The Essential REO Speedwagon in Bloomington, MN

REO Speedwagon
reached the
Billboard
charts 24 times. Not all of those were big hits, of course. Some of the early singles barely qualified for the Hot 100, while some of the latter-day hits made no waves outside of the Mainstream
Rock
charts, which means that they are relatively unheard by the
pop
audience that loved
Hi Infidelity
and
"Can't Fight This Feeling."
In other words, all the big hits could have been assembled on a single-disc collection, but
Epic
/
Legacy
's 2004 release
The Essential REO Speedwagon
is a sprawling double-disc, 33-track history. There's a reason for that. The extra space gives plenty of room for the band -- and
Kevin Cronin
was indeed a co-producer on this set -- to show that they weren't just a power
ballad
powerhouse, that they also rocked hard and stretched out on occasion. Consequently,
The Essential
is more of a history than a standard hits collection. If anything, the hits take a back seat, with the first big anthem,
"Roll With the Changes,"
not showing up until track 13 and
not rearing its head until the second disc. If you just want the hits, the appropriately titled 1988 collection
The Hits
will serve those up, but
Essential
digs deeper, hitting nearly all of the key album tracks, concert staples, and fan favorites, drawing a picture of a band that was more muscular and complex than the hits, particularly power
ballads
like
"Can't Fight This Feeling,"
would suggest. It's not for every listener, but for those fans who want more than the hits but don't want full-length albums, this is the perfect solution. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine