For melodic rock fans, REO Speedwagon are a much-loved band. Their massive 80s hits ‘Keep On Loving You’, ‘Take It On The Run’ and ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ are genre classics…and for good reason. As bigger fans know, there’s always been more to the band than the 80s sheen of their career peak.
In the 70s, the band released a string of albums containing rockier material which, despite shifting band line ups, is every bit as entertaining as their better known material. Those earlier albums were host to more than their share of REO classics and tracks like ‘Ridin’ The Storm Out’ and ‘Time For Me To Fly’ have remained part of the live set for decades.
Perhaps the reason these albums tend to get overlooked by some has much to do with a sketchy history of CD releases. Albums like ‘R.E.O.T.W.O.’ and ‘This Time We Mean It’ haven’t always been the easiest to track down on CD at cheap prices in the real world.
‘The Early Years: 1971-1977’ finally puts that right, bringing together expanded versions of REO’s first seven studio albums and the classic double live set ‘Live: You Get What You Play For’ in a brilliantly priced nine disc set, released on September 28th.
Full track listings and artwork are detailed below.
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DISC ONE:
R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON (1971)
1. GYPSY WOMAN’S PASSION
2. 157 RIVERSIDE AVENUE
3. ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT MAN
4. LAY ME DOWN
5. SOPHISTICATED LADY
6. FIVE MEN WERE KILLED TODAY
7. PRISON WOMEN
8. DEAD AT LAST
BONUS TRACKS
9. 157 RIVERSIDE AVENUE (MONO SINGLE)
10.LAY ME DOWN (MONO SINGLE)
11.SOPHISTICATED LADY (MONO SINGLE)
DISC TWO:
R.E.O. TWO (1972)
1. LET ME RIDE
2. HOW THE STORY GOES
3. LITTLE QUEENIE
4. BEING KIND (CAN HURT SOMEONE SOMETIMES)
5. MUSIC MAN
6. LIKE YOU DO
7. FLASH TAN QUEEN
8. GOLDEN COUNTRY
BONUS TRACK
9. LITTLE QUEENIE (MONO SINGLE)
DISC THREE:
RIDIN’ THE STORM OUT (1973)
1. RIDIN’ THE STORM OUT
2. WHISKEY NIGHT
3. OH WOMAN
4. FIND MY FORTUNE
5. OPEN UP
6. MOVIN’
7. SON OF A POOR MAN
8. START A NEW LIFE
9. IT’S EVERYWHERE
10.WITHOUT EXPRESSION (DON’T BE THE MAN)
BONUS TRACKS
11.RIDIN’ THE STORM OUT (MONO SINGLE)
12.OPEN UP (MONO SINGLE)
13.RIDIN’ THE STORM OUT feat. Kevin Cronin
14.SON OF A POOR MAN feat. Kevin Cronin
DISC FOUR:
LOST IN A DREAM (1974)
1. GIVE ME A RIDE (ROLLER COASTER)
2. THROW THE CHAINS AWAY
3. SKY BLUES
4. YOU CAN FLY
5. LOST IN A DREAM
6. DOWN BY THE DAM
7. DO YOUR BEST
8. WILD AS THE WESTERN WIND
9. THEY’RE ON THE ROAD
10.I’M FEELING GOOD
BONUS TRACK
11.THROW THE CHAINS AWAY (MONO SINGLE)
DISC FIVE:
LOST IN A DREAM (1974)
1. GIVE ME A RIDE (ROLLER COASTER)
2. THROW THE CHAINS AWAY
3. SKY BLUES
4. YOU CAN FLY
5. LOST IN A DREAM
6. DOWN BY THE DAM
7. DO YOUR BEST
8. WILD AS THE WESTERN WIND
9. THEY’RE ON THE ROAD
10.I’M FEELING GOOD
BONUS TRACK
11.THROW THE CHAINS AWAY (MONO SINGLE)
DISC SIX:
THIS TIME WE MEAN IT (1975)
1. REELIN’
2. HEADED FOR A FALL
3. RIVER OF LIFE
4. OUT OF CONTROL
5. YOU BETTER REALIZE
6. GAMBLER
7. CANDALERA
8. LIES
9. DANCE
10.DREAM WEAVER
BONUS TRACKS
11.REELIN’ (MONO SINGLE)
12.OUT OF CONTROL (MONO SINGLE)
DISC SEVEN:
R•E•O (1976)
1. KEEP PUSHIN’
2. ANY KIND OF LOVE
3. (ONLY A) SUMMER LOVE
4. (I BELIEVE) OUR TIME IS GONNA COME
5. BREAKAWAY
6. FLYING TURKEY TROT
7. TONIGHT
8. LIGHTNING
BONUS TRACKS
9. KEEP PUSHIN’ (MONO SINGLE)
10.KEEP PUSHIN’ (LIVE)
DISC EIGHT:
(LIVE) YOU GET WHAT YOU PLAY FOR (1977)
1. LIKE YOU DO
2. LAY ME DOWN
3. ANY KIND OF LOVE
4. BEING KIND (CAN HURT SOMEONE SOMETIMES)
5. KEEP PUSHIN’
6. (ONLY A) SUMMER LOVE
7. SON OF A POOR MAN
8. (I BELIEVE) OUR TIME IS GONNA COME
DISC EIGHT:
(LIVE) YOU GET WHAT YOU PLAY FOR (1977)
1. FLYING TURKEY TROT
2. GARY’S GUITAR SOLO
3. 157 RIVERSIDE AVE.
4. RIDIN’ THE STORM OUT
5. MUSIC MAN
6. LITTLE QUEENIE
7. GOLDEN COUNTRY
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