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Friday, February 14, 2020

81. Golden Country by REO Speedwagon


"Golden Country" by REO Speedwagon

Written by Gary Richrath
Produced by Paul Leka and Billy Rose II
Released on R.E.O./T.W.O (December 1972)
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You have to understand, I've spent most of my life living in St. Louis listening to KSHE 95. Liking REO Speedwagon wasn't a choice. It was forced upon me. It could not be helped. I will not apologize, but I felt like this needed to be said.

The weird thing about being from St. Louis is that based upon what gets played on the radio here, one would assume that REO had their greatest success in the 1970's. It turns out that they actually only really took off once Kevin Cronin took control of the band, shoved aside their arena rock roots, and transformed REO into a 80's era balladeers. I will change the radio station if they start playing "Can't Fight This Feeling" or "Keep On Loving You," but I will crank it up if they play "Golden Country" or "Like You Do" or "Keep Pushin'" or "Ridin' the Storm Out (live)." So basically if a radio station outside St. Louis plays them, I'm done, but here in St. Louis, I'm singing along.

I love REO Speedwagon in much the same way that I love St. Louis. I love REO because of their early music from the 1970's that rocks a little bit harder than their later work; the good stuff that others often ignore or never see. St. Louis is the same. People outside St. Louis often see crime and murder statistics, baseball fandom, midwestern stereotypes, and, in more recent years, images of riots and protests. St. Louis is those things, but it is not only those things. REO Speedwagon is bland ballads, but it's not only bland ballads.

My view of REO is defined by my exposure to them and how many memories are tied to their music. My view of St. Louis is defined less by the city itself and more by the connections I have made with the people. I have close family here. My best friend is here. I love my job because of the incredible people who work with me. I have friends who aren't really family, but really are family even though they aren't technically family. I have other great friends, good friends, fraternity brothers, and plenty of people I'm happy to see when our paths cross. St. Louis sometimes feels like a small town because of the number of times I'm out and happen to randomly run into someone I know.

St. Louis is a sprawling metropolis that wants to act like a big city, but feels a lot like a small town. I love it, maybe more than it deserves. I almost certainly love REO Speedwagon more than they deserve.

"Golden Country" is REO at their hardest and rocking-est. It's probably also the only political song they wrote. Its lyrics speak of the inequalities apparent in the world in 1972 and of those who live in power who have the freedom to ignore those problems and the lives destroyed as a result. "Golden Country" like most of the REO songs that I love was written by their lead guitarist, the late Gary Richrath. In "Golden Country" Richrath wrote a rocker starting with the chunky guitar riff that opens the track. Riffs don't need much to be great, as Richrath illustrates on "Golden Country." Sometimes they just need the right sound and the right execution. "Golden Country" follows a typical loud-quiet-loud format, complete with epic chorus and dynamic guitar solo. Like REO's midwestern roots, it's not flashy or innovative, but it is awesome.

Right now, "Golden Country" by REO Speedwagon is, probably, my 81st favorite song of all time.

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