If I'm not mistaken, midnight special was one of few television venues where the artists actually performed live and not lip syncing to a studio recording. Cudos. 😊
@@guardian1045 If you had heard the song enough times then you could tell if the "live performance" sounded just like the recorded version. Another clue is if their instruments were even plugged in. Sometimes the artists would openly and obviously fake it.
I certainly can't knock Kevin's songwriting skills, but Gary was the heart and soul and the fireworks that made REO explode as a live band. I miss him.
There’s a lot of bands that belong in this RRHOF that will never get inducted. How they could take the name “Rock and Roll “ and turn it into a farce is heartbreaking 💔
Exactly I lived in Wisconsin and saw them in Oshkosh Milwaukee and Green Bay around or just before this time - with bands like fog hat , ted and wishbone ash
Just turned 63 last month and was lucky to come of age in the 70's. So many great bands, so many great concerts, 70's chicks were smoking hot. Saw REO Speedwagon with Blue Oyster Cult. Ticket cost $8.00.
Yessir. I graduated high school in 1980 and during my senior year REO made their first (and so far only) appearance in my town, with special guest Pat Travers Band. Terrific show, REO was touring to support the Nine Lives album, which was packed with catchy and rockin’ tunes. I still have the ticket stub stashed away somewhere.
Such a shame that REO probably will never make the Rock and Roll H of F. They richly deserve to be there. They were SO much more than their two monster ballads, which were great songs. They were a kick ass rock band with so many great rock songs. People who know and appreciate great rock know this already. That classic lineup of Gary, Kevin, Alan, Neil, and Bruce were phenomenal. Such great albums and live performances.
Back in the 70's this was one of my favorite songs. And frankly though I always thought of REO as a top notch Rock 'n Roll band. But this performance proves they are one of the best.
I still love this song.....When this aired, I am certain this is the first time I saw them with Kevin Cronin. In mid Kiss-mania fandom, I really liked the band buying the "REO: Live Get What You Play For" LP. It got plenty of spins between play of Kiss ALIVE II and The Rolling Stones' "Love You Live" That next calendar year. You betcha, epic air guitar moves were displayed.
There are a lot of songs that REO does that are awesome. But, this is my favorite song. The late 70's was a great time for music. Saw them live with the You Can Tune A Piano tour...
This song means the world to me. Last year I was able to get Kevin Cronin to sign the lyrics. It is framed in my office. A couple of weeks ago he threw me the pick he used to play the song.
I've seen them live several times over & over, from their first album forward. Grew up just down the road from them. One of the very best live bands I've ever seen. Super tight band, great set lists & loads of hits. Kevin Cronin is one of the nicest guys in the business. Huge influence on my younger years. Great video! Thanks!
Kevin with a killer tobacco burst Les Paul looks so right. Amd gary doing the real slide solo. Never saw that. He dropped the use of slide on this song later
REO Speedwagon was an early American automobile made by the REO Motor Car Company. REO is the initials of Ransom E. Olds, the founder of the company who went on to form the Oldsmobile company.
Was a huge fan of Speedwagon in the 70’s but after the You can tune a piano but not Tuna Fish they became to commercial mainstream for me. The early 80’s had to many power ballads for my soul.
Tuna Fish was the last album I bought from REO. They became more commercial, and more popular with the masses. Get what you play for was my favorite. Saw them three times and they rocked the house every time.
It was a shame when they asked founding member bassist Greg Philbin to leave the band because he "overplayed"! BS..he played on the last double live album "You get what you play for" and played great! RIP
Agree they moved more to the commercial side. You can’t blame them they were targeting a different audience and hoping their hardcore fans would follow. I will admit I went to see their Nine Lives tour only because my girlfriend at the time wanted to see them so I took one for the team.
I'm hoping at some point someone who has the time and the resources could remaster the audio. This is a great rendition and the video is superb, but most videos from the old original sources could really stand to have the audio worked on. Thanks for this one!!
