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Rating: Reo Speedwagon can be considered one of the many unjustly underrated bands that shone like stars for a brief period on the long and dusty road of American success. Their rock is very simple and often sweet, which over the course of the fortunate and delightful '80s became almost repetitive and tiresome. But some works are truly worthy of praise!
The band was formed in the late sixties and for several years performed in complete anonymity, playing covers of old rock 'n' roll songs, until '71, when they signed a contract with a record producer and, with their self-titled album, kicked off their long discography. The early records are quite immature and unripe but very charming because they have the essence of pure rock 'n' roll, a genre to which they will always be tied. With the addition of the wonderful voice of Kevin Cronin at the beginning of the '80s, the band's sound shifted towards A.O.R., the typical American melodic rock, and from this moment on, Reo Speedwagon was finally able to make a name for themselves in rock history alongside high-level artists such as Journey, Foreigner, Boston, and Styx.
Subsequently, the world seemed to have turned its back on this band, which nonetheless always forged ahead on its path, continuously producing new works (some truly great, others not so much) to come up to today with a new album "Find Your Own Way Home."
"Wheels Are Turnin'" is the most famous and defining album of Reo Speedwagon because it is the work following the lucky springboard "Good Trouble" and the best in terms of sound quality. It's clear that Reo loves rock 'n' roll from "I Do' Wanna Know," a great piece that honors the album's opening, with a charming guitar riff, accompanied by the organ, which also performs a respectable solo and a well-matched vocal line. The atmosphere becomes more serious with "One Lonely Night," where the singer vocalizes with his sharp and pleasant voice, playing on the edge between major and minor, creating almost a mystical sphere, which has little to do with the band in question. Much more characteristic is the following piece "Thru The Window," very melodic and damn radio-friendly! At this point, the band decides to go back in time, to point out once again from which musical vein they hail: "Rock 'n' Roll Star," and so, you won't believe it, but it's rock 'n' roll.
After "Live Every Moment," a fairly calm and very catchy piece, comes the real moment of glory and honor in Reo's entire career, the piece that is associated with the band as the most famous (a bit like saying Smoke On the Water by Deep Purple): it is "I Can't Fight This Feeling". These 4:54 minutes of song have truly made American music history, and rightly so, it can be defined as one of the cornerstones of the genre, one of those tracks that could never be missing in a melodic hard rock collection. You can confirm this success if you watch Reo Speedwagon's performance at Live Aid in 1985: you'll find an audience of thousands of people in quite a frenzy for their stupendous performance, and especially for this song.
Right after this intense piece, it transitions from "Gotta Feel More" to "Break His Spell," generally enjoyable and appreciable tracks, to come to the end of the album with the title-track. "Wheels Are Turnin'" is a very powerful piece, in which everything seems perfect, and in which the musicians really know how to assert themselves: the solos are beautiful, especially the piano one, and once again Cronin proves to be a fantastic vocalist. A special praise goes to the choruses Reo manages to strike: throughout the album, as in their entire discography, one of their great strengths lies in their ability to sing all together.
Okay, Reo is not exactly a band that brought great innovations, changed the way of making music, launched new trends, or shocked the whole world, but sometimes genius lies precisely in simplicity.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 One Lonely Night (03:21)
You and your baby
Had some words today
Til not another word
Was left to say
I see that grin, boy
Maybe you think you'll win, boy
Until the sun goes down
And once again, boy
One lonely night
One lonely night
That's all it takes to
Completely break you
They say it's darkest
Right before the dawn
But, oh, those darkest hours
Can be so long
You're feelin' strong, boy
Tellin' yourself she's wrong, boy
But how much longer can
This night go on, boy
One lonely night
One lonely night
That's all it takes to
Completely break you
One lonely night
One lonely night
That's all it takes to
Completely break you
Ooh, she's such a good find
Have you gone and lost your mind
You should know she's one of a kind
Ooh, she's such a good find
Have you gone and lost your mind
You should know she's one of a kind
Just one lonely night
One lonely night
That's all it takes to
Completely break you
05 Live Every Moment (05:01)
Live every moment - love every day
'Cus before you know it your precious time slips away.
Live every moment - love every day
'Cause if you don't you might just throw your love away.
I walked for seven miles this mornin'. Footprints in the sand.
Washed away without a warning when the water hit the land.
But I will walk on 'til I can no longer stand.
I'll take you by the hand and we'll...
Live every moment - love every day
'Cus before you know it your precious time slips away.
There's water in the wind tonight.
There's a chill in the air.
It's coolin' down my skin tonight
Soakin' through your hair.
There's warmth enough within' tonight
for both of us to share.
We can take it anywhere. And we'll...
Live every moment - love every day
'Cus before you know it your precious time slips away.
Sometimes I wish we could take a trip far away.
Leave all this trouble and heartache and pain for another day.
I will search for that place but 'til I find it all I can say is...
Live every moment - and love every day
06 Can't Fight This Feeling (04:54)
I can't fight this feeling any longer
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show
I tell myself that I can't hold out forever
I say there is no reason for my fear
'Cause I feel so secure when we're together
You give my life direction, you make everything so clear
And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever
'Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore
My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I've been running around in circles in my mind
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl
'Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find
And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever
'Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore
09 Wheels Are Turnin' (05:51)
I've been sittin' back quietly,
Watchin' as my spirit fades.
As all of my attempts to do rightly
Get treated like some kind of terrorist raids.
Maybe I ask too much from you
Well I ain't gettin' too much in return.
I'm doin' my best to love you baby,
But the wheels are beginning to turn.
When you're cut down to the bone.
You bleed but it heals.
You hurt still you must carry on.
'Cus the wheels are turnin' -- The feeling's burnin'
The thrill's returnin'
My soul is yearnin' -- my heart is churnin'
the wheels are turnin' again.
Maybe I'm actin' irrational
Hope I don't hurt your heart
This whole problem is only geographical
I just need some kind of new start.
And if I can't get inspired 'round here,
I'm going out to the world and learn.
There's action in my soul tonight.
I feel the wheels are beginning to turn.
When you're cut down to the bone.
You bleed but it heals.
You hurt still you must carry on.
'Cus the wheels are turnin' -- The feeling's burnin'
The thrill's returnin'
My soul is yearnin' -- my heart is churnin'
the wheels are turnin' again.
I remember the last time I got on one of these rolls.
I learned all about the tolls that it takes.
I get something in my mind -- it begins to unfold
I get out in the cold -- I can't do what I'm told
I get out of control -- I can't hold on to the brakes
When you're cut down to the bone.
You bleed but it heals.
You hurt still you must carry on.
'Cus the wheels are turnin' -- The feeling's burnin'
The thrill's returnin'
My soul is yearnin' -- my heart is churnin'
the wheels are turnin' again.
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