My wife and I danced to I can’t fight this feeling for our first dance at our wedding 39 years ago. I still love this song and when we’re together when it comes on the radio we look at each other and get misty.
My wife and I are getting ready to celebrate 30 years... Both of us grew up on REO and other power ballets in the 80s. So many great songs to enjoy and reminisce about 😊
My story of "Can't Fight This Feeling": I asked for a telescope for Christmas in 1984, which I got from my parents. I remember looking at Jupiter every night in the winter of 1985. It was cold outside, and Jupiter was always setting outside our big kitchen window. I would listen to the "top 8 at 8" on our local hit music station. When this song played, I would somehow relate it to Jupiter. "And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night. And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might." That's from the point of view of Jupiter, watching me watch it through the telescope. Give me a break, I was just 13! 😂
I saw REO in the early 1980s with a friend that had backstage passes because of a marriage connection to Kevin. Meeting him was a great moment, he was such a humble and decent guy, nothing like the rockstar you would have thought he would be. It was a GREAT show (what I remember of it, after all I wasn't yet 27 yo, lol) .I doubt that Kevin would remember me, but I will always remember him and his kindness, all of the band were very cool... Great interview, Adam.
I saw them in the 70's when they were a bar band. I still remember the particulars of the id I borrowed to get in. I wasn't there for the alcohol and my cousin insisted that I had to see them. He was right.
There was a pizza joint people from my high school frequented in the 80s. The jukebox was always playing music. REO Speedwagon was always in the mix. When I hear their music today, I can still smell the pizza cooking. The 80s for me were awesome.
I've seen them 4 times. REO Speedwagon/Richard Marx at Battelle Hall Columbus, OH. 8/18/87. Life As We Know It Tour. REO Speedwagon/STYX/Journey at the Schottenstein Center Columbus, OH. 6/25/2003. REO Speedwagon QFM96 Budweiser Wing Zing at Promowest Pavilion. Columbus, OH. 7/9/2005. REO Speedwagon QFM96 Budweiser Wing Zing at LC Pavilion. Columbus, OH. 8/16/2008. I also have a couple of guitar picks.
@@DDKaraokeOutlaw I saw them back to back nights, first at Columbus Clippers game after baseball concert, then next night a PNC Park in Pittsburgh after Pirates baseball game and fireworks. They were awesome both times.
My college roommates got REO 10th row center seats at Jenison Field House, MSU, for my birthday in '83, first rock concert and could not hear well for 3 days! Loved it and still have the tour book. Have seen them countless times since then and loved it each and every time. Favorite songs are Time For Me To Fly, Roll With The Changes, Don't Let Him Go. Love you Speedwagon!! Thanks Professor!!
I saw my first REO concert when they were on their first tour, as the opening act for Canned Heat. That was 1972. I saw my 42nd REO concert in August 2024 at the NY State fair. Shortly after that, Kevin announced that the 2024 tour would be their last. From the age of 16 to age 68, REO has been my favorite band. I know they are most famous today for their power ballads, but once upon a time they were real rockers. If you are not familiar with early REO, check out 1978's "You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish", aka the Tuna Fish album. One great rock and roll tune after another. Gary Richrath had one of the coolest solos ever on "Lucky for You". Thank you, REO for 50+ years of great music.
Not a fan of this particular song or power ballads in general, but I very much enjoyed this segment and interview. I appreciate Kevin's humility and the rapport between him and you, Professor, was palpable. Well done! Also: happy thanksgiving to all reading this.
Great episode! I have always been a die hard REO fan, and I always will be!!! I’m 57 years old….their sound simply ROCKS! Happy Thanksgiving, Professor!!! ❤
I’m glad that Gary Richrath is given some love in the videos because his guitar work was instrumental to their success as well as Kevin’s vocals which to me sound almost like Alan Clark of the hollies on steroids
This song always has a special relevance for me. It came out the year my now wife and I were just getting together. Every time I heard it, it defined my feelings at the time. Cheesy or not it worked for me.
This is so cool to watch. I was a mere child when the Beatles came out and the impact they had on almost every band at that time and forward, REO Speedwagon was one of my favorite bands growing up. I couldn't afford albums but my brother would borrow them and we would wear those albums down
🦃 REO SPEEDWAGON! 🦃 Love Kevin and the boys. Extensive catalog....... great songs of the 70s and 80s. Should never take crap for any song. Thanks for this Thanksgiving episode, Professor. In the spirit of food today, always remember that famous REO album....... You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish!🤣
First of all to all of my American friends out there happy thanksgiving and have yourselves a wonderful day and Reo Speedwagon what i totally admire about this band is they totally earned their success they paid their dues and show every aspiring musician out there that by hard work and perseverance that you can definitely make it and this band has given us over 5 decades of kick butt rock and roll and straight from the heart ballads
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I just discovered their first few albums on RUclips and wow they can rock with the best of them and their secret weapon was the late great Gary richtrath what a player and he should be up there with all the greats
REO Speedwagon have always been my favorite band and they still are from the 70's to the 90's most especially. Thanks for the awesome episodes the interview with Kevin Cronin and have a wonderful Thanksgiving today Thank You Professor.🦃🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🦃
Fun Fact-- The Boy on the cover of War is the same boy in The Commitments who tries to audition when Jimmy's in the tub, but he chickens out of the audition.
