@@mark-be9mq Gary was REO,and what Cronin did to the band was a crime.I saw REO several times in the mid '70's and saw them with Mike Murphy singing when Cronin left for a couple of years.Gary wrote most of their best songs.The problem was Cronin's father-in-law was a record company exec and Cronin being the diva that he was started writing that bullshit pop stuff,that they started playIng.Cronin is the only member left from when they were really good,and now the fans want to hear the older stuff and not the newer crap.
@Jettech Don RC Gary doesn't receive the credit due him. I liked Cronin's voice/ style better, but his choices or maybe age & time changed the band, I didn't care for the soft/pop style at all. Similar to Journey, when Perry joined, REO had a great musical style. Both benefited from the new vocalist when they worked w/i original style, but they, age & 80s took all the edge out of the sound. W/o Ritchrath most of Hi I fidelity would sound like ballads. Even Rush, Genesis, Yes, a little. The 80s weren't all bad, but ouch.. things changed. Here to Gary.
Neil is a badass! If you listen to his stuff from the early days he has a solo style similar to Billy Powell of Skynyrd. Totally rockin' and with he and Gary they where a force.
Video is from the 1979 Nine Lives Tour IN Germany. Audio clip is from the 1976 US Tour. Classic early REO! Gary Richrath is incredibly underrated because of the ballads . Best rocking Midwestern band ever. RIP GARY. Your sorely missed!!
The audio recording is from the live YOU GET WHAT YOU PLAY FOR album. The video is from 1979 concert footage in Hamburg, Germany that someone has someone has attempted to sync with the audio.
Golden Country was first released on R.E.O.T.W.O, in 1972 and it's still a relevant anthem. We certainly didn't think it would be in '72. The studio version has a nice keyboard solo as well
This song came out in the 70's, rock's greatest decade. If you haven't done it yet, try "Roll With The Changes", "Ridin The Storm Out", "Time For Me To Fly", "Only The Strong Survives", "Back On The Road Again" or "Keep Pushin", all from the same decade. This song still has relevance to this day. Thanks for the reaction!
REO formed in 1967, guitarist Gary Ritchrath came on in 1970, Kevin Cronin, vocals, in 1972. This is their sound until like Chicago & Journey went towards ballads.
While I love that kind of setup and I definitely prefer their 70s rock sound, he most definitely was using at least one effect pedal, because he was using a wah pedal.
I believe this is a 1976 recording from their double live album "You Get What You Play For" (1977). The song is my favorite REO song before Kevin Cronin wrote all those 80s ballads. The lyrics always bring tears to my eyes because here we are 45+ years later and the gap between the rich and poor is HUGE
Hard to believe I saw these guys like 50 years ago at my first outdoor concert in Iowa, power was cut and they ended up playing in a local bar, underage I still got in lol
Kevin Cronin on voice does a great job. Gary Richrath, guitarist wrote this, and you can tell as he totally goes off in this live. I listed to a lot of this type stuff when I was early teen in 1982... and this band was old by then.
Eyewitness accounts confirm that during this era of the band everyone at the live shows had long hair, was wearing jean jackets and smoking bowls. We were known as freaks.
I think this performance was from 77 or 78. It was originally on their 2nd album, R.E.O. T.W.O. from 1972. R.E.O. is kind of like Chicago, Rush and Genesis, in that their 70s stuff was more rocking and they went more mainstream in the 80s. Gary Richrath is a very good guitar player, but underrated because they are more known for their pop hits. Fun fact, they had 3 different singers on their first 3 albums. Kevin Cronin, their 2nd singer left after 1 album but eventually came back and has been with them ever since. Their first singer, Terry Luttrell went on to join the progressive rock band Starcastle. That band sounds a lot like Yes. And his voice sounds different in Starcastle than it did on the first R.E.O. album. He adopted a Jon Anderson style in Starcastle, much different than how he sounded in R.E.O.
I definitely prefer 70’s REO over the 80’s songs. But I’m not sure many rock bands from the seventies escaped the 80’s without going so poppy and commercial. (Styx, Journey, etc).
