The Essential REO Speedwagon

The Essential REO Speedwagon is a greatest hits album by the band REO Speedwagon released through Epic Records and Legacy Recordings. The collection spans the band's history from 1971 through 1999 and the package includes two compact discs. The album consists of tracks from nearly every studio album up to 1999 except "This Time We Mean It" from 1975.

The Essential REO Speedwagon
Greatest hits album by REO Speedwagon
Released	10 August 2004
Recorded	1971–1999
Genre	Rock, hard rock
Length	2:35:05 188:12 (3.0 Edition)
Label	Epic, Legacy
Producer	REO Speedwagon; Peter Asher
REO Speedwagon chronology
Keep On Rollin (2002) The Essential REO Speedwagon (2004) Rock Breakout Years: 1981 (2005)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

In 2009, the album was re-released as part of the Limited Edition 3.0 series which added a third bonus disc with eight more tracks.

Track listing

The Essential REO Speedwagon

Disc one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"Sophisticated Lady"	Gary Richrath, Terry Luttrell, Gregg Philbin, Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer	R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971)	4:00
2.	"Music Man"	Kevin Cronin	R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)	4:33
3.	"Golden Country"	Gary Richrath	R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)	6:33
4.	"Son of a Poor Man" (10 seconds of guitar intro not on the original Ridin' the Storm Out (1973) album version)	Gary Richrath	A Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980 (1980)	3:54
5.	"Lost in a Dream"	Mike Murphy, Bruce Hall	Lost in a Dream (1974)	6:33
6.	"Keep Pushin'"	Kevin Cronin	R.E.O. (1976)	4:06
7.	"(I Believe) Our Time is Gonna Come"	Kevin Cronin	R.E.O. (1976)	5:04
8.	"Lightning"	Gary Richrath, Kevin Cronin	R.E.O. (1976)	5:56
9.	"Like You Do" (Live)	Gary Richrath	Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)	6:53
10.	"Flying Turkey Trot" (Live)	Gary Richrath	Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)	2:33
11.	"157 Riverside Avenue" (Live)	Gary Richrath, Terry Luttrell, Gregg Philbin, Alan Gratzer	Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)	7:36
12.	"Ridin' the Storm Out" (Live)	Gary Richrath	Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)	5:45
13.	"Roll with the Changes"	Kevin Cronin	You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978)	5:37
14.	"Time for Me to Fly"	Kevin Cronin	You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978)	3:42
15.	"Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight"	Gary Richrath, Kevin Cronin	You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978)	4:58
Total length:				77:52

Disc two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"Back on the Road Again"	Bruce Hall	Nine Lives (1979)	5:28
2.	"Only the Strong Survive"	Gary Richrath	Nine Lives (1979)	3:52
3.	"Don't Let Him Go"	Kevin Cronin	Hi Infidelity (1980)	3:45
4.	"Keep On Loving You"	Kevin Cronin	Hi Infidelity (1980)	3:21
5.	"In Your Letter"	Gary Richrath	Hi Infidelity (1980)	3:16
6.	"Take It on the Run"	Gary Richrath	Hi Infidelity (1980)	4:01
7.	"Keep the Fire Burnin'"	Kevin Cronin	Good Trouble (1982)	3:55
8.	"The Key"	Kevin Cronin	Good Trouble (1982)	3:26
9.	"One Lonely Night"	Neal Doughty	Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)	3:21
10.	"Live Every Moment"	Kevin Cronin	Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)	5:01
11.	"Can't Fight This Feeling"	Kevin Cronin	Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)	4:54
12.	"That Ain't Love"	Kevin Cronin	Life as We Know It (1987)	4:01
13.	"In My Dreams"	Kevin Cronin, Tom Kelly	Life as We Know It (1987)	4:30
14.	"Variety Tonight"	Neal Doughty	Life as We Know It (1987)	4:30
15.	"Here with Me"	Kevin Cronin, Rick Braun	The Hits (1988)	5:05
16.	"Love Is a Rock"	Kevin Cronin	The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (1990)	5:35
17.	"Building the Bridge"	Kevin Cronin	Building the Bridge (1996)	4:15
18.	"Just for You"	Kevin Cronin, Jim Peterik	The Ballads (1999)	4:38
Total length:				77:13

The Essential REO Speedwagon [3.0]

Note: The Essential REO Speedwagon [3.0] has the same tracks above with an added CD with eight more tracks.

Disc three (Limited Edition 3.0 Version, 2009)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"I Do' Wanna Know"		Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)	4:14
2.	"Out of Season"	Kevin Cronin, Tom Kelly	Hi Infidelity (1980)	3:07
3.	"Sweet Time"		Good Trouble (1982)	3:08
4.	"Wherever You're Goin' (It's Alright)"		Best Foot Forward (1985)	5:05
5.	"Blazin' Your Own Trail Again"		You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978)	3:34
6.	"Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometime)"		R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)	6:02
7.	"Tough Guys"		Hi Infidelity (1980)	3:52
8.	"Live It Up" (Live)	Jesse Harms	The Second Decade of Rock and Roll 1981 to 1991 (1991)	4:41
Total length:				33:47

Personnel

• Kevin Cronin – Vocals (Disc 01: tracks 02-04, 06-15/All tracks on Disc 02 & 03); Rhythm guitar, Acoustic Guitar, and Piano on various tracks
• Gary Richrath – lead guitars (All tracks on Disc 01/Disc 02: 01-15/Disc 03: 01-07)
• Gregg Philbin – Bass (Disc 01: tracks 01-12/Disc 03: 06)
• Neal Doughty – Keyboards (All tracks)
• Alan Gratzer – Drums (All tracks on Disc 01/Disc 02: 01-15/Disc 03: 01-07)
• Terry Luttrell – Lead Vocals (Disc 01: track 01)
• Mike Murphy – Lead Vocals (Disc 01: track 05)
• Bruce Hall – Bass (Disc 01: tracks 13-15/All tracks on Disc 02/Disc 03: 01-05, 07-08), Lead vocals on "Back on the Road Again"
• Dave Amato – Lead guitar (Disc 02: tracks 16-18/Disc 03: 08)
• Bryan Hitt – Drums (Disc 02: tracks 16-18/Disc 03: 08)
• Jesse Harms – Keyboards (Disc 02: tracks 16/Disc: 03: 08)

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog #
USA	August 10, 2004	Epic/Legacy	2-CD	E2K 86015
USA	September 1, 2009	Epic/Legacy	3-CD (Limited Edition 3.0)	88697 54093 2

External links

• The Essential at Allmusic.com
• The Essential 3.0 at Allmusic.com