You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
| You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1978[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1977–78 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Arena rock[2] | |||
| Length | 33:47 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Paul Grupp, John Boylan | |||
| REO Speedwagon chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[5] |
You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish is the seventh
studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1978. It was their first album to be co-produced by lead singer Kevin Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath. The album was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at No. 29.[6]
The album sold over 2 million copies in the US, which led it to being certified 2× Platinum.
This is the first album to feature Bruce Hall on bass, replacing Gregg Philbin. In 2013, the album was released on CD by UK-based company Rock Candy Records, with expanded liner notes and photos.
The hits "
Pitchfork's list of "The Worst Record Covers of All Time",[7] and in 2014 its title was featured in NME's list of "The 50 Worst Album Titles in History".[8] In 2020, Netflix's Ozark TV series third season episode, "Kevin Cronin Was Here" featured "Time for Me to Fly", which resulted in the song making the top 40 on the Billboard Digital Songs Chart.[9][10]
"Roll with the Changes" was featured in the 2011 movie .
"Time for Me to Fly"
The song "Time for Me to Fly" peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978; despite this relatively modest peak position, it has become one of the band's best-known songs, and has received airplay on FM radio over the years. According to singer Kevin Cronin, the song was inspired by his breakup with his high school girlfriend.[12] The song would again hit the top 40 in 2020 on Billboard's Digital Songs Chart after it was featured on Netflix's Ozark third-season episode, "Kevin Cronin was Here."[9][10] It was also used in the films Vision Quest and Grown Ups.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Roll with the Changes" | Kevin Cronin | 5:37 |
| 2. | "Time for Me to Fly" | Cronin | 3:42 |
| 3. | "Runnin' Blind" | Debbie Mackron, Gary Richrath | 3:08 |
| 4. | "Blazin' Your Own Trail Again" | Cronin | 3:32 |
| 5. | "Sing to Me" | Richrath | 2:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lucky for You" | Cronin, Richrath | 5:02 |
| 2. | "Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?" | Richrath | 2:53 |
| 3. | "The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot" | Richrath | 2:17 |
| 4. | "Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight" | Cronin, Richrath | 4:58 |
Personnel
REO Speedwagon[13]
- Kevin Cronin – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (track 1)
- Gary Richrath – lead and rhythm guitars
- Neal Doughty – piano (except track 1), Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer
- Bruce Hall – bass
- Alan Gratzer – drums
Additional personnel
- Lon Price – saxophone (track 9)
- Angelle Trosclair, Denise McCall, Denny Henson, Tom Kelly – backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4)
Production
- Paul Grupp – producer, engineer
- John Boylan – executive producer
Charts
Album
|
Singles
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[21] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | April 1978 | Epic | Stereo vinyl | E-35082 |
| 1978 | Cassette | PET-35082 | ||
8-track
|
E35082 | |||
| United Kingdom | July 1978 | vinyl | ||
| United States | 2000 | CD (Remaster) | EK-61613 | |
| Japan | 2011 | Sony Music | CD (DSD-Remaster) | EICP 1488 |
| United Kingdom | 2013 | Rock Candy | CD- 24 bit audio (Remastered & Reloaded) |
CANDY176 |
References
- ^ a b "Great Rock Discography". p. 685.
- ^ Trenz, Brandon (1998). "REO Speedwagon". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 935–936.
- ^ "REO speedwagon singles".
- AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "REO Speedwagon: You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007.
- ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.
- ^ "The Worst Record Covers of All Time - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com.
- ^ "The 50 Worst Album Titles Ever - NME". March 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Tallerico, Brian (March 27, 2020). "Ozark Recap: Time For Me to Fly". Vulture.
- ^ a b "REO Speedwagon's 'Time For Me To Fly' Debuts At #34 On Billboard Digital Song Sales Chart Following 'Ozark' Season 3 Feature". April 7, 2020.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 6, 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ "Why REO Speedwagon's 'Time for Me to Fly' Took 10 Years to Write". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ REO Speedwagon — You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish. Rock Candy Records Ltd. 2013. p. 16.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4563b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 6/24/78". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 13, June 24, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 24, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 24, September 9, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 9, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
- ^ "American album certifications – R.E.O._Speedwagon – You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
