I’ve recently been looking through my CD collection and pulling out some of the albums that, at some point in my life, seemed to get a lot of play
on my part. As I looked through my collection, I noticed there was quite
a few of these albums. So, I’m gonna spend the next few weeks featuring
a few of these albums that are special to me. They come from all
different decades and time periods in my life. I don’t know how many in a
row I will do, I’ll just post them until I want to go in another
direction. So here we go with this week’s installment.
Side one:
1. Keep The Fire Burning (Cronin)
2. Sweet Time (Cronin)
3. Girl With The Heart Of Gold (Hall)
4. Every Now And Then (Richrath)
5. I’ll Follow You (Richrath)
Side two:
1. The Key (Cronin)
2. Back In My Heart Again (Richrath)
3. Let’s Be-Bop (Hall)
4. Stillness Of The Night (Richrath)
5. Good Trouble (Cronin)
“Good Trouble” had the very unenviable job of following the blockbuster that was “Hi Infidelity”. It was released in 1982 and actually sold very well
and had a #7 Billboard hit (Keep The Fire Burning). Despite this, I
would venture to guess that most folks have never heard any of the other
songs on this album. That’s where I come in. I absolutely love this
album. There is only one song that I tend to skip when I listen. It also
contains what may be REO’s best hidden gem, which I’ll get to later.
Basically I’ll go through each track and tell you if it still holds up
with me today. The artwork, by the way, is absolutely crappy, especially
considering how awesome the previous albums artwork was.
Keep The Fire Burning – This was possibly my least favorite of the songs I did like back then. However, I think it has held up great and I like it
better today. It has a nice keyboard solo instead of a guitar solo in
the middle, but there is a good guitar solo at the end of the song.
Sweet Time – This one still holds up well. It’s a nice little ballad with good vocals by Cronin.
Girl With The Heart Of Gold – I liked it then, I like it now. Bruce Hall is on lead vocals but Cronin gets the lead on the pre-chorus. I like the
dual lead vocals, reminds me of Journey’s very cool dual lead vocals
because their voices are so different.
Every Now And Then – The first song on the album written by Gary Richrath. It’s sort of a ballad. I really liked this back when I listened over and
over to my vinyl, but it’s lost just a little in 28 years. Still not
bad though.
I’ll Follow You – This is another Richrath song. It’s much more rocking than the previous song. Cronin sings a good bit of it in a very high register
but it still works. I still think this is a good song.
The Key – I can’t really say anything stands out about this song, but I’ve always liked it.
Back In My Heart Again - Sort of the same as the previous song. It’s not a real standout, but I still like it today.
Let’s Be-Bop – Another contribution by Bruce Hall. I don’t know why, but I never liked this song back then, and truthfully, my opinion hasn’t
changed. Most of Hall’s songs I’ve liked, but this is the one song I’ll
still skip to this day.
Stillness Of The Night - This is the real hidden gem of this album, and I think, of REO’s catalog. It’s a great rock song, written by Gary Richrath, and
it features some nice playing by him and great vocals by Cronin as well.
I still love this song.
Good Trouble – The title track. Another very good rock song. Probably Cronin’s best effort on this album. I’ve always liked it and I think it
makes a great show closer.
So there it is. A very nice follow up to an album that sold 10 trillion copies. This album does not get it’s due, but at least it’s not the only
album that can claim that.
Hidden Gem Award – Goes to Stillness Of The Night.
If you want to listen to the album, click this link: REO Speedwagon - Good Trouble
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Norma Jean Fox
(11/30/1945-9/7/2010)
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