R.E.O./T.W.O.

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Untitled
Studio album by REO Speedwagon
Released	1972
Recorded	Summer 1972 at Columbia Studios, Nashville
Genre	Hard rock
Length	43:48
Label	Epic Records
Producer	Paul Leka, Billy Rose II
REO Speedwagon chronology
REO Speedwagon (1971) R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972) Ridin' the Storm Out (1973)

R.E.O./T.W.O. is the second LP released by the Illinois based rock band REO Speedwagon. This was a pivotal as well as transitional work by this band. Pivotal in the sense that it created national interest in the band, preventing the band's premature disappearance, and transitional in its movement away from socio/political lyrical content. This shift in lyrical content resulted in their future releases being largely ignored by music critics.

Original lead singer Terry Luttrell provided much of the lyrical content for the band's initial release, 1971's REO Speedwagon. "Official" comments about this release by the band cite "production conflicts" and being "rushed" to complete it as reasons for the low record sales. 1971's REO Speedwagon has a "live" feel to it that sounds fresh and raw. It is among the band's hardest rocking LPs and has a feel similar to the 1979 release Nine Lives.

This initial release failed to chart. Resulting band tensions led to the search for new personnel and hopefully more commercial appeal. R.E.O./T.W.O. was the result of this search and introduced Kevin Cronin as R.E.O.'s new vocalist and contributing song writer. R.E.O./T.W.O. has a more polished production than the earlier effort and more effective song writing. Cronin introduced first person lyrical content, biographical tales of quests for freedom ("Let Me Ride"), independence from parents and social norms ("Music Man"), and the emotional costs of love ("Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Somtimes)") to the band.

R.E.O./T.W.O., under the musical leadership of guitarist Gary Richrath, continued the musical direction set on 1971's R.E.O. Speedwagon with his own classic compositions, lyrically being influenced by or being joint efforts with Luttrell (who did not perform on the record but lingered as an influence), carrying the record. This LP launched the band on its first national tour and contains many songs still in the bands set list to this day and is very well regarded by early fans of the band.

Luttrell has said he co-wrote "Golden Country" with Richrath before he left the band, but never received credit.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Let Me Ride" (Cronin) – 6:00
2. "How the Story Goes" (Richrath) – 3:34
3. "Little Queenie" (Berry) – 6:39
4. "Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometimes)" (Cronin) – 6:02
5. "Music Man" (Cronin) – 4:38
6. "Like You Do" (Richrath) – 5:57
7. "Flash Tan Queen" (Richrath) – 4:23
8. "Golden Country" (Richrath) – 6:33

[edit] Personnel

Kevin Cronin - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Gary Richrath - Lead Guitar
Gregg Philbin - Bass
Neal Doughty - Keyboards
Alan Gratzer - Drums

v • d • e REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin • Dave Amato • Neal Doughty • Bruce Hall • Bryan Hitt Gary Richrath • Alan Gratzer • Gregg Philbin • Terry Luttrell • Mike Murphy • Duke Tumatoe • Jesse Harms • Graham Lear • Miles Joseph • Steve Scorfina • Joe McCabe • Mike Blair • Joe Matt • Marty Sheppard • Bob Crownover Studio albums REO Speedwagon • R.E.O./T.W.O. • Ridin' the Storm Out • Lost in a Dream • This Time We Mean It • R.E.O. • You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish • Nine Lives • Hi Infidelity • Good Trouble • Wheels Are Turnin' • Life as We Know It • The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken • Building the Bridge • Find Your Own Way Home Live albums Live: You Get What You Play For • Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Compilations The Ballads Songs "157 Riverside Avenue" • "Keep On Loving You" • "Take It On the Run" • "Can't Fight This Feeling"