Customer Reviews

Nine Lives

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I still remember being 14 years old and listening to FM104 Fridays at midnight when they played a new release in its entirety. One week it was Speedwagon's Nine Lives. I loved every song and couldn't wait to go out and buy the album. All these years later and listening to a CD hasn't dulled my adoration for Nine Lives. This was REO when they were a rock band, before they found out how many radio hits they could have by writing treacly ballads. This CD rocks hard from the opening song to the brilliant "Back on the Road" that ends it. Good songwriting and absolutely killer guitar work from the underrated Gary Richrath. The solos here will blow you away. "Heavy on Your Love", "Meet Me on the Mountain" and "Only the Strong Survive" are strong tracks as well as the aforementioned "Back on the Road Again".

If there was a tie breaker for best REO album, it would be between the Tuna Fish album and the Nine Lives album. And Nine Lives is the winner. Both rock harder and more consistently than their other releases. Perhaps the sound a little cleaner here, Gary's work really shines. And Bruce contributes a scorching Back on the Road again. Of course Hi Infidelity, Good Trouble, Wheels Are Turnin', Life as We Know It, are all brilliant Pop/Rock albums, but the fifth star goes to Nine Lives. It seems that in terms of creating great REO Speedwagon music, it is the combination of Gary, Kevin, Neal, Bruce and Alan. Anything else, there seems to be much lacking. It was great while it lasted.

This was by far the best effort that Reo Speedwagon put out. I own every album that REO has made and Nine Lives stands alone. This album was prior to the "Bubble Gum Era" that unfortunatly REO to part in. Nine Lives just flat rocks from the opening track (Heavy on Your Love), to the final track (Back on the Road Again). Gary Richrath really shows why he is one of the top five greatest guitarists ever with masterful licks and solos--check out the solo in Back on the Road again--sang by Bruce Hall. Also, Meet me on the Mountain is one of the best REO tracks ever. The best part of this album is that there is no blatently "made-for-radio" songs, it is the greatest band ever kicking butt.
Oh, for more Gary Richrath, who was Reo Speedwagon, check out "Richrath," his current band. KEEP PUSHIN' ROCK FANS.

For all of you that remember going to outdoor concerts, or cranking up great rock....this is the cd for you. I got to see REO, Sammy Hagar, Cheap Trick, Blackfoot up in Boulder one year, man that was the best. Ya gotta get this one!

Does anyone remember buying this album in 1979 and turning up "Heavy on Your Love" as loud as it would play? I totally agree that after this album REO turned into a pop band. "High Infidelity" was probably their best selling album but sounds like early 80's bubblegum in comparison. "Meet me on the Mountain" merges into "Back on the Road Again", another song with heavy guitar. One of the main things I remember about this album is it came out about the same time as Van Halen II. I was turning on to both at the time, a memorable time to say the least.

A real rocker for Speedwagon, nothing but straight ahead rock and roll. On their ninth album, the group puts out their hardest rocker to date. Before they became tied down with sugar coated slow songs, and syrupy production to go along with it(not that there is nothing wrong with that).
Back on the Road Again is the stand out on this cd, written and sung by newcomer bassist Bruce Hall, this would be his best song for the group. Only the Strong Survive and Meet Me on the Mountain, are also great songs. Rest of the cd is good, group sounds like they are having fun on this one. Rock and Roll Music is weak, dosn't really fit into rest of the songs.
Production is stong and gives the songs a raw feel to them. A good buy over all.

This a great album if you're a hard rock fan. I had to buy this just so I could here Back On The Road Again and Only The Strong Survive which are 2 of REO's best songs ever. Gary Richrath really plays a smokin' guitar on this album.

I think "Hi Infidelity" is a great record but "Nine Lives" for me was their peak. With the exception 'I need you tonight" this album rocks hard! Right off the bat "Heavy on your love" unleashes a great riff by the criminally underrated Gary Richrath. Kevin's voice sounds tougher then it usually does. And the rest of the band is bursting with energy as if they had something to prove. And they did. Blazing to the next rocker "Drop it" keeps the flow with the hard classic rock that is really missed in music these days (R.E.O included). Next up "Only the strong survive" combines a catchy melody and chorus while still keeping its hard rocking identity of the first two songs. "Easy Money" keeps it melodic as well with an edge. Chuck Berry's "Rock n Roll" music has not aged so well. It does not pack the same punch it did when I was 14 jumping around my room playing air guitar. But it still does not take away from the vibe the first half offers. "Take Me" is my favorite track off this album. Great lyrics and Gary bleeds through with a solo where every note is meant to be there. "I need you tonight" is pretty much a filler and it sounds out of place with the rocking tunes before and after. "Meet me on the mountain" gets the album back on track with again great melodies and musicianship. Then it bleeds into probably the most popular track off the album,"Back on the road again", bassist Bruce Hall handles the vocals. Gary goes off at the end of this song with a blistering solo that fades out to let you know you just been R.E.OWNED!

After 31 years I do not get tired of listening to this album.

I had been listening to REO for just a little while (You Can Tune a Piano and Live, You Get What You Play) when this release came out. Other than 'I Need You Tonight' from Cronin (the start of his knack for writing the top 40 hit) this is a great and very under-rated album that not too many have stumbled upon. Fans really picked up on REO with their Hi-Infidelity release. I love this album because it still brings you the REO sound from their previous albums and maybe even a little bit heavier. This is when Cronin sounds his best and really seems the right fit for the band after replacing Luttrell way back after their first album and then replacing Murphy(after their third) for their Live album. For me this album just sticks out like a sore thumb because its so different from all their next releases. This never really got much airplay on the radio that I can remember, but lots of play on the turntable. From this point on REO never looked back to their early days and that sound they created. Instead Cronin led the charge into top 40 stardom and, I guess, there wasn't any turning back because if they did who would buy it. Unfortunately, fans fell in love with Cronin and his ballads much to the early fans dismay. Pick this cd up today. A great rocker.

I love this album--this is a great album to get if you like heavy rock. I love to crank this cd (I have upgraded from the album) in my car-- even though my kids think I am a dork-- still great listening after all these years.