The Hits (REO Speedwagon album)

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The Hits
Alan Gratzer
  • David DeVore
    • REO Speedwagon chronology
    Life as We Know It
    (1987)     		The Hits
    (1988)     		The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken
    (1990)
    Singles from The Hits
    1. "Here with Me"
      Released: June 1988
    2. "I Don't Want to Lose You"
      Released: November 1988
    Professional ratings
    Review scores
    SourceRating
    Allmusic
    		[2]
    Robert ChristgauC[3]

    The Hits is a compilation album from REO Speedwagon. It contains hits such as "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Keep on Loving You", as well as new tracks "Here with Me" and "I Don't Want to Lose You". "Here with Me" cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] and the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart; however, it would be the last single to feature drummer Alan Gratzer and guitarist Gary Richrath, as they each left the band within the year following this album's release. The album has sold over 4 million copies in the U.S. which led it to go 4× Platinum.

    A conspicuous absentee from the album is "Keep the Fire Burnin'", which reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. The collection is one of several released by the band's label. The album was remastered and reissued in 2002. The album was also re-released in 2020 on black and white vinyl.[5]

    Cash Box called "I Don't Want to Lose You" a "hard-driving, corporate-sounding rocker."[7]

    Track listing

    Side one
    No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
    1."I Don't Want to Lose You"
    Keep on Loving You"
    		CroninHi Infidelity (1980)3:21
    5."That Ain't Love"CroninLife as We Know It (1987)4:02
    6."Take It on the Run"Gary RichrathHi Infidelity4:02
    Side two
    No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
    7."Don't Let Him Go"CroninHi Infidelity3:48
    8."Can't Fight This Feeling"CroninWheels Are Turnin' (1984)4:55
    9."Keep Pushin'"CroninR.E.O. (1976)4:06
    10."In My Dreams"Cronin, KellyLife as We Know It4:31
    11."Time for Me to Fly"CroninYou Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish3:44
    12."Ridin' the Storm Out" (live)RichrathLive: You Get What You Play For (1977)5:51
    CD edition track listing
    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    1."I Don't Want to Lose You"Kelly, Steinberg
    Alan Gratzer
    		4:02
    6."Take It on the Run"RichrathBeamish, Cronin, Richrath4:02
    7."In My Dreams"Cronin, KellyDevore, Cronin, Richrath, Gratzer4:31
    8."Don't Let Him Go"CroninBeamish, Cronin, Richrath3:48
    9."Can't Fight This Feeling"CroninCronin, Richrath, Gratzer4:55
    10."Keep Pushin'"CroninJohn Stronach4:06
    11."Time for Me to Fly"CroninCronin, Richrath3:44
    12."One Lonely Night"Neal DoughtyCronin, Richrath, Gratzer3:23
    13."Back on the Road Again"Bruce HallBeamish, Cronin, Richrath5:29
    14."Ridin' the Storm Out" (live)RichrathStronach, John Henning, Richrath5:51
    Total length:61:07

    Personnel

    REO Speedwagon

    • Kevin Cronin – lead vocals, rhythm guitars, keyboards
    • Gary Richrath – lead guitars
    • Neal Doughty – keyboards, synthesizers
    • Gregg Philbin
      – bass, backing vocals (tracks 9 and 12 on the original CD, tracks 10 and 14 on the reissue)
    • Bruce Hall – bass, backing vocals (lead on track 13)
    • Alan Gratzer
      – drums, backing vocals

    Additional personnel[8]

    • Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals
    • Eric Persing – additional synthesizers, programming

    Production

    • Keith Olsen – producer (1, 2)
    • Kevin Cronin – producer (3-9, 11, 12, 13)
    • Gary Richrath – producer (3-9, 11-14)
    • Paul Grupp – producer (3, 11)
    • John Boylan – executive producer (3, 11)
    • Kevin Beamish – producer (4, 6, 8, 13)
    • Alan Gratzer – co-producer (4, 6, 8), producer (5, 7, 9, 12), associate producer (13)
    • David DeVore – producer (5, 7), production assistant (9, 12), package assembling, mastering
    • John Stronach – producer (10, 14)
    • Gary Lubow – production assistant (13)
    • John Henning – producer (14)
    • Joe Gastwirt – engineer
    • Steve Hall – mastering
    • Tony Lane – art direction
    • Nancy Donald – art direction
    • David Coleman – design
    • Harry Mittman – photography
    • Dennis Keeley – inner sleeve photography
    • Malcolm Dome – liner notes
    • Baruck-Consolo Management – management

    Studios

    • Recorded and Assembled at Pacific Studios (Chatsworth, California).
    • Mastered at Future Disc (North Hollywood, California).

    Charts

    Chart performance for The Hits
    Chart (1988) Peak
    position
    Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[9] 62
    US Billboard 200[10] 56

    Certifications

    Certifications for The Hits
    Region Certification Certified units/sales
    United States (RIAA)[11] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡
    United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Silver 60,000‡

    ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

    Catalog numbers

    Notes

    1. ^ "RIAA".
    2. ^ Allmusic review
    3. ^ Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
    4. ^ "Billboard: Hot 100 REO Speedwagon". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
    5. ^ "REO Speedwagon - The Hits (2020, Clear w/Black and White Splatter, Vinyl)". discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
    6. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. July 2, 1988. p. 14. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
    7. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. October 8, 1988. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
    8. ^ REO Speedwagon The Hits - "I Don't Want to Lose You" and "Here with Me". Sony Music Entertainment. 1988. p. 3.
    9. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8565". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
    10. ^ "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
    11. ^ "American album certifications – R.E.O._Speedwagon – The Hits". Recording Industry Association of America.
    12. ^ "British album certifications – REO Speedwagon – The Hits". British Phonographic Industry.
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