Released October 1971 Length 38:10 | Genre Rock • Hard rock Label Epic | |
Recorded 1970–1971 at Connecticut Recording Studios Inc.
"Prison Women" recorded at Columbia Recording Studios in Chicago, Illinois Producer Paul Leka, Billy Rose II | ||
R.E.O. Speedwagon is the debut studio album by American rock band REO Speedwagon. Released in 1971, it was the only album recorded with singer Terry Luttrell until Kevin Cronin joined the band for R.E.O./T.W.O. This album concluded with one progressive rock song unlike the later arena rock songs that made them famous.
Contents
The album produced the fan favorites “157 Riverside Avenue”, “Sophisticated Lady” and “Lay Me Down”, but sold very poorly, though “Sophisticated Lady” did reach number 122 on the singles charts. “157 Riverside Avenue” and “Lay Me Down” were subsequently recorded on the live album Live: You Get What You Play For. “157 Riverside Avenue” and “Sophisticated Lady” were both featured on the compilation album A Decade of Rock and Roll: 1970-1980. In 2007, the British company BGO Records released REO Speedwagon and R.E.O./T.W.O. together (BGOCD775), marking the first time the band’s first album was widely available in CD format. For some unknown reason, Epic Records never issued this first album on the cassette tape format ( but they did issue an 8-Track Stereo Tape Cartridge version of it. )
Track listing
All tracks written by Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer, Terry Luttrell, Gregg Philbin, and Gary Richrath, except where noted.
Personnel
REO Speedwagon
Charts
Singles - Billboard (North America)