Who are REO Speedwagon, and why do they matter even now? They’re Midwestern rock lifers who took bar-band grind and sharp songcraft and turned them into arena-filled, radio-defining singles that persist.
REO Speedwagon (originally spelled R.E.O. Speedwagon) “got started” like a man was born: in Champaign, Illinois, when keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer cross-met as classmates at the University of Illinois in 1966 and started getting together in the dorm.
By autumn 1967, they had a working lineup, a borrowed nomenclature from the REO Speed Wagon delivery van, and a busy fall of dates at campuses. That collegiate beginning is the family history of the band in a nutshell—Midwestern, no-nonsense work ethic, and an ear for music that plays well in a crowded room.
Education literally delineated them: Doughty and Gratzer were classmates first, bandmates second, and early members cycled in from the local scene—in this case, bassist Mike Blair, guitarist Joe Matt, lead Voice Man Terry Luttrell, and, significantly, guitarist-songwriter Gary Richrath, whose arrival in 1970 brought a flood of new material and a harder-edged guitar voice.
Managed early by fellow U of I alievetdent Irving Azoff, the band signed Epic and released its eponymous debut in 1971. The early-’70s careertrajectory was seat-of-the-pants and non-stop—van tours, club residencies, and a staggered sequence of albums that buffed the hard-rock wallop and the melodic hooks.
Kevin Cronin replaced lead Voice Man in 1972, left mid-decade, and returned for a spell in 1976; his partnership with Richrath precipitated a busy late-’70s streak that included the platinum-selling live set Live: You Get What You Play For (1977) and the radio titans You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978) and Nine Lives (1979).
All that paved the way for the big one: 1980’s Hi Infidelity, a (highly commercial, superbly constructed) pop-inflected juggernaut that stayed for a record-tying 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the band’s first U.S. No. 1 hit (save for a one-off), Keep On Loving You, alongside Take It on the Run, Don’t Let Him Go, and In Your Letter.
The early ’80s was a sustained peak—Good Trouble (1982) and Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984) kept them chart-friendly, culminating in the second U.S. No. 1, Can’t Fight This Feeling. Career highlights included the U.S. Live Aid stage in Philadelphia (1985) and years of sold-out touring that cemented REO’s classics into American FM DNA.
Like any long-lived band, they weathered change: drummer Gratzer retired in 1988; guitarist Richrath left in 1989; guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt tightened the late-period lineup; bassist Bruce Hall—in residence since 1977—remained a stalwart voice.
The ’90s and 2000s yielded deep-cut fan faves (Building the Bridge, 1996; Find Your Own Way Home, 2007) and a seasonal set (Not So Silent Night, 2009), while constant touring alongside contemporaries like Styx, Chicago, and Def Leppard kept the repertoire alive onstage.
Historic events naturally intruded into the narrative: the one-off 2013 tornado-relief reunion with Richrath, his death in 2015, and the 2020 pop-culture shock from Netflix’s Ozark that sent singles sailing back up the rock charts.
Accolades followed at home—the band’s name adorns a street in Champaign—and at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum Hall of Fame (2021). In 2023, founding keyboardist Doughty ended touring; in 2024–25, the group suspended activity under the REO Speedwagon banner while Kevin Cronin played the tunes with his road band.
A homecoming reunion in 2025 assembled early members for a one-off fête. Throughout it all, the numbers report a simple truth—over 40 million records sold, 13 U.S. Top 40 singles, and two No. 1s—but the greater one is cultural one: REO negotiated hard-hitting ’70s hard rock and hook-infested ’80s pop without giving up a plain-spoken heart, and wound up with songs that yet make arenas belt out.
Contents
REO Speedwagon Top Songs
- Keep On Loving You (1980) – Their first U.S. No. 1: piano-led, guitar-streaked, and instantly unforgettable.
- Can’t Fight This Feeling (1984) – A power-ballad benchmark that topped the Hot 100 and became a prom-night staple.
- Take It on the Run (1981) – Richrath’s aching guitar lines and a chorus built for car radios; U.S. No. 5.
- Roll with the Changes (1978) – Organ swirl, stacked harmonies, and a life-affirming refrain tailor-made for the encore.
- Time for Me to Fly (1978) – Acoustics up front, soaring chorus in back; one of their most streamed deep cuts.
- Ridin’ the Storm Out (1973/1977 live) – The live version—siren synth and all—is a classic-rock staple.
- Don’t Let Him Go (1981) – Tight, pop-rock craftsmanship that pushed Hi Infidelity deeper into the Top 40.
- In Your Letter (1981) – Retro pop charm with a cutting lyric; another Hi Infidelity radio favorite.
- Keep the Fire Burnin’ (1982) – U.S. Top 10 with anthem-ready uplift and stacked vocal hooks.
