CoronaVinyl Day 122 ('70s Live Album, Part 2): Live: You Get What You Play For by REO Speedwagon

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

I had planned on featuring a live album from the '80s today, but it turns out I don't have any on vinyl -- or at least any that were put out by artists I haven't already featured on CoronaVinyl.  So, it is with my sincerest apologies that I give you a '70s live album for the second day in a row.  But then again, live music must have been pretty damn good in the '70s because there are a lot of great live albums from that decade.

Today, we're listening to REO Speedwagon's 1977 live double album Live: You Get What You Play For.  Unquestionably the best thing that ever came out of Champaign, Illinois, REO Speedwagon had gained a following in the Midwest in the late '60s and early '70s, and they were starting to inch closer to wider success when this album was released.  Anyone who has listened to classic rock radio over the years knows that they have plenty of songs featured on classic rock and AOR radio.  But in 1977, they were still making their way up, and a live album was sometimes the best way to help an up-and-coming band get a bigger following.  Listening to this album, you wouldn't know that they weren't a big band already.  They sound good and tight -- which isn't too much of a surprise, given that they had been together for nearly a decade at this point.

The album wasn't a huge success, reaching only #72 on the Billboard album chart and producing only one charting single, the live version of "Ridin' the Storm Out," which topped out at #94 on the Billboard Hot 100.  That said, it was their highest-charting album and single up to that point, and the album did go platinum in the U.S. within two years, so obviously someone was listening.

Things only went up for the band after that, and in the '80s, they had had three Top 10 albums on the Billboard album chart, including one #1, 1980's Hi Infidelity (which is since been certified diamond in the U.S.), and pretty much every single they released in the U.S. in the '80s cracked the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, as they had 13 Top 40 hits in the decade, including four that reached the Top 10 and two #1s -- 1980's "Keep On Loving You" and 1984's "Can't Fight This Feeling."

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Like You Do"

There's something I really enjoy about first songs from live albums and concerts.  On live albums, the first track is usually one that kicks off a concert and has an intro from the PA announcer.  That's the case here with "Like You Do," and the band brings the energy immediately.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Son of a Poor Man"
This is an up-tempo song with a good driving beat and a honky-tonk-esque piano.

Favorite song from Side 3:  "Flying Turkey Trot"
In addition to having a great name, this is kind of funky instrumental that allows the band to show off their skills, particularly lead guitarist Gary Richrath.

Favorite song from Side 4:  "Little Queenie"
I'm a sucker for a Chuck Berry cover, and REO Speedwagon does good work here.  This song is on the vinyl release of the album, but not on the subsequent CD releases of the album (or on the Spotify version of the album).