Love reading all the comments from people who are just discovering this recently (within the last 5 years) and realizing that many musicians had great songs and great points that are still valid today (besides the fact that the music kicks ass). This was out when I was a teenager and we cranked it up LOUD and of course our parents didn’t get it (and still don’t). Listen to the words carefully and you realize that what they are talking about still happens daily and despite 50 years nothing much has changed IMHO.
You're hearing the difference between the original 1970s REO and then how they changed going into the 80s. For a lot of us, we prefer the 70s rock version, but I was in high school in that first album with all those huge pop hits on it what's played all the time and it was just a part of the culture and they are very well-constructed songs, they are so insanely catchy. But that's about where it stops, I never followed them any after that, and like a lot of people actually prefer this stuff from the 70s. Roll With the Changes, studio cut, check that out, guys. It's also a hit from the 70s and it's just so fun. As far as maintaining that arpeggio pattern for a long time, that was a thing at the time, and it came out of an older tradition, including in jazz, and it's basically used like a pedal tone in classical music. At some point the idea is of sustaining the texture and just staying in that space for a while, and it gradually builds tension. And I don't know if you noticed when he revisited it slightly at the end, but he was doing a lot more abstract stuff, almost more in the direction of Eddie Van Halen.
It Just Tickle's the Freek'n Shit Out of Me to witness a Couple of the "'Younger"' Generation "'TRY'' to Analyze Some of RocknRoll's Best Live Offerings from what was the Beginning of "'The Dark Years for Rock"', (DISCO)!
Golden country good choice but early 70s Gary Richraft flying turkey trot live REO Speed wagon guitar solo best ever if you really want to know how good Gary Richraft was god bless Gary RIP
From the same live album try out "Flying Turkey Trot" & "157 Riverside Avenue", bith songs one after the other. I don't know anyone who doesnt wanna get up & dance when you turn "157" up to eleven...
You two should re evaluate this song from the 1976 tour. Double ALBUM YOU GET WHAT YOU PLAY FOR. BEST version ever, the song is also PROPHETIC. Jan. 2025. The country is burning. I hear you talking now. Punk teen
Saw them live in ‘87 and my wife only knew the ballads thats why we went. They rocked really hard for the first 40 minutes before they played any of the ballads and she hated it and insisted that we leave. So she never got to hear all the songs she came for.
Another great rock band in their early days that turned into a radio friendly pop ballad band. Like so many other great bands in their early days. Crying shame! 😩
Song is 72. The video is around then and on a weekend rock show. REO Speedwagon is after a Firetruck brand. No goofing off in the song. Live music gives the nerds a bump.
Always irritates the crap out of me how video editors in the '70s and '80s didn't care if the film for the instrumental sections matched up to what the musicians were actually doing at the time.
Album recorded in St. Louis Oct of 1977. The old stuff is much better the 80's crap. St. Louis was and is a big fan of REO. RIP Gary Richrath. REO Two is a great album.
Remembering GARY RICHRATH, the most under-rated Guitar Player in all of Rock & Roll History! He was the most Handsome Guitarist of all Guitarists, he was like a Jim Morrison but with a Gibson Les Paul Guitar in his arms, and, he was quite phenomenal on his Guitar, and he was a great Songwriter too for his band "R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON"
I'm not super familiar with them outside of incessant radio play for some years of a few songs. But try also the song Roll With The Changes. Really rocks. I knew somebody a long time ago that met these guys. Says they were into coke. Shocking, I know. It's good we also have a fashion consciousness about it too.
REO is ok for me. Haven't heard this in a long while. Kevin C drops a short "a" sound at the end of every line it seems. Saw them live twice. the song Roll with the Changes is like their Free Bird, Stairway to H... Light My Fire. Great keys, great guitar. Maybe they're more than ok for me after all.
I dig the story😎 They HAVE to play it or there'll be a riot. It's a shame they're not in the HOF🙄YET. I was with Gary 😇when he left the band because, although it made a ton of money, "Hi Infidelity" is a piece of crap. I was waiting outside the Tower Records store and bought the first one from the store. I listened to it twice, then mailed it to my 12-year-old sister and told her she's going to love it. She didn't, because she loves to ROCK.