There were many awesome songs in the summer of '81 (Tom Sawyer, Bette Davis Eyes, Jesse's Girl, In The Dark...), but REO's "In Your Letter" will always be the one that I remember most from that summer!
This song reminds me of a certain girl who liked me as I was fighting through trust issues. Of course it went nowhere. I really enjoy hearing these artists talk about their struggles in their creative process to just get it right. True artistry on display. The artist is always his/her toughest critic.
"It"s time to bring this ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever" is my favorite line from the song. I like a little bubble gum from time to time.
I've seen REO half a dozen times and have played their songs for years in my cover band. People love those songs and always sing along. Thank you Kevin!
Good to hear a Thanksgiving episode professor, Thanks! There's a 14 year gap between my two favorite REO songs: Golden Country (1971) One Lonely Night (1985)
I remember being on the school bus and HEARING Keep On Loving You on the radio, on my way to 5th Grade class… the school buses had working radios on them back then. I also remember it being warm, so it was either the beginning of the school year or we were coming to the end of the school year. But I knew all the words by this point and my friend, Stacy Williams, and I just started singing along. We knew EVERY WORD at 10 years old…. What a great memory… HAPPY TURKEY DAY ADAM!!
I became familiar with REO through Hi-Infidelity, but after that album came out I later heard a song of theirs on the radio and cranked it up because I always thought it rocked. I never knew who sang it, but once it was done, the DJ said it was REO Speedwagon. The song was “Back In The Road Again.” I then decided to work backwards in their catalog and discovered a lot more great songs from them. Very underrated stuff. Too bad they decided to disband. For a hard rocking fan, REO is a band I would love to have seen live.
What a nice man. Great song and great talent. Thank you for reintroducing the songs and helping us discover the people behind them. A lovely legacy Professor.
Loved Everything REO did ! Own most of thier albums,and I can't fight this feeling is one of mine and my husband's songs. Still makes me think of when I saw REO in concert,and think of those early days with my husband of 39 years !
Great video man. Cool backstory and great interview. For the people who don't dig Can't Fight This Feeling, listen, if you've got a problem with the Speedwagon, you've got a problem with life. This song is gold.
You actually had hair when you did that interview! Great song, great band, and Kevin seems to be a great guy. I love that you actually referred to the year as just "85." You're showing your age, and you wear it well.
It's always nice when you see someone so talented say "i'm not the right person to do this, i need help." And they get that help, and it results in an amazing product. Or in this case, a song. Just being talented or extremely good at a particular thing, does not mean that sometimes you need someone else to step in and do something you are just not quite able to pull off. For example, i am good at my job. But that doesn't mean i don't need help or advice from time to time. I talk to peers all the time, just because it's easy to get to close to a problem to see it clearly. And someone else who has been there, but is NOT there under the stress or being there can say "did you try X?" Even if trying X isn't the answer, it can break the deadlock in your head, and allow you to think more clearly.
Happy Thanksgiving Music Junkies!!!!! I love REO Speedwagon. Hi Infidelity and You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish were play on repeat until the cassette breaks albums. The Professor covered the song that got me through the end of my marriage the other day, Iris, and today he is covering the song that brings back memories of when it began.
Happy Thanksgiving. I Can't Fight This Feeling has two different memories for me. Back in the 80s song was playing as I pulled into the parking lot and last time I saw my ex prom boyfriend. Several years ago while working outside and while this song was playing my husband got stung by a bee. After several choice words he said yeah no shit I can't fight this feeling. I just started laughing.
I really don't have a story about this particular song, but early in their career, REO toured the mid-west heavily and the fairground amphitheater, and even the mall in my home town were places that they would play on a fairly regular basis. When "Riding The Storm Out" hit the radio, we were all proud to have known them before they became famous. Needless to say, they stopped playing the mall, and even the fairgrounds in my home town. They opted for the civic center from that point on. Very good childhood memories for me to be certain.
Loved this song when I first heard it in 5th grade. Was already a REO Speedwagon fan from their Hi Infidelity album. Was happy to finally see them live in early 2000s.
@@ProfessorofRock Universal Amphitheatre in LA. Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Survivor were touring together. Big fan of all three bands so it was a great night!
I've always loved REO Speedwagon - as a freshman in high school I was at that Kemper Arena show in 1985 that was filmed for MTV. It was such an amazing show and so cool to have a concert memory filmed for posterity. Then I moved to the east coast and my much hipper friends gave me crap about liking REO. Maybe they're a midwestern thing. I still love them though.
When I first moved into where i'm living now & hooked up my turntables the first record I played was the 45 of The Beatles' I Want To Hold Your Hand. It really does just say "Let's Rock!"
I saw REO Speedwagon in the summer of 1992. At that time I had been a fan of the group since their Nine Lives album. The concert was great and I even got Kevin Cronins autograph. Some time after, a couple buddies stopped by at my house to visit and I told them about the concert and showed them my autograph. One of them just laughed and said "bud, REO isn't cool anymore, move on". I didn't listen to REO for years after that.
