Editing REO Speedwagon (section)

===Early years===
In the early days, REO was managed by its University of Illinois classmate [[Irving Azoff]], who later managed the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] and many others, becoming one of the most powerful people in the recording industry.

With its equipment hauled to gigs in a friend's station wagon, REO played bars and clubs all over the Midwest. Its debut album, ''[[R.E.O. Speedwagon (album)|R.E.O. Speedwagon]]'', was released on [[Epic Records]] in October 1971.<ref name="Larkin"/> The most popular track on this record was "[[157 Riverside Avenue]]"; it remains an in-concert favorite. The title is the address in [[Westport, Connecticut]], where the band stayed while recording in Leka's studio in Bridgeport.
[[File:CB Newspaper Advert @ Indianapolis 12-29-73.jpg|thumb|A newspaper advertisement for a concert featuring REO in Indianapolis in 1973]]
Although the rest of the band's lineup remained stable, REO Speedwagon switched lead vocalists three times for their first three albums. Luttrell left the band in early 1972, eventually becoming the vocalist for [[Starcastle]]. He was replaced by [[Kevin Cronin]].<ref name="Larkin"/> Cronin recorded one album with the band, 1972's ''[[R.E.O./T.W.O.]]'' but left during the recording sessions for 1973's ''[[Ridin' the Storm Out]]'' because of internal conflicts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sheff |first=David |title=Now It's Cheat to the Beat, as Reo Speedwagon Finally Arrives with 'Hi Infidelity' |url=https://people.com/archive/now-its-cheat-to-the-beat-as-reo-speedwagon-finally-arrives-with-hi-infidelity-vol-15-no-11/ |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |volume=15 |number=11 |date=March 23, 1981 |access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref> ''Ridin' the Storm Out'' was completed with Michael Bryan Murphy on lead vocal, and featured Doughty's "wailing storm siren" synthesizer intro on the title track. Murphy stayed for two more albums, ''[[Lost in a Dream (REO Speedwagon album)|Lost in a Dream]]'' (1974) and ''[[This Time We Mean It]]'' (1975), before Cronin returned in January 1976 and recorded ''[[R.E.O. (album)|R.E.O.]]'', released in July of that year.<ref name="Larkin"/>

Cronin's return came after [[Greg X. Volz]] turned down the position for lead vocalist after becoming a Christian.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/07/16/born-again-techno-rock/02d9e05c-3d5c-47f3-9ab0-07b0d5b3682e/ |title=Born-Again Techno-Rock |last=Karp |first=Jonathan |date=July 16, 1985 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>

In 1977, REO convinced Epic Records that its strength was live performances. Epic agreed to let them produce the band's first live album, ''[[Live: You Get What You Play For]]'' (January 1977), which was eventually [[RIAA certification|certified platinum]].<ref name="Larkin"/> That same year, the band moved to Los Angeles.

Also in 1977, Philbin left the band,<ref name="Larkin"/> either because he was disenchanted with the new corporate-structure REO where Cronin and Richrath got bigger slices of the pie instead of the equal credit they once shared as a "garage band", or because he was asked to leave as his lifestyle issues affected the music quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.allexperts.com/q/REO-Speedwagon-2571/Gregg-Philbin.htm |title=REO Speedwagon |website=En.allexperts.com |access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref> He was replaced by another [[Centennial High School (Champaign, Illinois)|Centennial High School]] alumnus, Bruce Hall,<ref name=NG2017 /> to record ''[[You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish]]''.<ref name="Larkin"/> The album was released in March 1978 and has received much [[FM broadcasting|FM]] radio airplay over the years, thanks to songs like "Roll with the Changes" and "[[Time for Me to Fly (song)|Time for Me to Fly]]". It was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at No. 29. It sold over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving [[RIAA certification|double platinum]] status.

In July 1979 the band turned back to hard rock with the release of ''[[Nine Lives (REO Speedwagon album)|Nine Lives]]''.<ref name="Larkin"/>