"Keep On Loving You" by REO Speedwagon

#1 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0419
Date:  11/29/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  1 (1 week)
Weeks:  28
Genre:  Rock, Arena Rock



Pop Bits:  REO toned down the hard rock of their previous albums and shuffled a little closer to pop with their 1980 album "Hi Infidelity." The album reached #1 and stayed there for 15 weeks becoming their best-selling album. This first power ballad single certainly had a lot to do with the album's success as it became both their first Top 10 and #1 hit. The album would also get them a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Group.

ReduxReview:  I just remember that this song and album were huge when I was in high school. I also had a typing teacher who loved this song, so of course the kids all thought she was hip and cool. I didn't latch on to it back in the day, but I actually own a copy now. This song is probably the best on the album and I appreciate it a lot more now than I did then. However, Kevin Cronin's vocals still irritate me a bit. Especially when he sings words that end in "er." Like when he sings "still I don't remembrrrrrr." The "bur" part is so pronounced. Most singers will sing it like "bah," which is preferable to me. It's just that emphasis he puts on pronouncing the syllable grinds in my ears. Ah, well. It's still a great song.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  When this song hit #1, it became the 500th song to do so on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

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