As far as I'm concerned, "You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish" is one of the greatest album titles EVER! REO Speedwagon... a great, great band! RIP to the great Gary Richrath, one phenomenal guitar player.
Adam, I’ve never heard you say something inaccurate, until now… the 70’s was the greatest decade but I understand your point, I guess if you missed the 70’s, one would naturally think the 80’s was the greatest!! lol much love!!!❤️
Gobble, gobble, gobble! 🦃 Can't Fight This Feeling is a great song!! Thank you for writing it, Mr. Kevin ❤ Super Kudos to REO Speedwagon!! ✨ Happy Thanksgiving!
Several years back, I was helping Paul Gurvitz, a longtime artist, and record produce when his current band would set up for shows. Paul was in the band GUN with Ginger Baker and wrote the song "Race with the Devil". He also has played with many many artists over the years. Paul Gurvitz was performing with his band opening for REO Speedwagon at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix. I was fortunate enough to hang out with the members of REO Speedwagon in the green room prior to the show.
What the younger people nowadays could never imagine about the middle 1960's is the multiple garage bands in every subdivision across the nation dreaming of fame and playing their hearts out. I am glad I was born in '53, it was a blessing to see and hear.
The first boy who asked me to "go with him" (we held hands on the playground once, I believe- Sean) in about the 5th grade asked what my favorite band was. I don't recall what my answer was, but I always remember that his fave was REO Speedwagon. 😊
I saw REO on the High Infidelity tour and the first notes that they played were the opening overdriven guitar harmonics on "Tough Guys", immediately after the "Little Rascals" quote.
Happy Thanksgiving, you know you mentioned high infidelity. My favorite songs from the albums were don’t let him go because it had almost a semi Caribbean beat to it, and follow my heart. Don’t let him go had to have been high on their list because it was the opening track on side one
Kevin Cronin is such a humble guy and he loves music. There are a lot of rock stars but not one is more aware of how lucky he is to have the talent and the breaks to do the only thing he has ever wanted to do with his life, professionally anyway
This song reminds me of my own love story. I was best friends with a sweet, creative, intelligent man who grew up ridiculously poor and on the wrong side of the tracks. He was such a 4-eyed nerd is how people thought back then that girls all walked past him and I told him, keep being a good friend and one will eventually fall in love. Didn’t know it was going to be me.
I'm happy I watched this because I've always found REO insufferably cheesy, but his self awareness of it makes it feel different to me now. Back when I was 14 the lead singer always looked cheesy to me, but he's actually this super chill guy. I think he looks cooler now than he did then. Their music wasn't my favorite but I always recognized that his voice was kind of mind blowing... it's so strong.
"I Can't Fight This Feeling" was THE song that turned my platonic prom date into my high school sweetheart, Diana. Sometimes I go to the back of the rack and recall listening to 157 Riverside Avenue in the weight room at Bedford High. Great memories!
This song takes me back to my first love in the 80s named Sophia. I was 12 and she was 14 when we met. She was my older brother's girlfriend for about two weeks and then she and I started talking from then on. Every time I hear this song it brings me right back to that time.
What an awesome guy! I like his synopsis of Glee, it was a good family show; and him talking about his kids and "Dad used to be in this band" 😊😊 If the Beatles had not played on The Ed Sullivan Show, I don't think Rock and Roll would have evolved as quickly as it seems to have evolved. It still would have evolved, but the Beatles showed us what was being created in the UK, at the time and it spurred a change in the US. It's sad that Music in the US is still "Corporate Driven" and not Artist Oriented.
"Can't Fight This Feeling" might be my favorite REO tune. That includes the "hated line". Ironically, it came my way after the bottled-lightening hit by Jack Wagner, "All I Need", and I (in my typical fashion) thought "Can't Fight This Feeling" was cut from the same cloth. In any event, this song has held up strongly for 40 years. (I've even done a throwaway cover that can be heard on SoundCloud.)
Songs like this and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is" (my all-time favourite) were almost always headliner tunes I put on mix tapes with other ballads and gave to girls I had major crushes on back in the day. 😀
Those first three REO albums are OLD SCHOOL KICK ASS ROCK N ROLL GOLD! Gypsy Woman’s Passion, Riverside Dr, Let Me Ride, Music Man, Whiskey Night, etc. now that there’s some “grab a bottle o’ JD and krank it 11” rock n roll 🤘
I always took the line about the ship and oars as a reference to the Odyssey when Odysseus walks inland with an oar until he comes to a place where no one recognizes it.
You can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish! Saw REO in two different cities ( hah, states!) on back-to-back nights completely by accident. Loved both shows, always one of my favorite acts.
I kind of have to laugh because not only am I old enough to remember the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, but also old enough to have seen an actual R.E.O. Speedwagon junk on a family farm in our rural neighborhood! It didn't look that bad. A bit rusty, but it had a cracked block. 😂
I met Mike Murphy at a party many years ago. I recognized him from the album cover but wasn't even aware that he was the lead singer. I looked at him and said, "You were in REO Speedwagon, right?" He just nodded.
