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ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 374 REO SPEEDWAGON - YOU CAN TUNE A PIANO, BUT YOU CAN'T TUNA FISH (1978)

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it) unless otherwise noted.

Holy moly, it's amazing that this week's album was REO's seventh studio offering.  That's a lot of output to proceed a band's first Top 40 album, but history is history.  You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish climbed up to the 29th spot on the US chart while being certified Double Platinum by the RIAA.  It was REO's first multi-platinum album. 

The album produced two charting singles.  While topping out at number 56 and 58, respectively, Time For Me To Fly and Roll With The Changes didn't exactly blow up the charts.  However, they are two of REO's most recognized and loved songs and they are still played on classic rock radio today.

A couple of notes about the album.  It was the first one to feature Bruce Hall on bass.  The album cover was named one of the worst album covers of all time by Pitchfork Media in 2005 and in 2014 the album title was on NME's  list of The 50 Worst Album Titles in History.

Side One:

1. Roll With The Changes

2. Time For Me To Fly

3. Runnin' Blind

4. Blazin' Your Own Trail Again

5. Sing To Me

Side Two: 

6. Lucky For You

7. Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?

8. The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot

9. Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight

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3 tracks from this album have made appearances on the Hidden Treasures forum beginning as early as the third ever post.  That first appearance was made by my favorite hidden gem on here - Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?.  Just to answer the question, yes, yes I do... but I digress, the other two tracks to make appearances you ask?  Lucky for You and The Flying Tuna Trot - all to rave reviews I might add, especially from Jon.

My intro to this band came courtesy of my brother who really dug the album titled Ridin' The Storm Out also around the same time I had a buddy who's cousin who owned REO TWO.  I was an early adopter for sure.  In fact, one of my most cited lyrics is an REO lyric, and the basis for my scientifically proven and worldwide accepted theory that bands release their best material right before they record their breakthrough is based on the predecessor to this album.  So ya, I know me some REO!!

I also know this, this is a great album whether or not you like the cover or the title.  The music inside is top notch US grade A, wid-west good time rock and roll.  A must own IMO!

Yep, I listened to this the week ending 8/5 and it was the remaster so I'm not beholden to listen to it again.

So...

Good album, but it's missing that one thing that makes an REO Speedwagon a really good album and that's a BH song. Oh, and no stupid songs about letters. 

Really not a bad track here, but they reached their pinnacle with the next album. Why? BH song and a great song it is. It's also a great song to close out an album and I'm wondering why nobody has done a playlist of album closers that are great. Oh, wait.....

Never really paid attention to the album cover, it is what it is and was. Guess if I REALLY look at it, it is kinda bad, but it makes sense?????

Nine Lives is a very cool record!  But their pinnacle?    ...  I agree  ...

Only if their pinnacle is not as high as the next album they released...

Right. Nine Lives = Pinnacle.

Glad you're on board with the rest of us.

Again, if you define the pinnacle as not the highest point, then you are correct...

Well, you could say that The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog And A Chicken is the pinnacle and it's your right to say so even though it's completely wrong and anybody who's everybody knows that the pinnaclist of the REO albums is........

Nine Lives.

That is all.

Why would I say that The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken is the pinnacle?  I would never say that.  The pinnacle is the point at which the band was at the height of it's fame.  

You are comparing a Gold album to a Diamond album.  A number 33 album to a number 1 album.  

Now, if you want to say that Nine Lives is the best album ever by REO, I can appreciate it. But to claim Nine Lives is the band's pinnacle just makes me lose faith in your ability to reason...

You can't judge a pinnacle by album sales.

Every Steven Wilson album is a pinnacle upon a pinnacle and his albums don't even come close to diamond status.

Maybe you should define pinnacle then.

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