A few things: 1. When my mom presented my dad, my brother and me with "Sex Police" T-shirts in 1981, she told us they were on a 3-for-the-price-of-2 blue-light special at K-Mart. So that explains that.
2. There was an ad for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the window next to the "Passion" video, which blew my mind a little bit.
3. Thanks for posting the Delbert McClinton track--I've wanted that thing forever. Hard to believe you weren't familiar with it--where I grew up in VA, it was all over the radio all the time.
4. I can't believe you linked to the Wendy's commercial. When that commercial was out, Wendy's had just introduced their nuggets, and Bob Cashill (who, if I remember correctly, had only recently shaved his thin little moustache and still had only about 75 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame) thought it would be funny to go to Wendy's just to order them. They were TERRIBLE, and he spent weeks afterward randomly saying "chicken gullets" as we'd walk down the street.
jabartlett
· 9 months ago
I cannot imagine the psychic scars I'd have if my mother got me a "Sex Police" t-shirt.
Also: I always considered "Passion" the point at which Rod Stewart said, "Aw hell, these people will buy anything I put my name on."
Malchus
· 9 months ago
I had a K-Tel record ("High Voltage") that contained the Delbert McClinton song, but it was a studio version. Was that the version released as a single or was it this live track?
Old_Davy
· 9 months ago
The studio version was the single. I remember it well.
jasonhare
· 9 months ago
I went looking for the studio version, but almost every version I found was the live one. It was a combination of being lazy/enjoying the live version that led me to post this particular song.
Pico
· 9 months ago
You could probably devote an entire piece on Fagan singing the part of a skeevy, dirty old man:
"Everyone's Gone To The Movies" "Janie Runaway" "Trans-Island Skyway" "Green Book"
...and even the song that comes right before "Hey Nineteen" on Gaucho, "Babylon Sisters"
David_E
· 9 months ago
Don't forget "Cousin Dupree."
EightE1
· 9 months ago
What's Jeff got against Kevin Cronin anyway?
The thing with the r's (or "ur's" or whatev-ur) was present but nowhere nearly as pronounced in REO's earli-ur days. I think of "Roll with the Changes," in which he rhymed "darkest ow-wur" with "sweet sunshow-ur."
The video is indefensible. As is KC's onstage wardrobe.
Rob EightE1
Beau
· 9 months ago
The "Passion" video also loads right away when you go to philchendebassman.com -- seriously. Phil seemed to enjoy himself in those videos. That's him chewing hay in "Hot Legs."
Steely Dan, on the other hand, should've been arrested after this song. If I had a daughter, I'd make sure she was raised so she wouldn't do coke and hook up with a much older, condescending guy. Of course, she'd also know who Aretha Franklin is. And not just for her embarrassing pause at the inaugural.
Tuck
· 9 months ago
REO Speedwagon has to be one of the most underrated rock bands of all time. The "r" thing was there before Keep on Loving You. I honestly don't understand why Kevin Cronin is so universally hated nor why REO Speedwagon never was considered to be one of the elite rock bands. Gary Richrath's guitar is unrivaled, Neal Doughty's piano work is some of the best in Rock, Kevin's vocals are solid and pleasant to listen to, Bruce Hall (and Greg Philbin before him) is fantastic on bass. The lyrics are always solid, the music is solid... so why the bashing? It can't all be due to Keep on Loving You.
Jim
· 9 months ago
About the R thing. The one thing any vocal coach will tell you not to pronounce is the letter R. Most other vocalists will pronounce it as it as an A sound. (Togetha' vs togetherrrrrrrrr). It's annoying to me as is everything I have heard about Cronin since I saw what a turd he was to Gary. Still, some memorable songs during the Richrath (real REO) era. Gotta admit Cronin was a strong singer once upon a time. Is he still playing? Which mall should I go to to see him?
Elaine
· 9 months ago
Does it seem odd to anyone else that "Hey Nineteen" and "Keep on Loving You" were in the same top ten? That blows my mind a little. For me, Steely Dan (the good years) were in the 70's and REO was in the 80's. I'm really surprised!
As far as asking for real REO fans, I can see why the criticisms wouldn't make sense to them. The band didn't actually suck. Kevin's vocals are among the most recognizable on the planet, and that counts for a lot. (Then again, so are the Russells' of Air Supply.) For my part, REO was considered "hard rock" to us 7th graders, as opposed to whoever else was out there. All I remember was The Knack and Blondie.
But there is one undeniable truth about REO. "Time For Me To Fly" is more mystically awesome than a hundred "My Sharonas."
Sharon
· 9 months ago
I enjoyed this week! Then again, I'm an 80s/Mellow Gold kinda gal.
and I"m not entirely sure why, but this, "Rod Stewart fucks up everything." caught me off guard and I spit at the monitor as I laughed. So in a sense, Mr Stewart kinda messed up my monitor too.
All Comments
2. There was an ad for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the window next to the "Passion" video, which blew my mind a little bit.
3. Thanks for posting the Delbert McClinton track--I've wanted that thing forever. Hard to believe you weren't familiar with it--where I grew up in VA, it was all over the radio all the time.
4. I can't believe you linked to the Wendy's commercial. When that commercial was out, Wendy's had just introduced their nuggets, and Bob Cashill (who, if I remember correctly, had only recently shaved his thin little moustache and still had only about 75 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame) thought it would be funny to go to Wendy's just to order them. They were TERRIBLE, and he spent weeks afterward randomly saying "chicken gullets" as we'd walk down the street.
Also: I always considered "Passion" the point at which Rod Stewart said, "Aw hell, these people will buy anything I put my name on."
"Everyone's Gone To The Movies"
"Janie Runaway"
"Trans-Island Skyway"
"Green Book"
...and even the song that comes right before "Hey Nineteen" on Gaucho, "Babylon Sisters"
The thing with the r's (or "ur's" or whatev-ur) was present but nowhere nearly as pronounced in REO's earli-ur days. I think of "Roll with the Changes," in which he rhymed "darkest ow-wur" with "sweet sunshow-ur."
The video is indefensible. As is KC's onstage wardrobe.
Rob
EightE1
Steely Dan, on the other hand, should've been arrested after this song. If I had a daughter, I'd make sure she was raised so she wouldn't do coke and hook up with a much older, condescending guy. Of course, she'd also know who Aretha Franklin is. And not just for her embarrassing pause at the inaugural.
As far as asking for real REO fans, I can see why the criticisms wouldn't make sense to them. The band didn't actually suck. Kevin's vocals are among the most recognizable on the planet, and that counts for a lot. (Then again, so are the Russells' of Air Supply.) For my part, REO was considered "hard rock" to us 7th graders, as opposed to whoever else was out there. All I remember was The Knack and Blondie.
But there is one undeniable truth about REO. "Time For Me To Fly" is more mystically awesome than a hundred "My Sharonas."
and I"m not entirely sure why, but this, "Rod Stewart fucks up everything." caught me off guard and I spit at the monitor as I laughed. So in a sense, Mr Stewart kinda messed up my monitor too.