Just for you-know-what’s and giggles I looked up REO Speedwagon. I’m surprised a bit they’re still a band as their members are pretty much in their 70s now. But I do remember when I think “High Fidelity” (HF) released; I think that was the name of the album. My girlfriend at the time was into REO and I was into metal, bands such as Dio, The Scorpions and Iron Maiden. So of course I said at the time, “REO is lame!” I was around 18 so I was young and dumb and you know the rest of the saying. Funny thing is though she later became enamored with hard rock - bands such as Led Zeppelin - and I “softened” over the years and now appreciate bands such as REO so much more now. Maybe I just grew up. Unlikely though. . . .
When Kevin Cronin rejoined he wrote and sang great rock songs before they exploded with what was a the birth of the sappy power ballad era ( can’t fight…. Open arms ….. list goes on (sadly )
Gary's the Man.
If I'm not mistaken, midnight special was one of few television venues where the artists actually performed live and not lip syncing to a studio recording. Cudos. 😊
And it’s good live.
These guys were an excellent live show!
@@guyintenn But what about those late night talk shows?? Usually, they'd have a musical guest on the show.
There were quite a few performances where the vocals were live but the music was on a tapes
@@guardian1045 If you had heard the song enough times then you could tell if the "live performance" sounded just like the recorded version. Another clue is if their instruments were even plugged in. Sometimes the artists would openly and obviously fake it.
Gary with the most epic slide toss ever filmed
exactly what I thought!
Haa, Big time! I wonder if their roadie caught it!?
I certainly can't knock Kevin's songwriting skills, but Gary was the heart and soul and the fireworks that made REO explode as a live band. I miss him.
Underated band that belongs in the RnR HoF, IMO.
@@TechGuy-sv3pt, nope. I'm not sure if they've ever even been nominated.
@@TechGuy-sv3pt Considered regional
So what? Who would want to be in that idiotic thing?
Oh gosh, here we go, underrated again.
There’s a lot of bands that belong in this RRHOF that will never get inducted. How they could take the name “Rock and Roll “ and turn it into a farce is heartbreaking 💔
Gary grabs the slide off drum stand and never missed a beat. Gary was one of the greatest LP players of all time
His tone was pure fire. It sounded like the amps were going to catch fire.
Classic rock from the 70's is the best.
This song was my inspiration to get off drugs in the late 70 still listening to it today for that friendly reminder 😊
They were so popular in the Midwest while I was in college. It felt like they were our hometown band.
Exactly I lived in Wisconsin and saw them in Oshkosh Milwaukee and Green Bay around or just before this time - with bands like fog hat , ted and wishbone ash
I could have sworn I them at a live rock n roll club in Tulsa, OK where all the touring bands, went to get their feet wet. I was 17/18’ish.
Just turned 63 last month and was lucky to come of age in the 70's. So many great bands, so many great concerts, 70's chicks were smoking hot. Saw REO Speedwagon with Blue Oyster Cult. Ticket cost $8.00.
Yessir. I graduated high school in 1980 and during my senior year REO made their first (and so far only) appearance in my town, with special guest Pat Travers Band.
Terrific show, REO was touring to support the Nine Lives album, which was packed with catchy and rockin’ tunes. I still have the ticket stub stashed away somewhere.
They sounded great
Never failed to deliver! Great band, songs, & performances. Seen this band so many times & they so deserve a place in the Rock & Roll HOF.
They aren't in it?
@@AdamSandaver Not to my knowledge?
Such a shame that REO probably will never make the Rock and Roll H of F. They richly deserve to be there. They were SO much more than their two monster ballads, which were great songs. They were a kick ass rock band with so many great rock songs. People who know and appreciate great rock know this already. That classic lineup of Gary, Kevin, Alan, Neil, and Bruce were phenomenal. Such great albums and live performances.
I think they might go into it eventually. They'll probably all be dead by the time it happens though.
@@gregoryduncan3067 Hope you’re right brother!
I really don't understand the Rock and Roll H of F. How can Dolly Parton be in it but not REO?