REO speedwagen is about a tr u ck but we all though it was a speed reference every body was doing it we all were jacked up for years and your talking about the radio bullshit they made back in 73 they were kicking ass they even got fried for being to good
Been a REO fan since the 70s and so sick and tired of Gary fans invading every single REO video on UA-cam. Gary is God. Gary made REO. Kevin sucks. Gary is the most underrated guitarist ever. Gary for president etc. blah blah blah
Also that style of dress was not trying to set an image it just made them feel good. Your reaction seems opposite of what you say. So if you're going to criticize the style of clothing and you don't want to subscribe to your channel okay fine
Yeah they became a ballad band & made a gajillion bucks, but I stopped buying their albums. Not that the ballads sucked but I'd seen them live a few times & they could jam w/ anyone. They could still rock like a sumbitch in their 80s shows, but all those Barry Manilow-type interludes when they played all their recent radio-friendly hits just didn't do it for me. I heard, for one thing, their manager pushed them into their ballady direction because, after all, he started getting 15% of a hundred million bucks instead of 15% of a hundred thousand. I exaggerate of course but as they say, if you work for somebody who gets a percentage of your income, you'll always have plenty of work.
No... I saw no indication that they had a clue what this song is about. They were too fixated on the band members' hairstyles and what they were wearing during the perfformance. I'm assuming they will NEVER listen to this song again. If they liked their hair and their stage outfits better, there's probably a chance they would have given this another listen.
REO was a great rock band in the 70’s then turned into a ballad band in the 80’s.
When Gary left the Rock left too.
@@mark-be9mq Gary was REO,and what Cronin did to the band was a crime.I saw REO several times in the mid '70's and saw them with Mike Murphy singing when Cronin left for a couple of years.Gary wrote most of their best songs.The problem was Cronin's father-in-law was a record company exec and Cronin being the diva that he was started writing that bullshit pop stuff,that they started playIng.Cronin is the only member left from when they were really good,and now the fans want to hear the older stuff and not the newer crap.
@Jettech Don RC
Gary doesn't receive the credit due him. I liked Cronin's voice/ style better, but his choices or maybe age & time changed the band, I didn't care for the soft/pop style at all.
Similar to Journey, when Perry joined, REO had a great musical style. Both benefited from the new vocalist when they worked w/i original style, but they, age & 80s took all the edge out of the sound. W/o Ritchrath most of Hi I fidelity would sound like ballads.
Even Rush, Genesis, Yes, a little. The 80s weren't all bad, but ouch.. things changed.
Here to Gary.
@@mark-be9mqGary wrote a lot of the ballad hits also but that wasn’t the direction he wanted to go so that’s why he left.
@@stevenewcomer8837Gary never wrote a ballad….he was a rocker
“Ain't nobody who talks with his guitar like Gary does!”
Neal Doughty is amazing on keys now on his mid-70s. RIP Gary Richrath an awesome guitarist. A great song and reaction 👍
Neil is a badass! If you listen to his stuff from the early days he has a solo style similar to Billy Powell of Skynyrd. Totally rockin' and with he and Gary they where a force.
I've listened to REO my entire life. Im 61 and they're awesome!!
Gary Richrath goes off on the guitar. Such an underrated musician.. This one was a war protest song
For sure! Whole band is underrated and so is that song in particular. Kinda glad tho. That makes me appreciate these deep cuts.
Agreed. I read somewhere that Gary invented water. The 5th Gospel was written by Gary but Kevin deleted it from the Bible.
lol@@Davelakful
Video is from the 1979 Nine Lives Tour IN Germany. Audio clip is from the 1976 US Tour. Classic early REO! Gary Richrath is incredibly underrated because of the ballads . Best rocking Midwestern band ever. RIP GARY. Your sorely missed!!
Early REOs much better than later bubble gum music 🎶
The audio recording is from the live YOU GET WHAT YOU PLAY FOR album. The video is from 1979 concert footage in Hamburg, Germany that someone has someone has attempted to sync with the audio.
Can you imagine me being a 14 year old kid and seeing this as my first concert in 1979. Great reaction
Golden Country was first released on R.E.O.T.W.O, in 1972 and it's still a relevant anthem. We certainly didn't think it would be in '72. The studio version has a nice keyboard solo as well
This song came out in the 70's, rock's greatest decade. If you haven't done it yet, try "Roll With The Changes", "Ridin The Storm Out", "Time For Me To Fly", "Only The Strong Survives", "Back On The Road Again" or "Keep Pushin", all from the same decade. This song still has relevance to this day. Thanks for the reaction!