There was an interview with one of the band members ( I don't remember which one) back in the 80s, who told the story of a young boy who was so excited to get to go backstage to meet his favorite singer "Mario Speedwagon" which led to some confusion and humor. That's the name I think of when I hear one of their songs.
I can't fight this feeling any longer came at the perfect time for me. I was living in Hawaii, far away from family, and I met a girl. I didn't want to fall in love because I already had a girl in Indiana. But this song and Trouble in Paradise came out around the same time. I was working at night and when these 2 songs came on the radio back to back I knew then that I loved the girl in Hawaii. We got married 5 months later and we're still together.
Did I miss something important? Where's the reference in the interview or pre-commentary about a censored profanity? Love REO, and it's always fun to hear Kevin's modest stories from back in the day ... Cheers.
hey Prof, I have an idea for next year's Thanksgiving upload: The story of probably the most iconic Thanksgiving song ever, Arlo Guthrie and the story of the Alice's Restaurant Massacree.
Hey ProRo 🤓 and fellow Classmates What I am Thankful for is all of you ! ❤ Everyone needs a safe place to be themselves. I hope that all of you feel the same way! May your holidays be filled with love and joy and may your New Year be the 5th best year of your lives. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS! And Thank You one and all.
@ProfessorofRock It came from my heart ❤ brother. You enjoy your holiday with your family give my nephews, Wifey and your lovely mother all hugs 🤗 for me. And don't forget me in during Grace.
Poll: What is your Pick for the BEST POWER BALLAD or even just favorite BALLAD of the Rock ERA?
I Can't Fight This Feeling.
...well, Journey has ALWAYS greeted us with "Open Arms"... *LITERALLY* .... ; ) ....
Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is(Lou Gramm).
runnerups: In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel; Faithfully - Journey(Steve Perry).
Hey Jude- Beatles
Save Your Love - Great White
Paradise - Tesla
My wife and I danced to I can’t fight this feeling for our first dance at our wedding 39 years ago. I still love this song and when we’re together when it comes on the radio we look at each other and get misty.
So cool!
@@ronaldscofield1666 That's what music and Love is made for. I wish you another 39 years with only the best to come!
@ thanks working on it
@ronaldscofield1666 GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE
My wife and I are getting ready to celebrate 30 years... Both of us grew up on REO and other power ballets in the 80s. So many great songs to enjoy and reminisce about 😊
My story of "Can't Fight This Feeling": I asked for a telescope for Christmas in 1984, which I got from my parents. I remember looking at Jupiter every night in the winter of 1985. It was cold outside, and Jupiter was always setting outside our big kitchen window. I would listen to the "top 8 at 8" on our local hit music station. When this song played, I would somehow relate it to Jupiter. "And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night. And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might." That's from the point of view of Jupiter, watching me watch it through the telescope. Give me a break, I was just 13! 😂
Great story Bill!
Astronomy Domine
..WELL, at least you got a telescope, Bill....I got a ROCK! ...ha-HAAA!!
@@RBS_ Ha ha!
@@RBS_ Charlie Brown!!! 🤣
I saw REO in the early 1980s with a friend that had backstage passes because of a marriage connection to Kevin. Meeting him was a great moment, he was such a humble and decent guy, nothing like the rockstar you would have thought he would be. It was a GREAT show (what I remember of it, after all I wasn't yet 27 yo, lol) .I doubt that Kevin would remember me, but I will always remember him and his kindness, all of the band were very cool...
Great interview, Adam.
He's one of the nicest guys around!
Cool story!
I saw them in the 70's when they were a bar band. I still remember the particulars of the id I borrowed to get in. I wasn't there for the alcohol and my cousin insisted that I had to see them. He was right.
There was a pizza joint people from my high school frequented in the 80s. The jukebox was always playing music. REO Speedwagon was always in the mix. When I hear their music today, I can still smell the pizza cooking. The 80s for me were awesome.
Great memories!
us the same chuck e cheese had a jukebox also one was for sale local antique store a few years back big priice forget how much
Yum!
My wife contends the lyrics are NOT cheesy.... That's good enough for me... Happy Thanksgiving!
Awesome. Just taking the words our of Kevin's mouth!
One man’s Casu Marzu cheese, is another man’s Pule Cheese😂
Such a great band.
“If you’re tired of the same old story, turn some pages” - REO Speedwagon
I've seen them 4 times. REO Speedwagon/Richard Marx at Battelle Hall Columbus, OH. 8/18/87. Life As We Know It Tour. REO Speedwagon/STYX/Journey at the Schottenstein Center Columbus, OH. 6/25/2003. REO Speedwagon QFM96 Budweiser Wing Zing at Promowest Pavilion. Columbus, OH. 7/9/2005. REO Speedwagon QFM96 Budweiser Wing Zing at LC Pavilion. Columbus, OH. 8/16/2008. I also have a couple of guitar picks.
MY favorite song from them!
@@DDKaraokeOutlaw Very cool!
@@ProfessorofRock I think I'm going to faint. My first ever reply from The Professor.
@@DDKaraokeOutlaw I saw them back to back nights, first at Columbus Clippers game after baseball concert, then next night a PNC Park in Pittsburgh after Pirates baseball game and fireworks. They were awesome both times.