@@markbaker5167 Is that true? Wow. Plus Dolly is a big lib. Loves the vax, and pushed BLM.
Phenomenal is Right! 😂
My favorite REO song (!), like Gary Richrath and his monster slide guitar playing (!) R.I.P. Gary🕊️🕊️🕊️
I've been following Mr Speedwagon my entire life
Reo really can deliver the goods
Gary, one of the most underrated guitarist ever.
Champaign IL represent! 🎸
Used to live there many times
Assembly Hall rocked
And the REO Speed Wagon Truck 🛻
@KittyGrizGriz OH yeah that was Way Cool! I'd forgotten, a Race Car! ❤
Anybody here in 2025? Illinois Boys Rocks! ❤
Back in the 70's this was one of my favorite songs. And frankly though I always thought of REO as a top notch Rock 'n Roll band. But this performance proves they are one of the best.
and i saw them in concert a couple years ago...he sounds just as great as he does here & they never missed a beat or note.
I still love this song.....When this aired, I am certain this is the first time I saw them with Kevin Cronin. In mid Kiss-mania fandom, I really liked the band buying the "REO: Live Get What You Play For" LP. It got plenty of spins between play of Kiss ALIVE II and The Rolling Stones' "Love You Live" That next calendar year. You betcha, epic air guitar moves were displayed.
Right on! And saw the Stones 2024 with that monster released album Hackney Diamonds! Rock n Roll never dies! ❤
That guy has an incredible live voice. One of the few with the real skill to hit all the notes
Yeah, Kevin is belting this song out like he’s fully feelin’ it. Good for him.
There are a lot of songs that REO does that are awesome. But, this is my favorite song. The late 70's was a great time for music. Saw them live with the You Can Tune A Piano tour...
Wish that show had the 4 squares during the chorus because The Midnight Special did that in 1973!!!
This song means the world to me. Last year I was able to get Kevin Cronin to sign the lyrics. It is framed in my office. A couple of weeks ago he threw me the pick he used to play the song.
Gee Lucky You! ❤
Champaign Illinois represent !!
So much talent on one stage. Every song they performed was awesome
I love that it's LIVE and not lip-synching!
Richrath was the soul of REO just like Terry Kath was soul of Chicago!
One of my favoite songs
I've seen them live several times over & over, from their first album forward. Grew up just down the road from them. One of the very best live bands I've ever seen. Super tight band, great set lists & loads of hits. Kevin Cronin is one of the nicest guys in the business. Huge influence on my younger years. Great video! Thanks!
That bass sounds, so darn good and Gary is gorgeous !!!
Peoria, Illinois here we always thought of them as Hometown
Amazing Voice
Amazing Song
Amazing Band
A classic song about pushing through and surviving no matter what changes life throws at you.❤❤
And that's the Truth!
Wow a great 70's look. This band went on so long. Amazing!
Kevin with a killer tobacco burst Les Paul looks so right. Amd gary doing the real slide solo. Never saw that. He dropped the use of slide on this song later
great. just great. love that old reo
Love this group and this channel! Back up in Illinois as a kid I saw them at a gym. Then they got big.
Cool! I saw Frank Zappa in a gym too! 😂
REO Speedwagon was an early American automobile made by the REO Motor Car Company. REO is the initials of Ransom E. Olds, the founder of the company who went on to form the Oldsmobile company.
WOW I grew up listening to this,
Rock on!! Great musicians, and great performers!
It never gets old!
I saw REO in concert in 1976 with KISS in East Peoria IL. Saw them again in the early 1990s in southern CA.
Awesome! Semper Fi Bro! 😅
Rare to see Kevin rocking a Les Paul. I like it!
I was thinking the same. It was always a Tele as I remember
OH YEAH!!! SPEEDWAGON! BEEN LISTENING TO THEM THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. GOOD TIMING.
Gary Richrath= REO!!
