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"Take It on the Run"
Single by REO Speedwagon
from the album Hi Infidelity
B-side"Someone Tonight"
ReleasedMarch 1981
Recorded1980
Genre
Length3:59 (album version) 3:39 (radio edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Gary Richrath
Producer(s)
REO Speedwagon singles chronology
"Keep On Loving You"
(1980) 		"Take It on the Run"
(1981) 		"Don't Let Him Go"
(1981)
Live video
"Take It on the Run" on YouTube

"Take It on the Run" is a song by American rock band REO Speedwagon off the band's ninth studio album Hi Infidelity (1980). The song was written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath. "Take It on the Run" was the follow-up single behind the group's number-one hit, "Keep On Loving You". The single went gold on April 17, 1989. "Take It on the Run" has appeared on dozens of "various artists" compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest-hits albums.[1] The 2017 song "Messin' Around" by Pitbull featuring Enrique Iglesias interpolates "Take It on the Run".[2]

Background

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The lyrics are sung by someone who suspects his partner of being unfaithful. While the singer claims "I don't believe it, not for a minute," he also says if it's true "then I don't want you around."

According to REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin, the original title to the song was "Don't Let Me Down."[3] Cronin said that:

As soon as I heard ["Don't Let Me Down"], I knew it could be awesome. This really grabbed me by the nuts. So, [lead guitarist Gary Richrath and I] then developed it together, and one of the things we did was change the title to "Take It On The Run." The opening line is so special: ‘Heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend…’. Somehow, it captures the imagination and hooks you in.[4]

Cronin says that he insisted that the title should be "Take It on the Run" and that he added the line to the refrain "You’re under the gun / So you take it on the run," which he says "either makes sense or it doesn’t, but it sure sung well and it sure rhymed, and it was a spur-of-the-moment thing that when I heard the rest of the song, that’s what I felt."[3] The official songwriting credit names Richrath as the sole writer, but the liner notes for Hi Infidelity credit Cronin for "lyrical assistance".

Record World described it as a "power ballad" and said it was a "blockbuster."[5]

According to Cronin, Epic Records was not convinced that "Take It on the Run" was good enough to be released as the follow-up single to "Keep On Loving You" and wanted to release "In Your Letter" instead, but the band insisted on releasing "Take It on the Run."[4]

The song's music video was the ninth video played on MTV's first day, August 1, 1981. However, due to technical difficulties the video went to black just 12 seconds into the song, and never did finish.[6][7]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw rated it REO Speedwagon's all-time 2nd greatest song.[8]

Personnel

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REO Speedwagon

Charts

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"Take It on the Run" was released as a single in 1981 and reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[9] It also reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.[10]

Sources

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  1. ^ "REO Speedwagon, Take It on the Run (Appears On)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  2. ^ "Pitbull & Enrique Iglesias Reference "Take It On The Run" On Their New Track". reospeedwagon.com. April 15, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Wardlaw, Matt (November 21, 2017). "The History of REO Speedwagon's 'Hi Infidelity': Interview". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Cronin, Kevin (May 11, 2016). "The 10 Best REO Speedwagon Songs, by Kevin Cronin". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 21, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Random Facts: 1st Video to Ever Play on MTV". JMedinaLive.com. June 8, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  7. ^ "The first fifty music videos ever played on MTV". Data Lounge. May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  8. ^ Wardlaw, Matt (October 6, 2013). "Top 10 REO Speedwagon Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Top Pop Singles 1955-2012. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc. p. 703. ISBN 978-0-89820-205-2.
  10. ^ "REO Speedwagon". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 250. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. ^ "CHART NUMBER 1271 – Saturday, May 23, 1981". Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved May 3, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). CHUM. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 34, No. 26, June 6, 1981". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 6, 1981. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  14. ^ "REO Speedwagon - Take It on the Run". Officialcharts.de. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  15. ^ "Irish Singles Chart". The Irish Charts. Retrieved February 18, 2015. Note: REO Speedwagon must be searched manually.
  16. ^ "REO Speedwagon Singles". Umdmusic.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  17. ^ "Take It on the Run". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  18. ^ "UK album and singles database". everyHit.com. Retrieved January 28, 2015. Note: REO Speedwagon must be searched manually.
  19. ^ a b "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  20. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MAY 30, 1981". Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2014.. Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Song artist 610 - REO Speedwagon". TsorT. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  22. ^ "REO Speedwagon". Gghunt.utasites.cloud. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "Charts". Gghunt.utasites.cloud. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  24. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 35, No. 22, December 26, 1981". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  25. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1981". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  26. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981". Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2014.. Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  27. ^ "American single certifications – R.E.O. Speedwagon – Take It on the Run". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
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