KEVIN IS A MASTERPIECE THAT NEEDS NO BACK SEAT TO ANYTHING OR ANYBODY! PURE & PRICELESS HUMILITY!
My college roommates got REO 10th row center seats at Jenison Field House, MSU, for my birthday in '83, first rock concert and could not hear well for 3 days! Loved it and still have the tour book. Have seen them countless times since then and loved it each and every time. Favorite songs are Time For Me To Fly, Roll With The Changes, Don't Let Him Go. Love you Speedwagon!! Thanks Professor!!
Great interview with Kevin Cronin. I never saw him in an interview before and he seems like a nice person, more humble than most rock stars.
I saw my first REO concert when they were on their first tour, as the opening act for Canned Heat. That was 1972. I saw my 42nd REO concert in August 2024 at the NY State fair. Shortly after that, Kevin announced that the 2024 tour would be their last. From the age of 16 to age 68, REO has been my favorite band. I know they are most famous today for their power ballads, but once upon a time they were real rockers. If you are not familiar with early REO, check out 1978's "You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish", aka the Tuna Fish album. One great rock and roll tune after another. Gary Richrath had one of the coolest solos ever on "Lucky for You". Thank you, REO for 50+ years of great music.
Thanks Terry!
For some reason...the REO Speedwagon Greatest Hits CD was my go to insomnia cure...Their music just allows my mind to relax and unwind.
Not a fan of this particular song or power ballads in general, but I very much enjoyed this segment and interview. I appreciate Kevin's humility and the rapport between him and you, Professor, was palpable. Well done! Also: happy thanksgiving to all reading this.
Great episode! I have always been a die hard REO fan, and I always will be!!! I’m 57 years old….their sound simply ROCKS! Happy Thanksgiving, Professor!!! ❤
Kevin Cronin seems like such a lovely humble guy, despite his enormous talent.
I’m glad that Gary Richrath is given some love in the videos because his guitar work was instrumental to their success as well as Kevin’s vocals which to me sound almost like Alan Clark of the hollies on steroids
I agree! Thanks Michael!
Oh yes! In a good way.
This song always has a special relevance for me. It came out the year my now wife and I were just getting together. Every time I heard it, it defined my feelings at the time. Cheesy or not it worked for me.
Happy almost 40 years together!!
That's so cool! Congrats!
Happy anniversary!
This is so cool to watch. I was a mere child when the Beatles came out and the impact they had on almost every band at that time and forward, REO Speedwagon was one of my favorite bands growing up. I couldn't afford albums but my brother would borrow them and we would wear those albums down
Thanks!
🦃 REO SPEEDWAGON! 🦃
Love Kevin and the boys. Extensive catalog....... great songs of the 70s and 80s.
Should never take crap for any song.
Thanks for this Thanksgiving episode, Professor. In the spirit of food today, always remember that famous REO album.......
You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish!🤣
Salmon the other pink meat 😅
ThaNKS ROGER!
Still an amazing album title.
Thanks Professor for the Great interview. Have a Happy & THANKFUL THANKSGIVING
Same to you!
First of all to all of my American friends out there happy thanksgiving and have yourselves a wonderful day and Reo Speedwagon what i totally admire about this band is they totally earned their success they paid their dues and show every aspiring musician out there that by hard work and perseverance that you can definitely make it and this band has given us over 5 decades of kick butt rock and roll and straight from the heart ballads
Happy Thanksgiving Geroge!
Yup. They’re awesome!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I just discovered their first few albums on RUclips and wow they can rock with the best of them and their secret weapon was the late great Gary richtrath what a player and he should be up there with all the greats
Love the song, love REO, love the story. Happy Thanksgiving Prof and the class.
Happ y Thanksgiving Terrick!
Happy Thanksgiving and I agree.
REO Speedwagon have always been my favorite band and they still are
from the 70's to the 90's most especially. Thanks for the awesome episodes
the interview with Kevin Cronin and have a wonderful Thanksgiving today Thank You Professor.🦃🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🦃
THat's amazing! Happy Thanksgiving Roger!
Fun Fact-- The Boy on the cover of War is the same boy in The Commitments who tries to audition when Jimmy's in the tub, but he chickens out of the audition.
Thanks!
There were many awesome songs in the summer of '81 (Tom Sawyer, Bette Davis Eyes, Jesse's Girl, In The Dark...), but REO's "In Your Letter" will always be the one that I remember most from that summer!
This song reminds me of a certain girl who liked me as I was fighting through trust issues. Of course it went nowhere. I really enjoy hearing these artists talk about their struggles in their creative process to just get it right. True artistry on display. The artist is always his/her toughest critic.
Cool!
"It"s time to bring this ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever" is my favorite line from the song. I like a little bubble gum from time to time.
I agree. I think it's awesome!
Happy Thanksgiving. I like that line too and all coiled up and hissing is another one but of course different song.
It’s an empowering line.
I've seen REO half a dozen times and have played their songs for years in my cover band.
People love those songs and always sing along.
Thank you Kevin!
Thanks for watching!
