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Compilation album that features two new previously unrecorded releases, "I Don't Want To Lose You," and "Here With Me."

"The Hits Liner Notes"
By Malcolm Dome

As we listen through this album, we are continually flashing on all of the different people who have been a part of the hard work, amazing success and great fun that is REO Speedwagon. We are truly blessed to have had so many cool folks around us over the span of our career. It definitely makes our job easier and more pleasant knowing that we are surrounded by people who love us, as well as love our music. We thank each and all of you.

Traditionally, rock 'n' roll bands do not have a lengthy life span. Those that aren't battered into early submission by tidal waves of personal acrimony, legal indifferences or ill fortune are usually swallowed whole by the shifting sands of trendy deserts or egotistical paranoia. Any act that survives for a period of even five years is acclaimed as a phenomenon REO Speedwagon have now been on the scene for two decades, producing 14 albums which feature some of their most vibrant, exciting and memorable tunes of the era.

Great bands don't need introductions. So consider what follows a celebration, OK? A glimpse behind the curtain and down the road. It all began in 1968, back in Champaign (Illinois), when Gary Richrath (lead guitar), Terry Luttrell (lead vocals), Alan Gratzer (drums), Neal Doughty (keyboards) and Gregg Philbin (bass) first put together the rollicking Speedwagon, taking the name from the renowned truck and fire engine a strange choice, considering that this band have spent their entire career setting alight the musical scene! Anyway, this line-up was responsible for 1971's 'REO Speedwagon' album, their first for the Epic label and with the remarkably adept Kevin Cronin replacing Luttrell for 1972's 'R.E.O. T.W.O' record.

A brief split between Cronin and the band occurred in '73 which let to the recruitment of Mike Murphy for three albums, namely the seminal 'Ridin' The Storm Out' (1973), 'Lost In A Dream' (1974) and 'This Time We Mean It' (1975). Cronin happily returned to the fold and the gentle momentum of the previous seven years suddenly took on a fresh urgency the band were on their way to the top.

The 'REO' album in 1976 really pushed the boat out into the ocean and set the engine roaring, proving that the Speedwagon was really capable of moving up into a gear few bands knew really existed. And the remarkable double live album 'Live You Get What You Play For' (1977) underlined their supreme qualities, both as performers and musicians their dynamism and range was unsurpassed in hard rock circles.

Philbin left the band in 1978, replaced by Bruce Hall and thus began the most successful period in the band's career a purple patch that is still consistent and strong a decade later. "You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish' in that same year spawned (Ouch!) the group's first ever top 40 single, namely 'Roll With The Changes' and '79's 'Nine Lives' LP continued the upward surge.

In 1981, REO really hit paydirt with the spectacular 'Hi Infidelity' album, which not only topped the U.S. charts for 6 months, not only was the biggest selling rock LP of that year, not only provided a number one single with "Keep On Loving You,' but also provided the group with a long overdue international stature. The golden touch long recognized in America now began to spread across the globe, a process certainly continued by 'Good Trouble' (1982), 'Wheels Are Turnin' (1984) and the recent 'Life As We Know It' (1987) records, all of which maintained the standards of yore, while developing the approach.

So, here we are. It's 1988, it's 'The Hits' and it says so much for the strength-in-depth and quality control of this fabulous outfit that you could happily put together several variations on this 'hits' theme all of which would be of an enviably high standard.

So, what does REO mean to me? Hmmm, look at the song listing for this album that says is all! It's a celebration of one of the finest rock acts of all times. So, crack open the accolades, burst those lungs in ecstasy and get that record on the turntable the engine might now be 20 years old but it's still in tune and ready to rock on!

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