Got to see these guys back in the mid 70's, they're still one of my favorite bands to throw on the turntable...Rock ON!!
REO formed in 1967, guitarist Gary Ritchrath came on in 1970, Kevin Cronin, vocals, in 1972.
This is their sound until like Chicago & Journey went towards ballads.
Rolling with the changes and Time for me to Fly are great songs from REO
This was 1976. Lead singer Kevin Cronin (born October 6, 1951) was 25 years old.
Gary was one of the best guitarists. He used Gibson Les Paul guitars plugged into Marshall amps. That’s it! No affects pedals or racks! That’s crazy!
Gary is Jesus reincarnated
While I love that kind of setup and I definitely prefer their 70s rock sound, he most definitely was using at least one effect pedal, because he was using a wah pedal.
You are in total astonishment. Ritchrath is the man
I believe this is a 1976 recording from their double live album "You Get What You Play For" (1977). The song is my favorite REO song before Kevin Cronin wrote all those 80s ballads. The lyrics always bring tears to my eyes because here we are 45+ years later and the gap between the rich and poor is HUGE
I saw em in '79 with Molly Hatchet. Gary Richrath was a beast!
Hard to believe I saw these guys like 50 years ago at my first outdoor concert in Iowa, power was cut and they ended up playing in a local bar, underage I still got in lol
Kevin Cronin on voice does a great job. Gary Richrath, guitarist wrote this, and you can tell as he totally goes off in this live. I listed to a lot of this type stuff when I was early teen in 1982... and this band was old by then.
Go back to whatever you listen to, and the rest of us will love everything about Reo Speedwagon
Give a Try to,157 Riverside Ave an riding the storm out
157 Riverside Avenue is my FAVORITE REO song!!!
Eyewitness accounts confirm that during this era of the band everyone at the live shows had long hair, was wearing jean jackets and smoking bowls. We were known as freaks.
Gary Richrath chewed up that fretboard like pancakes.
I think this performance was from 77 or 78. It was originally on their 2nd album, R.E.O. T.W.O. from 1972. R.E.O. is kind of like Chicago, Rush and Genesis, in that their 70s stuff was more rocking and they went more mainstream in the 80s. Gary Richrath is a very good guitar player, but underrated because they are more known for their pop hits. Fun fact, they had 3 different singers on their first 3 albums. Kevin Cronin, their 2nd singer left after 1 album but eventually came back and has been with them ever since. Their first singer, Terry Luttrell went on to join the progressive rock band Starcastle. That band sounds a lot like Yes. And his voice sounds different in Starcastle than it did on the first R.E.O. album. He adopted a Jon Anderson style in Starcastle, much different than how he sounded in R.E.O.
I definitely prefer 70’s REO over the 80’s songs. But I’m not sure many rock bands from the seventies escaped the 80’s without going so poppy and commercial. (Styx, Journey, etc).
Even Rush went heavy into the synth (although imo that was their best era)
Love reading all the comments from people who are just discovering this recently (within the last 5 years) and realizing that many musicians had great songs and great points that are still valid today (besides the fact that the music kicks ass).
This was out when I was a teenager and we cranked it up LOUD and of course our parents didn’t get it (and still don’t).
Listen to the words carefully and you realize that what they are talking about still happens daily and despite 50 years nothing much has changed IMHO.
You mention that you like REO Speedwagon, and younger people laugh. "That bubblegum crap?" They never heard Gary Richrath tear the roof off a stadium.
It’s a shame their 70s stuff gets overlooked a lot.
Richrath eats frets on this song. He was a very underrated guitarist.
Richrath was an absolute monster of a guitarist! Extremely underrated.
Gary is Buddha
You're hearing the difference between the original 1970s REO and then how they changed going into the 80s. For a lot of us, we prefer the 70s rock version, but I was in high school in that first album with all those huge pop hits on it what's played all the time and it was just a part of the culture and they are very well-constructed songs, they are so insanely catchy. But that's about where it stops, I never followed them any after that, and like a lot of people actually prefer this stuff from the 70s.
Roll With the Changes, studio cut, check that out, guys. It's also a hit from the 70s and it's just so fun.