Good to hear a Thanksgiving episode professor, Thanks!
There's a 14 year gap between my two favorite REO songs:
Golden Country (1971)
One Lonely Night (1985)
Great choices Peter! Not the regular ones!
I remember being on the school bus and HEARING Keep On Loving You on the radio, on my way to 5th Grade class… the school buses had working radios on them back then. I also remember it being warm, so it was either the beginning of the school year or we were coming to the end of the school year. But I knew all the words by this point and my friend, Stacy Williams, and I just started singing along. We knew EVERY WORD at 10 years old…. What a great memory…
HAPPY TURKEY DAY ADAM!!
Love it.
Happy Thanksgiving Danie.
I love "I Do'Wanna Know". That final instrumental break of guitar and organ rocks!
I became familiar with REO through Hi-Infidelity, but after that album came out I later heard a song of theirs on the radio and cranked it up because I always thought it rocked. I never knew who sang it, but once it was done, the DJ said it was REO Speedwagon. The song was “Back In The Road Again.” I then decided to work backwards in their catalog and discovered a lot more great songs from them. Very underrated stuff. Too bad they decided to disband. For a hard rocking fan, REO is a band I would love to have seen live.
Thanks for the comment!
Also Riding the storm out..is great rocking tune...
What a nice man. Great song and great talent. Thank you for reintroducing the songs and helping us discover the people behind them. A lovely legacy Professor.
Thanks for listening!
I hate when people label stuff as cheesy.its a love song it was catchy and a huge hit.
Actually like Dennie Deyoung says! Everybody Like cheese. (the food) so why is that considered bad?
Mm-hmm, It's only the serious fans (meaning people that take music to seriously) that hate "Love Songs" Not the calm music fans like us.
And as Dennis said, the cheese is good as long as it’s not a fungus. 😜
Loved Everything REO did ! Own most of thier albums,and I can't fight this feeling is one of mine and my husband's songs. Still makes me think of when I saw REO in concert,and think of those early days with my husband of 39 years !
Great Interview! Kevin is an American treasure (as was Gary Richrath). We wore the vinyl off of REO 2 and "YCTAPBYCTF" in my high school days.
Great video man. Cool backstory and great interview. For the people who don't dig Can't Fight This Feeling, listen, if you've got a problem with the Speedwagon, you've got a problem with life. This song is gold.
Ha ha! Love the Speewagon!
That’s right!
You actually had hair when you did that interview! Great song, great band, and Kevin seems to be a great guy.
I love that you actually referred to the year as just "85." You're showing your age, and you wear it well.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Likewise and thank you
Happy Thanksgiving
Looking back. it's hard to imagine that REO ever struggled. Such a Great sound.
It's always nice when you see someone so talented say "i'm not the right person to do this, i need help." And they get that help, and it results in an amazing product. Or in this case, a song.
Just being talented or extremely good at a particular thing, does not mean that sometimes you need someone else to step in and do something you are just not quite able to pull off. For example, i am good at my job. But that doesn't mean i don't need help or advice from time to time. I talk to peers all the time, just because it's easy to get to close to a problem to see it clearly. And someone else who has been there, but is NOT there under the stress or being there can say "did you try X?" Even if trying X isn't the answer, it can break the deadlock in your head, and allow you to think more clearly.
Happy Thanksgiving Music Junkies!!!!!
I love REO Speedwagon. Hi Infidelity and You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish were play on repeat until the cassette breaks albums.
The Professor covered the song that got me through the end of my marriage the other day, Iris, and today he is covering the song that brings back memories of when it began.
Rock on!
Happy Thanksgiving. I Can't Fight This Feeling has two different memories for me. Back in the 80s song was playing as I pulled into the parking lot and last time I saw my ex prom boyfriend. Several years ago while working outside and while this song was playing my husband got stung by a bee. After several choice words he said yeah no shit I can't fight this feeling. I just started laughing.
I really don't have a story about this particular song, but early in their career, REO toured the mid-west heavily and the fairground amphitheater, and even the mall in my home town were places that they would play on a fairly regular basis. When "Riding The Storm Out" hit the radio, we were all proud to have known them before they became famous. Needless to say, they stopped playing the mall, and even the fairgrounds in my home town. They opted for the civic center from that point on. Very good childhood memories for me to be certain.
Loved this song when I first heard it in 5th grade. Was already a REO Speedwagon fan from their Hi Infidelity album. Was happy to finally see them live in early 2000s.
Where at?
@@ProfessorofRock Universal Amphitheatre in LA. Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Survivor were touring together.
Big fan of all three bands so it was a great night!
Seen them about a year before hi came out that album was so good and completely changed there sound and style great band
Richrath, the orginal shredder
YES!
I've always loved REO Speedwagon - as a freshman in high school I was at that Kemper Arena show in 1985 that was filmed for MTV. It was such an amazing show and so cool to have a concert memory filmed for posterity. Then I moved to the east coast and my much hipper friends gave me crap about liking REO. Maybe they're a midwestern thing. I still love them though.
When I first moved into where i'm living now & hooked up my turntables the first record I played was the 45 of The Beatles' I Want To Hold Your Hand. It really does just say "Let's Rock!"