- One Lonely Night (1985) – Mid-’80s sheen meets REO melody; a Top 20 follow-up to their second No. 1.
- Live Every Moment (1985) – A positive message and big chorus, built for summer sheds.
- That Ain’t Love (1987) – Late-’80s update of the REO template: chiming guitars, direct storytelling.
REO Speedwagon Discography (Studio Albums)
- R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971)
- R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)
- Ridin’ the Storm Out (1973)
- Lost in a Dream (1974)
- This Time We Mean It (1975)
- R.E.O. (1976)
- You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978)
- Nine Lives (1979)
- Hi Infidelity (1980)
- Good Trouble (1982)
- Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984)
- Life as We Know It (1987)
- The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (1990)
- Building the Bridge (1996)
- Find Your Own Way Home (2007)
- Not So Silent Night… Christmas with REO Speedwagon (2009)
REO Speedwagon Top Albums
- Hi Infidelity (1980) – A landmark blend of hard-edged guitars and pop craft. Fifteen weeks at No. 1, four Top 40 singles, and a Diamond certification made it a defining rock LP of the decade.
- You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978) – The title is playful; the songs aren’t. Roll with the Changes and Time for Me to Fly lifted them from theaters to arenas and set the stage for the ’80s surge.
- Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984) – Home to Can’t Fight This Feeling, it paired glossy mid-’80s production with Cronin’s song sense and Richrath’s melodic bite, keeping the band squarely in the Top 40 conversation.
- Live: You Get What You Play For (1977) – A platinum snapshot of a road-hardened band. The live Ridin’ the Storm Out became the definitive version and a permanent set-closer.
- Nine Lives (1979) – Leaner and tougher than its predecessor, it showcased Richrath’s guitar front and center and bridged the band’s bar-band grit with their soon-to-arrive pop polish.
REO Speedwagon Awards & Honors
- Hi Infidelity certified Diamond in the U.S. (10× Platinum).
- Multiple RIAA Platinum and Gold album certifications across the catalog.
- Inducted into the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum Hall of Fame (2021).
- Performed on the U.S. stage at Live Aid (Philadelphia, 1985).
- REO Speedwagon Way designation in Champaign, Illinois, honoring their hometown impact.
- Enduring cultural presence: songs revived via major tours, film/TV placements (Ozark, Cobra Kai), and
REO Speedwagon Singles
| Year | Single | US Hot 100 | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 157 Riverside Avenue | — | — |
| 1972 | Lay Me Down | — | — |
| 1972 | Sophisticated Lady | — | — |
| 1973 | Little Queenie | — | — |
| 1973 | Ridin’ the Storm Out | — | — |
| 1974 | Open Up | — | — |
| 1974 | Throw the Chains Away | — | — |
| 1975 | Out of Control | — | — |
| 1975 | Reelin’ | — | — |
| 1976 | Keep Pushin’ | — | — |
| 1977 | Ridin’ the Storm Out (live) | 94 | — |
| 1978 | Roll with the Changes | 58 | — |
| 1978 | Time for Me to Fly | 56 | — |
| 1979 | Easy Money | — | — |
| 1979 | Only the Strong Survive | — | — |
| 1980 | Time for Me to Fly (re-release) | 77 | — |
| 1980 | Keep On Loving You | 1 | 7 |
| 1981 | Take It on the Run | 5 | 19 |
| 1981 | Don’t Let Him Go | 24 | — |
| 1981 | In Your Letter | 20 | — |
| 1982 | Keep the Fire Burnin’ | 7 | — |
| 1982 | Sweet Time | 26 | — |
| 1982 | The Key | — | — |
| 1984 | I Do’ Wanna Know | 29 | — |
| 1984 | Can’t Fight This Feeling | 1 | 16 |
| 1985 | One Lonely Night | 19 | — |
| 1985 | Live Every Moment | 34 | — |
| 1985 | Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright) | — | — |
| 1987 | That Ain’t Love | 16 | — |
| 1987 | Variety Tonight | 60 | — |
| 1987 | In My Dreams | 19 | — |
| 1988 | Here with Me | 20 | — |
| 1988 | I Don’t Want to Lose You | — | — |
| 1990 | Live It Up | — | — |
| 1990 | Love Is a Rock | 65 | — |
| 2007 | I Needed to Fall | — | — |
| 2008 | Find Your Own Way Home | — | — |
| 2009 | Can’t Stop Rockin’ (with Styx) | — | — |
Notes: Airplay-only tracks and US-promo-only items from discographies are excluded so this stays a true “singles” list. “Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright)” was a Europe-only single (no UK entry).
Sources: Full singles table with US peaks from the band’s discography page; UK peaks from the Official Charts Company (artist + individual song pages)