REO Speedwagon

When it comes to the kind of good old-fashioned, all-American rock 'n' roll that launched a million waving lighters in arena rock's late-'70s/early-'80s heyday, think three letters — R-E-O. Sporting a wide-open-spaces sound that proudly trumpeted their Midwestern origins, REO Speedwagon first popped up on most folks' radar in '78 with the churning, sweat-soaked abandon of "Roll With the Changes." Two years later, they blew the roof off the rock scene with their mega-platinum monster, Hi Infidelity, thanks largely to the high-sheen pop perfection of their #1 blockbuster "Keep On Loving You," the Godzilla of power ballads. Of course, that landmark album boasted four Top 40 hits, including "Take It On the Run," whose blend of big guitars, stainless-steel harmonies, and singer Kevin Cronin's heartland holler could have made it a country hit today. Hang onto your headphones, because REO's gonna keep on rocking you in Next Steps.

In the early '80s, REO Speedwagon became arena-storming superheroes by perfecting the art of the power ballad, but they've never been in danger of forgetting how to rock. The standard was set way back on their first album, before Kevin Cronin even joined the band — original singer Terry Luttrell led REO as they grazed the charts for the first time with the wailing, bluesy burner "Sophisticated Lady." Even after rocketing to pop superstardom, they were still inviting fans to "stay awake and dance all night" to the wall of guitars and boot-stomping beat of "Good Trouble." And in 2009, they could be found joining forces with fellow Illinois classic-rockers Styx for a sizzling new single whose title said it all — "Can't Stop Rockin'." If you're bowled over by REO's studio smashes, you'll love 'em live — in Deep Cuts.

REO built their audience over the years by touring their butts off, becoming as beloved for their full-throttle live shows as they were for their masterfully crafted albums. You'll begin to understand why when you listen in on a live version of the piano-pounding boogie-woogie barnstormer "157 Riverside Avenue." The in-concert action gets even hotter on REO six-string slinger Gary Richrath's fret-burning showcase "Flying Turkey Trot." And the band's onstage assault could even breathe new life into the big hits — just listen to the way they lean into that arena-sized Bo Diddley beat to bring home a live "Don't Let Him Go."

From the corkscrew curls of their leonine manes to the gargantuan guitar riffs powering both their beefy ballads and their blazing rockers, REO Speedwagon was the epitome of classic rock. In the '80s, the question was never will there be a hit on REO's next album; it was how many hits will be on REO's next album. And the answer was always plenty! You'll find them all gathered here, but you'll come across plenty of hidden treasures too — everything from early-'70s pre-Kevin Cronin cuts to 21st-century tracks by these long-lived legends of heartland rock. REO is the kind of band born to have their name chanted by thousands of rafter-rattling fans in logo-covered tour jerseys, but now you can have their Essential moments all to yourself.