Written by General Jabbo
www.blogcritics.org
It's been a busy few years for veteran rockers REO Speedwagon. From releasing their first album in more than a decade, one that had the band rediscovering its rock roots - 2007's Find Your Own Way Home - to nonstop touring with the likes of Styx, Journey, and Night Ranger, the band has worked at a harder pace than many bands half their age.
Now, nearly 40 years after their debut, REO is releasing its first Christmas album. Not So Silent Night mixes traditional Christmas carols, obscure gems, and a cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" with the classic REO sound - big, melodic choruses and guitars.
The album begins sweetly with a short, melodic version of "The First Noel," before segueing into a bluesy "Winter Wonderland." ‘Silent Night" and "Children Go Where I Send Thee" show the band in a surprisingly gospel vein and prove to be highlights of the disc with the former done as a ballad with choir and the latter as an up-tempo number.
For a band most famous for its ballads, the fact the slower material works better here is not surprising. "The White Snows of Winter" in particular stands out and should prove to be a favorite of fans of the band's softer side.
The Lennon cover is by the numbers and while not an improvement over the classic original is still a strong track. In keeping with the holiday spirit, all proceeds from this track go to the John Lennon Foundation. The band's cover of "Blue Christmas" finds them veering off into country territory in surprisingly convincing fashion
While the band rocks up their versions of "Deck The Halls" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," these versions come off as forced and aren't to the same standard as the rest of the CD. Still the positives outweigh the negatives here.
REO Speedwagon may not be the first band people think of when it comes to recording a Christmas album, but they make it work. Fans of the band and of Christmas music should enjoy this release for years to come.
Read article at www.blogcritics.org
REO Speedwagon will be the featured guests on the nationally syndicated radio show ROCKLINE on Wednesday night December 9 at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET. Fans are encouraged to call to speak with REO at 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). For a station near you and for information regarding how to log onto the Internet for the broadcast go to www.RocklineRadio.com This show will be streamed for two weeks on the Rockline website beginning the afternoon after the broadcast.
Now taking orders for Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon with Original autographs by the band! Will be shipped by November 1, 2009.
After being inspired to create an album unlike anything they have before, original members, Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, and Neal Doughty, and twenty-year REO veterans, Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt, were excited to put together the band's first Christmas album. They gave these classics the full REO production treatment, providing a unique spin for the yuletide season. By choosing 13 songs that range from the most traditional carols to some more obscure songs, this album reflects the REO Speedwagon holiday spirit.
Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon is poised to be a very special Christmas album that will bring generations within families together to rock the holiday nights away.
Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon
Tracks to Include:
The First Noel
Winter Wonderland
Silent Night
Deck the Halls
Little Drummer Boy
The White Snows of Winter
Angels We Have Heard on High (Gloria)
Children Go Where I Send Thee
I'll Be Home For Christmas
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Blue Christmas
Joy To The World
In support of their upcoming release, REO Speedwagon is set to perform for over 5 million viewers on NBC's "Holiday Celebration on Ice" special, which will air nationally on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 29, from 4:00 to 6:00PM EST. The show features figure skating legend Brian Boitano and friends, skating to music from REO Speedwagon, as well as special guest Rick Springfield.
The band is currently on the second leg of their "Can't Stop Rockin'" tour across the country through November with Styx and Night Ranger, offering recession friendly prices through their "Rock n Roll Stimulus Package."
