R.E.O./T.W.O.: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:44, 14 July 2006

Latest revision as of 02:45, 14 July 2024

(112 intermediate revisions by 84 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Infobox album

{{Wikify|July 2006}}

| name = R.E.O./T.W.O.

{{POV}}

| type = studio

{{ Album infobox | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->

| Name artist = R.E.O[[REO T.W.O.Speedwagon]]

| Type cover = [[Album (music)|Album]]REOTWO.jpg

| Artistalt = [[REO Speedwagon]]=

| Coverreleased = December = 1972

| Backgroundrecorded = orangeSummer 1972

| Releasedvenue = [[1972]] =

| Recordedstudio = [[Columbia Studios, [[Nashville, Tennessee]]

| Genre genre = [[Rock (music)|Rock]], [[hard rock]]

| Length length = 43:48

| Label label = [[Epic Records|Epic]]

| Producer producer = [[Paul Leka]], [[Billy Rose II]]}}

| prev_title = [[R.E.O. Speedwagon (album)|R.E.O. Speedwagon]]

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = [[Ridin' the Storm Out]]

| next_year = 1973

}}

'''''R.E.O./T.W.O.''''' is the second [[studio album]] released by the [[Illinois]] -based rock band [[REO Speedwagon]]., Thisreleased wasin a1972. pivotalUnder asthe wellleadership asof transitionalguitarist work[[Gary byRichrath]], this band.album Pivotal incontinued the sensemusical thatdirection itset createdon national1971's interest''[[REO inSpeedwagon the(album)|REO band,Speedwagon]]'' preventingwith the bandRichrath's prematureown disappearance,compositions andcarrying transitional in its movement away from socio/political lyrical content in its LPs. This shift in lyrical content resulted in their future releases being largely ignored by musicthe criticsrecord.

''R.E.O./T.W.O.'' launched REO on its first national tour and presented a more polished production than the band‘s debut album; however, it still retained the [[progressive rock]] leanings that they were to ditch following the arrival of Mike Murphy<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130415000621/http://www.emusic.com/music-news/spotlight/prog-on-the-prairie-midwestern-bands-roll-over-beethoven/ Roll Over Beethoven]. Emusic Spotlight.</ref> and did not even have a slightly successful single to rival “Sophisticated Lady”. Despite this and ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''’s failure to dent the ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' Top 200, it has remained more readily available than the debut. The album went [[RIAA certification|gold]] on August 13, 1981.

Terry Luttrel provided much of the lyrical content for the band's initial release, 1971's "R.E.O. Speedwagon". "Official" comments about this release by the band cite "production conflicts" and being "rushed" to complete it as reasons for the low record sales.

The album introduced [[Kevin Cronin]] as vocalist, guitarist and contributing songwriter to the band, replacing [[Terry Luttrell]]. Notable tracks on the album include Richrath’s political “Golden Country” as well as "Like You Do". Both songs, as well as Cronin’s “Music Man”, are frequently part of the band's setlist.

Although musically very strong, this initial release failed to chart. Resulting band tensions led to the search for new personnel and potentially more commercial appeal. R.E.O./T.W.O was the result of this search and introduced Kevin Cronin as R.E.O.'s new vocalist and contributing song writer. R.E.O./T.W.O is considered by many fans of the bands early period to be their best LP ever released. Cronin immediately introduced first person songwriting, biographical tales of quests for freedom (Let Me Ride), independence from parents and social norms (Music Man), and the emotional costs of love (Being Kind..Cant Hurt...) to the band.

{{Album reviews

In what amounts to two separate lyrical themes on the same record, with a consistent 1970's rock music base, R.E.O./T.W.O., under the leadership of guitarist Gary Richrath, continues the musical direction set on 1971's "R.E.O. Speedwagon" with his own classic compositions, lyrically being influenced by or being joint efforts with Luttrel (who did not perform on the record but lingered as an influence) carrying the record.

|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]

|rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic | class=album | id=two-mw0000203478 | title=''REO Speedwagon: T.W.O.'' | first=Stephen Thomas | last=Erlewine | accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref>

}}

==Track listing==

All songs written by [[Gary Richrath]], except where noted.

;Side one

#"Let Me Ride" ([[Kevin Cronin]]) &nbsp;– 6:00

#"How the Story Goes" &nbsp;– 3:34

#"[[Little Queenie]]" ([[Chuck Berry]]) &nbsp;– 6:39

#"Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometimes)" (Cronin) &nbsp;– 6:02

;Side two

#"Music Man" (Cronin) &nbsp;– 4:38

#"Like You Do" &nbsp;– 5:57

#"Flash Tan Queen" &nbsp;– 4:23

#"Golden Country" &nbsp;– 6:33

==Personnel==

'''REO Speedwagon'''<ref name="BGO">{{cite book|title=R.E.O. Speedwagon — R.E.O. Speedwagon / R.E.O.T.W.O.|year=2007|publisher=BGO Records|pages=4}}</ref>

*[[Kevin Cronin]] – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar

*[[Gary Richrath]] – lead guitar

*[[Neal Doughty]] – keyboards

*Gregg Philbin – bass

*Alan Gratzer – drums

;Additional personnel<ref name="BGO"/>

*[[Boots Randolph]] – saxophone <small>(track 3)</small>

*Kelly Bowen – backing vocals <small>(track 1)</small>

*Tomi Lee Bradly – backing vocals <small>(track 1)</small>

==Certifications==

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=R.E.O. Speedwagon|title=R.E.O./T.W.O.|award=Gold|relyear=1972|certyear=1981|access-date=October 2, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

==Release history==

{|class="wikitable"

|-

! Region

! Date

! Title

! Label

! Format

! Catalog #

|-

| USA

| December 1972

| ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| [[Epic Records]]

| Stereo [[gramophone record|Vinyl]]

| E-31745

|-

| USA

| 1972

| ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| Epic Records

| [[Compact Cassette|Tape]]

| PET-31745

|-

| USA

| 1972

| ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| Epic Records

| [[8-track tape|8 TRK]]

| E31745

|-

| USA

| 1990

| ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| Epic Records

| [[Compact disc|CD]]

| EK 31745

|-

| UK

| 2007

| ''[[REO Speedwagon (album)|R.E.O. Speedwagon]] / R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| BGO Records

| 2-CD (Digitally re-mastered)

| BGOCD775

|-

| Japan

| 2011

| ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan|Sony Music]]

| CD (DSD-Remaster)

| EICP 1481

|-

| Germany

| 2013

| ''R.E.O./T.W.O.''

| Yellow Label

| (Coloured) Vinyl

| SPV 266141 LP

|}

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{REO Speedwagon}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:R.E.O. T.W.O.}}

[[Category:REO Speedwagon albums]]

[[Category:1972 albums]]

[[Category:Albums produced by Paul Leka]]

[[Category:Epic Records albums]]