Roll With the Changes

Kevin Cronin, the lead singer of REO Speedwagon, wrote "Roll With the Changes" during a transformative road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1976, when the band relocated. Driving a Ford Pinto and towing a U-Haul trailer, Cronin was inspired by the changes in his life, including rejoining the band after a brief departure. He scribbled the lyrics on a brown paper bag with a Sharpie, even pulling over in New Mexico to finish them for safety and legibility. This story, shared in an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, highlights the song’s spontaneous creation, reflecting its theme of embracing change.

The song, featured on the 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish, marked a pivotal moment for REO Speedwagon. Cronin recalled in a Ultimate Classic Rock interview that he hadn’t written the chorus when he played it for guitarist Gary Richrath. Richrath, however, insisted the chorus was already there, showcasing their collaborative dynamic. The piano-driven track, unusual for the band’s guitar-heavy sound, was shaped by Cronin tinkering on a grand piano at the Record Plant studio, as he noted in the same interview. The song peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, their biggest hit at the time, paving the way for later chart-toppers.

Recording "Roll With the Changes" involved meticulous work, particularly on Richrath’s guitar solos. Producer Paul Grupp, in a Mix interview, described spending Christmas Day 1977 with Richrath at Sound City Studios, perfecting the intro, middle, and end solos. The song’s piano sound was enhanced by hardening the hammers of Sound City’s Steinway grand for more attack, as Grupp explained. The track’s enduring appeal is evident in its use at President Obama’s 2012 election night celebration in Chicago and its status as a fan favorite, often praised on platforms like Reddit for its uplifting energy.

The music video for "Roll With the Changes," directed by Arnold Levine, was shot in black-and-white at Kemper Arena in Kansas City on May 13, 1978, three years before MTV launched. When MTV began airing in 1981, the video gained exposure due to REO Speedwagon’s rising fame from their Hi Infidelity album. Social media posts from fans on Reddit in 2024 highlight the song’s live impact, with one user recalling a 1978 concert where the band outshone Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, driven by Richrath’s electrifying guitar work.

REO Speedwagon formed in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, when Neal Doughty, a University of Illinois student, met drummer Alan Gratzer. Doughty, who had taught himself Beatles songs on piano, bought a Farfisa organ and learned The Doors’ "Light My Fire." The band named itself after the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck Doughty spotted in a transportation history class. They began playing cover songs at campus bars and fraternity parties, with their first gig at a University of Illinois fraternity turning into a food fight. Their early repertoire, featuring then-obscure acts like The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, helped them build a local following, as Doughty noted in a News-Gazette interview.

The band’s early years were marked by lineup changes, with Kevin Cronin joining in 1971 as their second vocalist. After recording R.E.O./T.W.O. in 1972, Cronin left due to creative differences but returned in 1976, solidifying the lineup that would achieve fame. Managed early on by Irving Azoff, who also worked with Steely Dan and Jimmy Buffett, REO Speedwagon built a reputation as a live act, culminating in their 1977 live album You Get What You Play For. This success earned them creative control for You Can Tune a Piano, launching their commercial breakthrough.

You can follow REO Speedwagon on their official website or connect with them on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also engage on platforms like Reddit’s ClassicRock community and Facebook groups such as the REO Speedwagon Fan Club, where Zoo Freaks can share their love for the band’s timeless hits like "Roll With the Changes."