12/01/2025
This week in 1980, the REO Speedwagon single “Keep On Loving You” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #88 (November 29)
Written by Kevin Cronin, and featuring the brilliant guitar work of Gary Richrath, the song first appeared on REO Speedwagon's 1980 album “Hi Infidelity”.
It was the first REO Speedwagon single to break the top 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also went to #2 in Canada, #3 in Australia and South Africa, #4 in Switzerland, #6 in Ireland, #7 in the UK and #9 in the Netherlands.
Kevin Cronin recalls: “I walked into rehearsal and sat down at the piano, which I rarely do because I’m a guitar player, and started playing "Keep on Loving You." ... And the guys in the band looked at me like I was from another planet.
They were like, "What are you...?" because we were all bringing in songs for this record we were going to make and they looked at me like I was crazy.
And I’m like, "Dude, this song really means a lot to me." [And they said] "So, dude, that’s not an REO Speedwagon song."
And I kind of was like, "You know what? I’m the main songwriter for REO Speedwagon, so if I write a song, it’s an REO Speedwagon song. It’s the band's job to turn it into an REO Speedwagon song."
I was so passionate about this song. Everyone kind of got it and sure enough, Gary [Richrath] went over, plugged in his guitar and started playing power chords to this little love song I wrote.
The next thing we knew, it was a #1 record and everyone was calling it a power ballad and acted like we had this strategy for success that made this song happen when really it was just an accident!”
The live recording is excellent…
https://youtu.be/ISYKhc9foUw?si=StYkxpz1u5-8Z5aA
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