player with Joe McCabe playing the saxophone until he moved to Southern Illinois University. During 1936, REO abandoned the manufacture of automobiles to concentrate on trucks.[3]. "157 Riverside Avenue" (Uploaded to YouTube by REO Speedwagon) R.E.O. If music and guitar has never been part of your interests then this site may change your view and be a music lover. Whats up with the band REO Speedwagon these days? As many as 3 Dietrich coachbuilt bodies were built on 148-inch (3,800mm) wheelbases in 1931. Dont second guess it. Whenever any two people work closely together it brings about a sort of creative tension. REO Speedwagonis an Americanhard rockband fromChampaign, Illinois. For others, however, the wait can last for years. The 8-35 & 8-52 are considered full CCCA classics. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. Their popularity began to decline in the late 1980s, but they still perform at summer festivals today. In the fall of 1967, the group returned to campus; Doughty brought with him a Farfisa electronic organ. 50+ sexist vintage ads so bad, you almost wont believe they were real, Vintage Colorforms: The vinyl stick-on toy playsets that let kids stage scenes, create comics & dress dolls, Vintage Fashion from the 1960s adult coloring book: 50 pages of retro 60s clothing for women, Groovy Fashion of the 70s: Vintage Women Coloring Book #10, Vintage Homes Adult Coloring Book #2: Classic Victorian Houses, Something Old: Vintage Wedding Dress Fashion Look Book, Classic Cars Adult Coloring Book #2: Vintage 1920s Automobiles (1920-1929), 10 fruity summer sippers: The best non-alcoholic drinks from the 70s, Vintage portable & manual typewriters from the 50s, 60s & 70s had the best then-new features, Easy chocolate Scotcheroos take Rice Krispies treats to the next level (1965), Print Color Fun: Free coloring pages & more fun for kids, Quotes Quotes Quotes: 1000s of clever & inspiring quotations, FindersFree.com: Find answers to lifes little questions. The rest of the band went with it as their first advertisement went out in their school newspaper at a frat party, which later turned into a food fight. [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. The words referred to a 1915 vehicle produced by the founder of the Oldsmobile automotive company, Ransom E. Olds. I felt like I had a fever and my stomach hurt. For some bands, success comes overnight. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. [10], The band's lineup remained stable thereafter for more than ten years until Gratzer decided to retire in 1988, with Graham Lear brought in as his replacement. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. But from all appearances, REOs next studio LP really will be different and largely because of a change in the bands attitude toward making records. He was an early adopter of the Moog synthesizer, which can be heard on the opening swoop of "Ridin' the Storm Out". In 1905 Olds left Oldsmobile and established a new company, REO Motor Car Company, in Lansing, Michigan. It was basically Garys responsibility to write the songs, and I think he realized thatyou know what they saythat you have your whole life to write your first album but only a year to write your second albnm. Fifty years after their first album, they remain a touring draw that can find new audiences in unexpected ways. But when Good Trouble came out a year later, the reception was considerably cooler. Were a high-energy band, Cronin emphasized, but our studio recordings didnt show this, and people want consistency. [4], In 1915, Olds relinquished the title of general manager to his protg Richard H. Scott, and eight years later he ended his tenure as the company's presidency as well, retaining the position of chairman of the board. The aptly titled The Hits has sold four million copies. The groups reputation grew beyond Illinois into regional popularity, becoming a draw in the Midwest (which still features heavily in their touring). He formed the band in the fall of 1966, with original drummer Alan Gratzer (who left REO in 1988). DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? Yet Im thinking this song is so important to me and I think its got the potential to be a real special song in the world, but this title is going to kill it. It wasnt long before Gratzer, bassist Mike Blair, and guitarist Joe Matt decided to quit the old band and join Doughty in a new one.
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