As far as maintaining that arpeggio pattern for a long time, that was a thing at the time, and it came out of an older tradition, including in jazz, and it's basically used like a pedal tone in classical music.
At some point the idea is of sustaining the texture and just staying in that space for a while, and it gradually builds tension. And I don't know if you noticed when he revisited it slightly at the end, but he was doing a lot more abstract stuff, almost more in the direction of Eddie Van Halen.
It Just Tickle's the Freek'n Shit Out of Me to witness a Couple of the "'Younger"' Generation "'TRY'' to Analyze Some of RocknRoll's Best Live Offerings from what was the Beginning of "'The Dark Years for Rock"', (DISCO)!
One of my favorites I was born and raised close to Where this band is from grew up on Reo!! Gary Richrath is God here in Illinois❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️
Golden country good choice but early 70s Gary Richraft flying turkey trot live REO Speed wagon guitar solo best ever if you really want to know how good Gary Richraft was god bless Gary RIP
Son of a poor man is another good one from that time period.
Get the album "You can tune a piano but you cant tunafish" album. Its one of REO's best.
Takes me back to the 70’s! Rock and Roll!
From the same live album try out "Flying Turkey Trot" & "157 Riverside Avenue", bith songs one after the other. I don't know anyone who doesnt wanna get up & dance when you turn "157" up to eleven...
157 Riverside Avenue is my FAVORITE REO song!!!
You two should re evaluate this song from the 1976 tour. Double ALBUM YOU GET WHAT YOU PLAY FOR. BEST version ever, the song is also PROPHETIC. Jan. 2025. The country is burning. I hear you talking now. Punk teen
Depriving yourself of the talents of Mr. Gary Richrath.
This album came out in 1977 I believe
Saw them live in ‘87 and my wife only knew the ballads thats why we went. They rocked really hard for the first 40 minutes before they played any of the ballads and she hated it and insisted that we leave. So she never got to hear all the songs she came for.
They were the band in the 80s for sure. On a few REO fan sites and we all agree once you see REO live, you're a diehard REO fan for life! Haha
Tha vid is early to mid 70's
Another great rock band in their early days that turned into a radio friendly pop ballad band. Like so many other great bands in their early days. Crying shame! 😩
It was from outdoor show in 1978
This song is so relevant today. 🇺🇸💙💙💙
Yes it is ❤❤❤❤ MAGA
The song was Gary's protest on a Vietnam
Protest on the Vietnam it didn't come out the first time Gary's protest
I watched this and wondered if Justin was going to find this song "interesting" or "cool". "Interesting" it is! Cool
ReoSpeedForeignerSupertramp
Y'all a bunch of american / british soft rock lovers on this channel, yeehaw!
Super tramp is English dude
The leader of foreigner is also English
@@christopherhuot2826 lol hang on I'll edit it
@@geddylee501 fixed lol...
Song is 72. The video is around then and on a weekend rock show. REO Speedwagon is after a Firetruck brand. No goofing off in the song. Live music gives the nerds a bump.
Always irritates the crap out of me how video editors in the '70s and '80s didn't care if the film for the instrumental sections matched up to what the musicians were actually doing at the time.
Also, love when your wife riffs on the outfits and stuff!
They were a rock and roll band in the 70s.
I believe Gary the lead guitar player wrote this song. He inserted an awesome solo too
Another good one is "157 Riverside Avenue."
this is the rocking reo
Album recorded in St. Louis Oct of 1977. The old stuff is much better the 80's crap. St. Louis was and is a big fan of REO. RIP Gary Richrath. REO Two is a great album.
By the way, my wife does the same thing with bands clothes.
Back when REO Speedwagon rocked
Remembering GARY RICHRATH, the most under-rated Guitar Player in all of Rock & Roll History! He was the most Handsome Guitarist of all Guitarists, he was like a Jim Morrison but with a Gibson Les Paul Guitar in his arms, and, he was quite phenomenal on his Guitar, and he was a great Songwriter too for his band "R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON"
this is from before they started writing for teen age girls
Awesome song!! Love Richrath!
RIP! GARY!
Not a bad song on the whole album!