Reo Speedwagon their songs were so good the words they had it love them ❤❤❤😂😂😂
Still do! ❤
Was a huge fan of Speedwagon in the 70’s but after the You can tune a piano but not Tuna Fish they became to commercial mainstream for me. The early 80’s had to many power ballads for my soul.
Tuna Fish was the last album I bought from REO. They became more commercial, and more popular with the masses. Get what you play for was my favorite. Saw them three times and they rocked the house every time.
It was a shame when they asked founding member bassist Greg Philbin to leave the band because he "overplayed"! BS..he played on the last double live album "You get what you play for" and played great! RIP
Agree they moved more to the commercial side. You can’t blame them they were targeting a different audience and hoping their hardcore fans would follow. I will admit I went to see their Nine Lives tour only because my girlfriend at the time wanted to see them so I took one for the team.
Tuna, is the only album I have of theirs
Kevin always totally committed❤
Needed to hear this again so bad
Gary Freaking Richrath - my first Guitar Hero!!! RIP Gary - Damn Cronin turned this band into Air Supply 2.0
Amen brother on both counts
I put it on the guys in suits in the 1980s. So so many bands lost the edge around 1981 to 1983. Styx. Journey. Chicago. REO.
I'm hoping at some point someone who has the time and the resources could remaster the audio. This is a great rendition and the video is superb, but most videos from the old original sources could really stand to have the audio worked on. Thanks for this one!!
Just for you-know-what’s and giggles I looked up REO Speedwagon. I’m surprised a bit they’re still a band as their members are pretty much in their 70s now. But I do remember when I think “High Fidelity” (HF) released; I think that was the name of the album. My girlfriend at the time was into REO and I was into metal, bands such as Dio, The Scorpions and Iron Maiden. So of course I said at the time, “REO is lame!” I was around 18 so I was young and dumb and you know the rest of the saying. Funny thing is though she later became enamored with hard rock - bands such as Led Zeppelin - and I “softened” over the years and now appreciate bands such as REO so much more now. Maybe I just grew up. Unlikely though. . . .
The album was called Hi Infidelity.
I listen to this song alot.
Hope you guys are still coming to come back out to Utah this year!!
Their best song.
I would put Golden Country and Ridin the Storm Out ahead of this but this is a solid third
We got 'em all now. Cool 😎.
Gary great guitarist 🎸 best solos
When Kevin Cronin rejoined he wrote and sang great rock songs before they exploded with what was a the birth of the sappy power ballad era ( can’t fight…. Open arms ….. list goes on (sadly )
Kick ass!
Make Music Great Again .!.!.!
Saw them in 78 Peoria Illinois at 17!
Had your blue eye on them back then.
Awesome, I was 23! From Chi Town. You have Cool Playlists! ❤
At their best
Remember when my hair was that big lol.
RIP Gary Richrath!!!
Nice Les Paul Goldtop.
When Kevin had cool hair.
👍👍
When they were good
Was hoping to hear founding member Greg Philbin on bass. RIP
Philbin was on DKRC, but not TMS.
Only band in the world named after a truck...
Gos by fast . Said tye old dude
I didn't know Elaine Stritch could sing?
2:28
Gary’s the man, and Kevin’s a woman
🤔
Kevins always creeped me out, it’s that million mile “STARE” 😮
@@KittyGrizGriz Very feminine. 🤢
@@JeffJonseyThat doesn’t bother me as I love Glam Rockers etc…I say live and let live.
It’s his 👁️’s …stare…
Why all of the silk outfits in the 70's?
Cronin with the 1000 yd stare again.
Lol
I wonder if the roadie caught the slide?
KC had to be using a certain substance before this performance. :)
The band is not the same without gary. He was a bad ass on the guitar
More aligned to females
before the Speedwagon sold out and went commercial.....,
Slide was not his best technique
Can’t stand how he pronounces his words
Fun band, but just painfully awful song.
Just a painfully wrong and awful comment.
Yes Gary was a underrated guitarist who would of fit right in on a hard rock 🎸 band RIP 🙏