Take It on the Run

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track "Take It on the Run" by REO Speedwagon from their live album Hi Infidelity Then Again… Live, a song that captures the raw energy of their 1980 studio release Hi Infidelity. This song, written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath, almost had a different name. According to frontman Kevin Cronin, the original title was "Don’t Let Me Down," but Cronin pushed for "Take It on the Run," adding the iconic line, "You’re under the gun / So you take it on the run," which he described as a spontaneous addition that just felt right. He noted in a 2010 Goldmine Magazine interview that the line "either makes sense or it doesn’t, but it sure sung well and it sure rhymed." The song’s creation story includes a late-night session at Richrath’s ranch, where Cronin heard the opening riff and knew it needed a punchier title to match its vibe.

Another fascinating tidbit about "Take It on the Run" is its rocky journey to becoming a single. Epic Records, the band’s label, wasn’t convinced it was strong enough to follow their chart-topping "Keep On Loving You." They pushed for "In Your Letter" instead, but the band stood firm, believing in the song’s potential. Their instincts paid off, as it climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple of their live performances. The song’s music video also holds a quirky place in history—it was the ninth video played on MTV’s debut day on August 1, 1981, but a technical glitch cut it off just 12 seconds in, as Cronin humorously recalled in a 2021 post on X, saying he barely remembers making the video but knows it was a chaotic moment in early MTV history.

The song’s lyrics, with their tale of suspected infidelity and emotional defiance, resonated widely, and its legacy continues. In 2016, Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias interpolated its lyrics in their track "Messin’ Around," showing its cross-genre influence. Cronin also shared in a 2017 American Songwriter interview that the tension between his pop sensibilities and Richrath’s hard rock edge shaped the song’s unique blend of grit and melody, a dynamic that defined Hi Infidelity. Fans on Reddit have praised the song’s raw energy, with one user in a 2022 post calling it a standout track that captures the "essence of the 80s" alongside the album’s iconic cover art, which plays on the term "high fidelity" with a cheeky infidelity scene.

REO Speedwagon began in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, when keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer, both students at the University of Illinois, bonded over music. Doughty had taught himself Beatles songs on his parents’ piano, while Gratzer had been drumming in local bands since high school. They named the band after a 1911 fire truck chassis designed by Ransom Eli Olds, a nod to their Midwestern roots. Early gigs at frat parties and small clubs built their reputation as a high-energy live act, though their first recording session in Connecticut resulted in a pimple-cream jingle for just $100. The band cycled through vocalists until Kevin Cronin joined in 1972, left briefly, and returned in 1976, solidifying their lineup with Richrath, bassist Bruce Hall, and Gratzer. Their 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish marked their first major success, going double platinum, setting the stage for the massive breakthrough of Hi Infidelity in 1980.

Today, REO Speedwagon remains a beloved touring act, with fans connecting through their official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates and nostalgic posts. The band’s website, reospeedwagon.com, offers tour dates, merchandise, and news. Fan communities thrive online, with groups like the REO Speedwagon Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can join discussions about favorite songs and concerts. Websites like reofanclub.com provide exclusive content for diehard supporters, fostering a tight-knit community that keeps the band’s legacy alive.