Reo Speedwagon was a fire truck
I LOVE to play it 📢 LOUD ❤
I'm not super familiar with them outside of incessant radio play for some years of a few songs. But try also the song Roll With The Changes. Really rocks. I knew somebody a long time ago that met these guys. Says they were into coke. Shocking, I know. It's good we also have a fashion consciousness about it too.
REO is ok for me. Haven't heard this in a long while. Kevin C drops a short "a" sound at the end of every line it seems. Saw them live twice. the song Roll with the Changes is like their Free Bird, Stairway to H... Light My Fire. Great keys, great guitar. Maybe they're more than ok for me after all.
Thats the style back then.
Is that a Sony 1982 behind you?
the stereo??
Sing it Justin.. LOL
I know a guy who used to jam with REO in the 60s. They were a decent band in the 70s. Not so much in the 80s.
Yep. The 80s turned them into pop. They lost their rock and roll roots.
Richrath doesn't get the accolades that Eddie or Randy get, but he was perfect for REO.
Gary was awesome at Woodstock!
This was REO before they sold out to "Pop".
REO Speedwagon was a rock band. The songs you sang came after they sold out.
Check out,
Keep On Loving You.
Time For Me To Fly.
Roll With The Changes.
Take It On The Run.
Don't Let Him Go.
so far ahead of thier time just listen makes more sense today
I bet he was they could rock in the day
I dig the story😎
They HAVE to play it or there'll be a riot.
It's a shame they're not in the HOF🙄YET.
I was with Gary 😇when he left the band because, although it made a ton of money, "Hi Infidelity" is a piece of crap. I was waiting outside the Tower Records store and bought the first one from the store. I listened to it twice, then mailed it to my 12-year-old sister and told her she's going to love it. She didn't, because she loves to ROCK.
REO speedwagen is about a tr u ck but we all though it was a speed reference every body was doing it we all were jacked up for years and your talking about the radio bullshit they made back in 73 they were kicking ass they even got fried for being to good
They were so great before all those songs you sang.
that's the punk songs
There 70's music is more hard rock, 80's was more popping
GARY RULES FOREVER
Band was actually called Gary Speedwagon before Neil and Kevin
Camilla was asked for so ....she gets to give her impressions to whatever impressed her, right?. It's more interesting with another point of view.
A little more flavor than that milk toast crap they put out in the 80s
Like The Tubes, Sweet & J. Geils Band, they started out being pretty cool & then became kind of lame.
Been a REO fan since the 70s and so sick and tired of Gary fans invading every single REO video on UA-cam. Gary is God. Gary made REO. Kevin sucks. Gary is the most underrated guitarist ever. Gary for president etc. blah blah blah
Also that style of dress was not trying to set an image it just made them feel good. Your reaction seems opposite of what you say. So if you're going to criticize the style of clothing and you don't want to subscribe to your channel okay fine
I'm sorry,you never have, never will see Dave Amato doing any of that.
I don't think your wife understands that it's performative art!
Yeah they became a ballad band & made a gajillion bucks, but I stopped buying their albums. Not that the ballads sucked but I'd seen them live a few times & they could jam w/ anyone. They could still rock like a sumbitch in their 80s shows, but all those Barry Manilow-type interludes when they played all their recent radio-friendly hits just didn't do it for me. I heard, for one thing, their manager pushed them into their ballady direction because, after all, he started getting 15% of a hundred million bucks instead of 15% of a hundred thousand. I exaggerate of course but as they say, if you work for somebody who gets a percentage of your income, you'll always have plenty of work.
It's classic rock, 🤨
Kevin Cronin's ego ruined this wonderful Rock band!
I'm not trying to sound angry, but to say that someone looks old is insensitive. But I guess that's the new generation thing to do
Not their greatest song. I like it but there are a lot that are much better.
Roll With the Changes LIVE. Quite a toe tapper
Awesome reaction this is their best song, their second best song is( keep pushing on) you guys should try reacting to it
Did you even listen to the lyrics. Jesus H Christ
Interesting, that is all you got out of this song? Geez
No... I saw no indication that they had a clue what this song is about. They were too fixated on the band members' hairstyles and what they were wearing during the perfformance. I'm assuming they will NEVER listen to this song again. If they liked their hair and their stage outfits better, there's probably a chance they would have given this another listen.