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Life as We Know It (REO Speedwagon album)

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Life as We Know It
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1987
RecordedApril–December 1986
StudioRumbo Recorders (Los Angeles)
GenreRock
Length40:19
LabelEpic
Producer
REO Speedwagon chronology
Wheels Are Turnin'
(1984)
Life as We Know It
(1987)
The Hits
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rolling Stone(unfavorable)[2]

Life as We Know It is the twelfth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music).

It features "That Ain't Love" and "In My Dreams", both of which were Top 20 hits while "Variety Tonight" reached #60 on the Hot 100. "One Too Many Girlfriends" showcased the growing tensions between band members Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath. At one point, "New Way to Love" was considered for use in the film Top Gun.

This is the group's final studio release with Richrath and original drummer Alan Gratzer, as well as their final top 40 album to date.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."New Way to Love"Kevin Cronin4:08
2."That Ain't Love"Cronin4:01
3."In My Dreams"Cronin, Tom Kelly4:30
4."One Too Many Girlfriends"Cronin3:57
5."Variety Tonight"Neal Doughty4:26
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Screams and Whispers"Kelly, Gary Richrath, Billy Steinberg3:29
7."Can't Get You Out of My Heart"Cronin, Kelly, Steinberg3:33
8."Over the Edge"Kelly, Richrath, Steinberg3:56
9."Accidents Can Happen"Bruce Hall, Jeffery B. Hall4:20
10."Tired of Getting Nowhere"Cronin4:11

Personnel

REO Speedwagon

  • Kevin Cronin – lead vocals (1-8, 10), backing vocals (1, 3, 7, 10), rhythm "left side" guitar (1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 6, 7)
  • Gary Richrath – lead guitar (1, 2, 4-10), rhythm "right side" guitar (1, 4, 5, 10), electric guitar (3)
  • Neal Doughty – acoustic piano (1), synthesizers (2-10), organ (3, 4, 10), Emulator sax (6)
  • Bruce Hall – bass, lead vocals (9)
  • Alan Gratzer – drums

Additional musicians

Production

  • Kevin Cronin – producer
  • Alan Gratzer – producer
  • Gary Richrath – producer
  • David DeVore – producer, engineer
  • Julian Stoll – assistant engineer
  • Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc (Hollywood, California).
  • Dave Snow – art coordinator
  • REO Speedwagon – cover concept
  • Donald Ryan – cover artwork
  • Aaron Rapoport – photography

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[3] 73
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[4] 24
US Billboard 200[5] 28

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Stone, Doug. REO Speedwagon: Life as We Know It at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Rolling Stone review
  3. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0798". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
  4. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – REO Speedwagon – Life as We Know It". Hung Medien. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
  5. ^ "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
  6. ^ "American album certifications – R.E.O. Speedwagon – Life as We Know It". Recording Industry Association of America.