There is NO BODY that plays guitar like Gary Richrath...Holy moly what a great sound he gets outta that Les Paul... ROCK ON GARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is back when Kevin's voice was in the best shape ever, and he sings his balls off in this song. Watch Gary at the end of his second solo...he turns to each of his band mates and acknowledges/smiles at them, as if saying, "Isn't this a blast?" I saw the Wheels are Turnin' tour twice, and Gary was AMAZING.
You see, Kids? Live music with NO lip-synching, no choreographed dance routines, no pre-recorded instrumental tracks, and NO AUTO TUNE SOFTWARE. This is raw talent. Rock and Roll at its' purest and most splendid. THANK YOU Kevin, Gary, Alan, Neal, and Bruce!!!
Absofrickenlutely... i saw Gary the first time i was 13yrs old in 1981 on the "Live Infidelity" tour, 8th row in front of Gary, at Mcnichols Sports Arena in Denver,Colorado, my hometown, and where a concert film was shot for MTV, because kids backnthen MTV actually played music videos, and live concerts 24 hours a day, not Catfish or Ridiculousness shows 24/7, what a brain dead channel. I still have not heard and guitar player like him. His playing style was very melodic and flowed over songs with equally melodic method with his signature screaming Les Paul solo's. We grew up with all the best Rock n Roll bands, and mommie and daddie wernt buying us new cars that all try and copy the Fast n the Furious rice burners. No we bought old Camaro's, Mustangs, Trans Ams, Chevelles, Firebirds, and fixed them up with beefy V8 rebuilds, custom paint jobs, Hooker Headers and glass pack exhausts, and each city had that strip that we cruised up and down all night long, or fiding out where any kegger parties were happening. We Rocked
Gary was the best guitarist in his time. No one played with enjoyment as much as he did..he would and communicate with other band members with excitement..put all his heart and soul in every performance..playing for the Angel's now..you are missed
Gary was SO great...check him out at 6:25: As he's finishing the solo, you can tell that he's looking at every member of the band, smiling as if to say, "Isn't this a BLAST?"!! Nobody could smile on stage, or move, like Richrath...
Very true Dennis, for Gary it was so much more than as you said his fret-flying!! No one could, smile, move or hold the audience captive the way Gary did. He was so special. His real fans miss him very much. He truly was the R in REO. Keep RTSO!!!
Love this version. Gary, you are so missed. You can't be replaced -- your bright smile, your energy, your bond with the audience. Love you always, sweet man.
4:20 to 4:35, KC at his VERY, VERY BEST!! Watch Alan Gratzer smile as Kevin is singing his ass off!! One of the BEST live bands of all time, when Gary was at his smiling, fret-flying, cool-moving best...
From 6:20 to 6:35, you can see Gary looking at each member of the band, smiling & communicating: "Isn't this a frigging blast?!?!" TERRIFIC piece of SHOWMANSHIP!!
Those were good times 70's-80's seen them 4 times in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena. The live album" you get what you play for "is a masterpiece and exactly what you witnessed if you were there
I saw them do this version twice in Detroit, first at Joe Louis Arena, and then at Pine Knob. 5th row on Gary's side of the stage...deaf for three days. Awesome...!!
When REO came to Boulder, CO back in the early 90s (or was it late 80s?), they stayed at the Boulder Best Western Golden Buff, where my sister was the receptionist. They all checked in, then she called me late that evening, asking if I wanted to go out with her and Neal, the Keyboardist (apparently none of the other band members cared to go out for the evening). He had never been to Boulder so I excitedly accepted and drove in to town, joining her, Neal, and another friend of mine Jane at the infamous Rio Grande restaurant/bar on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, back when that restaurant was a tiny hole-in-the wall. (That location is now "Foolish Craigs", and the Rio has expanded to a larger space). We all had margaritas, Neal wisely chose a soda water, as he was performing the next day. Damn!! I should have got a video, or atleast an autograph!!! DaFuk is wrong with me??? (bangs head)
Best version of this fantastic song ever. That slowed-down, acoustic-style lead in is perfect. This is one of the best lyrical songs you'll ever hear. Could listen to it 100 times and hit re-play again.
I never get tired of watching this. Gary was traveling through my town several years ago with his band and I got to visit with him when he was checking out of a room in town. Awesome guy with incredible talent. He knows how to make a guitar talk for sure.
This is by far the best live version I have ever heard! I live in St. Louis and I wish that Kshe-95 would play this! Gotta love Richrath and his playing!
I remember seeing this version WAY back in late 70s or early 80s. At first I was like WTF....I want to hear the "REAL" version...then they went in to it! I never forgot it.
I thnk REO finally figured out who and what they wanted to be with this album. This song is really the "here we come" moment and it really makes me smile every time I hear Kevin play that opening piano riff and Gary play that opening pick scrape and the opening lick. So many memories of seeing them in Kansas City in the late 70's to mid 80''s. I wish I could thank each of you in person how much your music and shows meant growing up. God bless all of you;....especially Gary.
Really cool to see Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Truck to do back up vocals. Nor sure who the other singers were. Sorry Dave Amato but the way Gary put his heart and soul how he pounds out the riffs,U can't beat that.
That's really something how Kevin Cronin can sing the opening variant in a flawless way without falling into the original song version or cracking a tone. That's control.
Various dif concerts in this one video, but the one with Kevin in the white tank top...he was on top of his game vocally there. Full high range in operation! I mean he was going above and beyond normal. Love this song! Love the band.
When I first heard this version live, I was upset and puzzled as to Why Kevin would do this to such a "Pedal to the metal" Rock Song , Not knowing what was Coming!!! By the Time they Finished I was blown Away!!!!..... Now I listen to it and it is by and away My Favorite Version......Amazing Job Kevin, Gary and all of REO!!!!!!!!
I was so in love with the whole band when I was in my teens. I blasted their music full blast in my bedroom back in the 70's and my parents never said a word. I am talking LOUD music!
A giant heartfelt thank you to whoever posted this. I've been looking for this particular version for about 27 years. I rented the Wheels Are Turnin video back in the day when I was in High School. .I love the acoustic intro and can't believe they've never played this song this way ever since. .THANK YOU!
Richrath is a juggernaut. It's a sad sad thing he is not talked about more than he is. And it's my own little poke that he turned to alcohol when REO left rock for love ballads. He was a performance car in a tea cup ride after the change.
Thanks Clewi1091 for your message. I only heard Reo in 1981 keep on loving was released in The UK. It was Kevin's voice that drew me.I do have all their albums though. So I regard myself a proper fan. I've seen them 4 times 2 with Gary and Alan and 2 with Bryan and Dave. Apart from Bryan's drumming being much more powerful, i can't tell the difference.
WOW....These guys are "hometown boys" to me here in central IL...I've seen them twice myself, never heard this version of this song....Very cool, thanks for sharing!
Just a great timeless song!! Love this rendition of it!! Seen them several times in concert only with GARY on guitar they always seemed 2 have a good time on stage!! And what can u say about gary 2 me top 5 guitar player!! R.I.P. GARY!!
@Carpetlay1 What drew me to REO at first was Garys guitar playing. It was different than most everyone else to me for some reason. He had a style that I liked. Gary wrote songs that put REO on the map before Kevin showed up. Ridin the Storm Out, and Golden Country just to name a couple. Those were big songs, and still are. He also wrote several hits after Kevin joined. Dont get me wrong, I like REO with Kevin. But I wouldnt put all of my REO Speedwagon apples in his basket.
