Essential REO Speedwagon 3.0

REO Speedwagon | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: December 22, 2009
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Epic/Legacy
• Copyright: (P) 1972, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1990 Sony Music Entertainment/(P) 1997 REO Speedwagon, Inc., Originally Released 1971, (P) 1972, 1974, 1976-1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2004 Sony
• Total Length: 3:08:05
• Genres:
• ASIN: B0030D5RLQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect, but still the best REO Speedwagon collection around, August 14, 2010

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential 3.0 REO Speedwagon (Eco-Friendly Packaging) (Audio CD)

As much as I enjoy REO Speedwagon's music, I just don't feel compelled to own all of their studio albums, so I wanted a comprehensive and affordable anthology of the band's best material. Eventually I decided on the Essential REO Speedwagon 3.0 collection. Here's why:

Pros:
- Song selection - With 3 discs, you're getting a hefty 41 songs spanning the band's lengthy career. Disc 1 focuses mainly on the band's early, harder rocking days, while disc 2 covers their radio-dominating AOR days. Disc 2 would actually make a pretty effective Greatest Hits disc all by itself. Disc 3 features an additional 8 songs, mostly lesser-known, but worthwhile for the inclusion of "Tough Guys," "Out of Season" and "Do'wanna Know."
- Price - It's not exactly cheap, but it is a good value for the amount of songs you get.

Cons:
- Sound quality - Actually, the sound quality isn't bad. It's just not what it should be. Discs 1 and 2 are identical to what came in the 2004 Essential collection, so they haven't been re-remastered. They still sound pretty decent (and much better than most of their studio releases), but compared to some of the other Essential and Gold collections (Asia and Heart come to mind) this one just doesn't measure up.
- Packaging - "Eco-friendly" seems to be code for outdated liner notes and a cheap cardboard sleeve that scratches the disc. I'd almost rather have the jewel case and detailed booklet from the 2-disc Essential REO Speedwagon release than the 8 songs on this set's third disc.

If you're looking for the most REO Speedwagon hits for the money, Essential 3.0 is a pretty good deal. It's not perfect, but it is still the best REO Speedwagon collection available.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars remastered?, December 23, 2009

By 

J. Scott - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential 3.0 REO Speedwagon (Eco-Friendly Packaging) (Audio CD)

I've held off getting this compilation for a number of reasons, one of which is rectified here with the 3.0 edition adding a few missing tracks. The main hesitation is that I am concerned about the sound quality and mastering. Some reviewers of the standard, non-3.0 edition state that the sound is essentially cr*p or even remixed. Typically, the 3.0 Essential titles consist of the existing 2-CD versions (i.e. same mastering, track selection, etc.), while adding the bonus disc. Does anyone know if this version has been completely remastered a second time? The back panel states that "additional mastering" was done by Vic Anesini, one of the few mastering engineers who understands and listens to sound as well as music. If he has remastered the entire 3.0 package, I'll buy it with confidence (depsite the fact that I'll be unintentionally spending money on Can't Fight This Feeling).

As far as a proper review, this is the most comprehensive REO collection to date - essentially an expanded edition of the orignal Decade of Rock album - and the 3.0 edition makes it moreso. I could absolutely live without nearly everything past 1982 but the band were still selling records and having hits, so they need to be included in any retrospective. Sound quality? The jury is still out...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY!!!!!, January 30, 2010

By 

R. Wilson "fionafan" (toronto canada) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential 3.0 REO Speedwagon (Eco-Friendly Packaging) (Audio CD)

I am so pleased to have finally got "I Do' Wanna Know" in excellent remastered sound quality. This song, which was the first single, from the Wheels Are Turnin' album, is not included on any REO Speedwagon best of CD, so the inclusion on this 3.0 Essential is a huge sigh of relief. Also the previous compliation "REO Speedwagon : The Hits" is an embarrasment in sound quality by comparrison. This collection is by far the best, in my opinion, REO Speedwagon has ever sounded.