The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken

The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken
The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken
	Original album artwork by Mark Ryden
Studio album by REO Speedwagon
Released	August 1990
Recorded	September 3, 1989 – May 31, 1990
Studio	Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California) ; One On One Studios (North Hollywood, California) ; Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
Genre	Rock
Length	46:26
Label	Epic
Producer	Kevin Cronin, Jesse Harms, Tom Lord-Alge, Jim Scott
REO Speedwagon chronology

The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken is the thirteenth studio album by REO Speedwagon, and was released in 1990.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Entertainment Weekly	C+^[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[2]
Select	^[3]

It marked the end of their contract with Epic Records and is, to date, the last REO album to chart, peaking at No. 129 on the Billboard 200.^[4] The song "Love Is a Rock" reached No. 65 on Billboard's Hot 100, and "Live It Up" reached No. 6 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. "Go For Broke" was written for the film Days of Thunder but ultimately not used.

Following the departure of two long-time members, guitarist and songwriter Gary Richrath and drummer Alan Gratzer, more than half of the songs on this album were written or co-written by keyboardist Jesse Harms. It is also the first album to include guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt who remain with the band as of 2023.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Is a Rock"	Kevin Cronin	5:36
2.	"The Heart Survives"	Cronin, Jesse Harms	4:50
3.	"Live It Up"	Harms	4:00
4.	"All Heaven Broke Loose"	Neal Doughty, Adrian Gurvitz, Harms	4:11
5.	"Love in the Future"	Cronin, Tom Kelly	4:32

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Half Way"	Cronin, Harms, Mark Spiro	4:17
7.	"Love to Hate"	Harms	4:09
8.	"You Won't See Me"	Cronin	3:21
9.	"Can't Lie to My Heart"	Cronin, Diane Warren	4:40
10.	"L.I.A.R."	Dave Amato, Cronin, Doughty, Bruce Hall, Bryan Hitt	3:09
11.	"Go for Broke"	Amato, Cronin, Hall, Harms	3:28

Personnel

REO Speedwagon^[5]

Kevin Cronin – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Dave Amato – lead guitars, backing vocals
Neal Doughty – organ
Bruce Hall – bass
Bryan Hitt – drums, percussion

Additional performers

Jesse Harms – keyboards, backing vocals
Steve Forman – percussion
Debra Dobkin – backing vocals
Beth Hooker – backing vocals
Darlene Koldenhoven – backing vocals
Janis Liebhart – backing vocals
Andrea Robinson – backing vocals
Machan Taylor – backing vocals
Terry Wood – backing vocals

Production

Kevin Cronin – producer
Jesse Harms – producer
Tom Lord-Alge – producer, recording (3–11), mixing
Jim Scott – producer (1, 2), recording (1, 2)
Julie Last – assistant engineer (1, 2)
Steve Gallagher – assistant engineer (3–11)
Mike Tacci – assistant engineer (3–11)
Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
David Coleman – art direction, design
Mark Ryden – illustration
Dennis Keeley – photography

Charts

Album

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[6]	38
US Billboard 200^[7]	129

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	"Love Is a Rock"	US Billboard Hot 100	65^[8]
		US Mainstream Rock	31^[8]
		Japanese Singles Chart	53^[9]
	"Live It Up"	US Mainstream Rock	6^[8]
	"Live It Up"	Canadian RPM Singles Chart	81^[10]

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog #
USA	August 1990	Epic Records	Stereo Vinyl	E-45246
USA	1990	Epic Records	Tape	ET-45246
USA	1990	Epic Records	CD	EK45246

References

^ "The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 586.
^ Marlowe, Chris (October 1990). "REO Speedwagon: The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog & A Chicken". Select. No. 4. p. 113.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Albums (Seventh ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.
^ REO Speedwagon — The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Sony Music Entertainment. 1990. p. 3.
^ "Swisscharts.com – REO Speedwagon – The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken". Hung Medien. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
^ "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
^ "Song artist 610 - REO Speedwagon". TsorT. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 19, September 22, 1990". RPM. September 22, 1990. Retrieved February 1, 2015.

External links

The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken at AllMusic

[1] "The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

[2] The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 586.

[3] Marlowe, Chris (October 1990). "REO Speedwagon: The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog & A Chicken". Select. No. 4. p. 113.

[4] Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Albums (Seventh ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.

[5] REO Speedwagon — The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Sony Music Entertainment. 1990. p. 3.

[ac_Switzerland_REO_Speedwagon-6] "Swisscharts.com – REO Speedwagon – The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken". Hung Medien. Retrieved July, 8 2023.

[ac_Billboard200_REO_Speedwagon-7] "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July, 8 2023.

[US-8] "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2016-10-07.

[9] "Song artist 610 - REO Speedwagon". TsorT. Retrieved February 1, 2015.

[10] "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 19, September 22, 1990". RPM. September 22, 1990. Retrieved February 1, 2015.

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