Kevin comes across as a real, down to earth, family centric, grateful kind of guy
One of my favourite lines ever -- all that alliteration - I still belt that line out, specifically, when listening to that song almost 40 years later!
It's great!
I saw REO Speedwagon in the summer of 1992. At that time I had been a fan of the group since their Nine Lives album. The concert was great and I even got Kevin Cronins autograph. Some time after, a couple buddies stopped by at my house to visit and I told them about the concert and showed them my autograph. One of them just laughed and said "bud, REO isn't cool anymore, move on". I didn't listen to REO for years after that.
As far as I'm concerned, "You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish" is one of the greatest album titles EVER! REO Speedwagon... a great, great band! RIP to the great Gary Richrath, one phenomenal guitar player.
Kevin is one of the most humble people ive ever met, great guy
Agreed!
When did you meet him?
Adam, I’ve never heard you say something inaccurate, until now… the 70’s was the greatest decade but I understand your point, I guess if you missed the 70’s, one would naturally think the 80’s was the greatest!! lol much love!!!❤️
Gobble, gobble, gobble! 🦃
Can't Fight This Feeling is a great song!! Thank you for writing it, Mr. Kevin ❤
Super Kudos to REO Speedwagon!! ✨
Happy Thanksgiving!
Several years back, I was helping Paul Gurvitz, a longtime artist, and record produce when his current band would set up for shows. Paul was in the band GUN with Ginger Baker and wrote the song "Race with the Devil". He also has played with many many artists over the years. Paul Gurvitz was performing with his band opening for REO Speedwagon at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix. I was fortunate enough to hang out with the members of REO Speedwagon in the green room prior to the show.
What the younger people nowadays could never imagine about the middle 1960's is the multiple garage bands in every subdivision across the nation dreaming of fame and playing their hearts out. I am glad I was born in '53, it was a blessing to see and hear.
1995-2024….27 REO shows under my belt. I was 13 when I started & I’m now 42. Can’t Fight This Feeling has always been my favorite ballad song.
❤❤❤ REO ❤❤❤ thank you for the memories of my first real love. May he RIP😢😢😢
Thanks Cherrie!
The first boy who asked me to "go with him" (we held hands on the playground once, I believe- Sean) in about the 5th grade asked what my favorite band was. I don't recall what my answer was, but I always remember that his fave was REO Speedwagon. 😊
Thanks for sharing!
Very good interview..on both sides. Kevin Cronin does seem well grounded, classy guy.
I love REO Speedwagon. I'd love to hear some new stuff from them.
I saw them in the mid 2000s at s corporate event but you know what? They still killed it. One of my favorite shows
I saw REO on the High Infidelity tour and the first notes that they played were the opening overdriven guitar harmonics on "Tough Guys", immediately after the "Little Rascals" quote.
Happy Thanksgiving, you know you mentioned high infidelity. My favorite songs from the albums were don’t let him go because it had almost a semi Caribbean beat to it, and follow my heart. Don’t let him go had to have been high on their list because it was the opening track on side one
Happy Thanksgiving Michael!
Great interview and what a lovely soul❤
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone
Happy Thanksgiving! 😄
Same to you!
Same to you Ted
Kevin Cronin is such a humble guy and he loves music. There are a lot of rock stars but not one is more aware of how lucky he is to have the talent and the breaks to do the only thing he has ever wanted to do with his life, professionally anyway
This song reminds me of my own love story. I was best friends with a sweet, creative, intelligent man who grew up ridiculously poor and on the wrong side of the tracks. He was such a 4-eyed nerd is how people thought back then that girls all walked past him and I told him, keep being a good friend and one will eventually fall in love. Didn’t know it was going to be me.
Love REO. This song is just great. The keyboards are awesome. The guitar solo laid down is pretty monumental. Just love it.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. Thank you Adam! My favorite REO song is Roll With the Changes. 😊. Have a great day! 😊
I'm happy I watched this because I've always found REO insufferably cheesy, but his self awareness of it makes it feel different to me now. Back when I was 14 the lead singer always looked cheesy to me, but he's actually this super chill guy. I think he looks cooler now than he did then. Their music wasn't my favorite but I always recognized that his voice was kind of mind blowing... it's so strong.
Cool!
"I Can't Fight This Feeling" was THE song that turned my platonic prom date into my high school sweetheart, Diana. Sometimes I go to the back of the rack and recall listening to 157 Riverside Avenue in the weight room at Bedford High. Great memories!
This song takes me back to my first love in the 80s named Sophia. I was 12 and she was 14 when we met. She was my older brother's girlfriend for about two weeks and then she and I started talking from then on. Every time I hear this song it brings me right back to that time.
What an awesome guy! I like his synopsis of Glee, it was a good family show; and him talking about his kids and "Dad used to be in this band" 😊😊 If the Beatles had not played on The Ed Sullivan Show, I don't think Rock and Roll would have evolved as quickly as it seems to have evolved. It still would have evolved, but the Beatles showed us what was being created in the UK, at the time and it spurred a change in the US. It's sad that Music in the US is still "Corporate Driven" and not Artist Oriented.
