T.W.O.

• Artist: REO Speedwagon
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1972 12
• Total Time: 43:50
• Genre: Rock

Review

As soon as REO Speedwagon's second album -- aptly titled T.W.O. -- kicks off with "Let Me Ride," it's clear that the band has made some significant strides in gaining a personality. Part of this is due to singer Terry Luttrell being swapped out for Kevin Cronin, whose keening tenor is markedly different from Luttrell's bluesy gargle, and part is due to three of the songs, dramatic multi-sectioned rockers, being more distinguished than the pedestrian boogie of the debut. That boogie hasn't been abandoned -- the group takes the swing out of Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie," which brings it closer to the anonymous thud that characterizes Gary Richrath's "Flash Tan Queen," along with much of the rest of the album. Although REO don't always succeed when opening up their music -- "Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometimes)" winds up getting stuck in the murk -- Cronin's two side-openers of "Let Me Ride" and "Music Man" point the way toward the group's classic sound. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Let Me Ride	Kevin Cronin	REO Speedwagon	(6:00)
How the Story Goes	Gary Richrath	REO Speedwagon	(3:33)
Little Queenie	Chuck Berry	REO Speedwagon	(6:39)
Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometimes)	Kevin Cronin	REO Speedwagon	(6:02)
Music Man	Kevin Cronin	REO Speedwagon	(4:38)
Like You Do (Lyrics)	Gary Richrath	REO Speedwagon	(5:57)
Flash Tan Queen	Gary Richrath	REO Speedwagon	(4:23)
Golden Country (Lyrics)	Gary Richrath	REO Speedwagon	(6:33)

Credits

Billy Barnes (Art Direction), Tomi Lee Bradley (Vocals (Background)), Kevin Cronin (Guitar), Kevin Cronin (Vocals), Neal Doughty (Keyboards), Mike Figlio (Engineer), Marvin Gleicher (Photography), Alan Gratzer (Percussion), Alan Gratzer (Drums), Ed Hudson (Assistant Engineer), Paul Leka (Producer), Terry Luttrell (Vocals), Gregg Philbin (Bass), Boots Randolph (Saxophone), REO Speedwagon (Arranger), REO Speedwagon (Main Performer), Gary Richrath (Guitar), Kelly Bowen (Vocals (Background)), Hollis Flatt (Assistant Engineer), Bob McGraw (Assistant Engineer), Freeman Ramsey (Assistant Engineer), Billy Rose (Producer)