Tour Dates 2009
October 23: Embassy Theater - Ft. Wayne, INOctober 24: Ford Community & Performing Arts Center - Dearborn, MI
October 25: Kewadin Casino - Sault Ste Marie, MI
Can't Stop Rockin' II Tour
October 29: North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC
October 30: Ford Amphitheatre - North Tampa, FL
October 31: Cruzan Amphitheater - West Palm Beach, FL
November 1: Columbus Civic Center - Columbus, GA
November 3: Richmond Coliseum - Richmond, VA
November 5: Big Sandy Superstore Arena - Huntington, WV
November 6: Sovereign Center - Reading, PA
November 7: Covelli Center - Youngstown, Ohio
November 8: Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio
November 10: Bank of Kentucky Center - Highland Heights, Kentucky
November 12: Lawrence Joel Vet. Memorial Coliseum - Winston Salem, North Carolina
November 13: Viking Hall - Bristol, TN
November 14: Eastern Kentucky Expo Center - Pikeville, Kentucky
November 15: Sommet Center - Nashville, TN
November 17: Allen Event Center - Allen, TX
November 19: Verizon Arena North - Little Rock, AR
November 20: Arkansas State Convocation Center - Jonesboro, Arkansas
November 21: Coushatta Casino Resort - Kinder, LA
November 22: American Bank Center - Corpus Christi, TX
REO SPEEDWAGON PUTS THEIR OWN UNIQUE SOUND TO CHRISTMAS CLASSICS WITH NOT SO SILENT NIGHT CHRISTMAS ALBUM DUE OUT OCTOBER 27th
Los Angeles, CA...September 23, 2009" Rock superstars REO Speedwagon will be releasing a new Christmas album, Not So Silent Night...Christmas With REO Speedwagon, on October 27th on Sony Legacy Recordings, produced by Joe Vannelli, along with associate producer and lead singer Kevin Cronin. The album will feature 13 Christmas classics with a unique REO Speedwagon musical twist.
"We are really excited to bring something brand new for our fans to enjoy with their families, just in time for the holidays," said Cronin. "We are as proud and passionate about this project as we have been about any album we have ever made. We hope that this music is as much fun for our fans to listen to as it has been for us to create. The holiday spirit is alive in the REO family, and we wish the same for yours."
After being inspired to create an album unlike anything they have before, original members, Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, and Neal Doughty, and twenty-year REO veterans, Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt, were excited to put together the band's first Christmas album. They gave these classics the full REO production treatment, providing a unique spin for the yuletide season. By choosing 13 songs that range from the most traditional carols to some more obscure songs, this album reflects the REO Speedwagon holiday spirit. Not So Silent Night is poised to be a very special Christmas album that will bring generations within families together to rock the holiday nights away. In the spirit of the holidays, REO Speedwagon will be donating all artist royalties from "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" to the John Lennon Foundation.
Tracks to Include:
The First Noel
Winter Wonderland
Silent Night
Deck the Halls
Little Drummer Boy
The White Snows of Winter
Angels We Have Heard on High (Gloria)
Children Go Where I Send Thee
I'll Be Home For Christmas
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Blue Christmas
Joy To The World
In support of their upcoming release, REO Speedwagon is set to perform for over 5 million viewers on NBC's "Holiday Celebration on Ice" special, which will air nationally on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 29, from 4:00 to 6:00PM EST. The show features figure skating legend Brian Boitano and friends, skating to music from REO Speedwagon, as well as special guest Rick Springfield.
The band is currently on the third leg of their "Can't Stop Rockin'" tour across the country through November with Styx and Night Ranger, offering recession friendly prices through their "Rock n Roll Stimulus Package."
Kevin Cronin, lead singer and principle songwriter; bass player Bruce Hall; Neal Doughty, keyboard player and founding member; lead guitarist Dave Amato, and drummer Bryan Hitt, are REO Speedwagon. Since the release of their first record in 1971, the band has produced 17 critically acclaimed albums including the monumental 10 million seller, Hi Infidelity, had scored 13 Top 40 singles, including the Number One hits "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Keep On Loving You," timeless classics including "Roll With The Changes", "Ridin' The Storm Out", "Take It On The Run", "Time For Me To Fly" and "Keep Pushin." Their latest album, Find Your Own Way Home, featured the radio favorites "I Needed To Fall" and "Smilin' In The End." REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums to date.
Part of REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall's arsenal for decades, this '65 Fender Jazz Bass is the instrument heard on the band's classic early albums, including You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish.
Visit Vintage Guitar website for more details and hear the story behind REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall's '65 Fender Jazz. http://www.vguitar.com/current/