THanks!
"Can't Fight This Feeling" might be my favorite REO tune. That includes the "hated line". Ironically, it came my way after the bottled-lightening hit by Jack Wagner, "All I Need", and I (in my typical fashion) thought "Can't Fight This Feeling" was cut from the same cloth. In any event, this song has held up strongly for 40 years. (I've even done a throwaway cover that can be heard on SoundCloud.)
hey eric!
Happy Thanksgiving, Adam.
How are they similar? In lyric?
The key they're both in and some of the melody, @xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 , along with the ballad dynamics.
Songs like this and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is" (my all-time favourite) were almost always headliner tunes I put on mix tapes with other ballads and gave to girls I had major crushes on back in the day. 😀
Nice sentiment K bring in the cheese bring in the cheese we will come rejoicing bring in the cheese! 🧀 awesome writing 🎉
Dortmund Germany 1983 got to see REO to this day, their concert was awesome!! USAF RET.
Why were you over there?
Those first three REO albums are OLD SCHOOL KICK ASS ROCK N ROLL GOLD! Gypsy Woman’s Passion, Riverside Dr, Let Me Ride, Music Man, Whiskey Night, etc. now that there’s some “grab a bottle o’ JD and krank it 11” rock n roll 🤘
Happy Thanksgiving!
@@ProfessorofRock ditto bro!! 🍻
Good ones!
Great interview. You did your homework on this one, as always.
Love REO Speedwagon, and 'Take it on the Run' should have been a #1 too. 'Can't Fight this Feeling' is an instant inspiration every time it plays.
I always took the line about the ship and oars as a reference to the Odyssey when Odysseus walks inland with an oar until he comes to a place where no one recognizes it.
REO had so many amazing songs and great lyrics. Years ago I told you my story to this song. Sad that Kevin has pulled the band apart.
I don't know... Kevin's a good dude.
Great interview.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving, Professor!
Same to you!
You can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish! Saw REO in two different cities ( hah, states!) on back-to-back nights completely by accident. Loved both shows, always one of my favorite acts.
Thanks!
Love this song
"Hi Infidelity" is an excellent album, but REO's previous album, "You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish" was just as good, if not better.
With Roll with the Changes!
@ProfessorofRock - my favorite is Time For Me to Fly, but Roll with the Changes is definitely one of their best songs.
agree i found a copy this summer i think changes is the only song gary richrath wrote on the record
@@ProfessorofRockmy favorite song by them.
I kind of have to laugh because not only am I old enough to remember the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, but also old enough to have seen an actual R.E.O. Speedwagon junk on a family farm in our rural neighborhood! It didn't look that bad. A bit rusty, but it had a cracked block. 😂
Ha!
That is funny 🤣
I was not a big REO fan (or a fan of Kevin's voice TBH) until I saw them live in the late 80s. They were a fantastic live show.
I met Mike Murphy at a party many years ago. I recognized him from the album cover but wasn't even aware that he was the lead singer. I looked at him and said, "You were in REO Speedwagon, right?" He just nodded.
Has it really been 40 years?! I can't wrap my head around it.
My daughters LOVE the show The Goldbergs. I'm like, "Welcome to our (mom and dad's) childhood" It's like an entire other world.
There was an interview with one of the band members ( I don't remember which one) back in the 80s, who told the story of a young boy who was so excited to get to go backstage to meet his favorite singer "Mario Speedwagon" which led to some confusion and humor. That's the name I think of when I hear one of their songs.
I can't fight this feeling any longer came at the perfect time for me. I was living in Hawaii, far away from family, and I met a girl. I didn't want to fall in love because I already had a girl in Indiana. But this song and Trouble in Paradise came out around the same time. I was working at night and when these 2 songs came on the radio back to back I knew then that I loved the girl in Hawaii. We got married 5 months later and we're still together.
Did I miss something important? Where's the reference in the interview or pre-commentary about a censored profanity? Love REO, and it's always fun to hear Kevin's modest stories from back in the day ... Cheers.
hey Prof, I have an idea for next year's Thanksgiving upload: The story of probably the most iconic Thanksgiving song ever, Arlo Guthrie and the story of the Alice's Restaurant Massacree.
And could you imagine if fifty people a day came in to request him cover Alice's Restaurant ? He might think it's some kind of movement !
Hey ProRo 🤓 and fellow Classmates What I am Thankful for is all of you ! ❤ Everyone needs a safe place to be themselves. I hope that all of you feel the same way! May your holidays be filled with love and joy and may your New Year be the 5th best year of your lives. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS! And Thank You one and all.
Ditto Brother Wang.
@@AnnaTrail-xp8pr Your in my heart, your in my soul, your my breath when I grow old .
@constipatedinsyou getting cheesy on me as you age?incity4424
Well said! Thanks my dear friend!
@ProfessorofRock It came from my heart ❤ brother. You enjoy your holiday with your family give my nephews, Wifey and your lovely mother all hugs 🤗 for me. And don't forget me in during Grace.
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Hope you and yours many blessings!
same to you and to everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving!
@@Whisper_292 same, Whisper.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Same to you!
Happy Thanksgiving Adam!