"Live Every Moment" by REO Speedwagon

Song#:  2386
Date:  07/13/1985
Debut:  78
Peak:  34
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  REO's eleventh studio album Wheels Are Turnin' became their fourth multi-platinum seller thanks to three Top 30 single including the big #1 hit "Can't Fight This Feeling." Before the album completely wound down, it was decided that a fourth single would be issued from the LP. This track would be selected and it added to their collection of Top 40 entries, but it couldn't do much more than that. It even failed to make the Rock chart, which was something their previous three singles were able to do.

ReduxReview:  This is not a bad little ditty from the band, but it was kind of an unnecessary single release. The album was already waning rapidly after the initial three singles and there just wasn't a song strong enough to really make an impression on the chart. This one was probably the best option and I'm assuming they wanted to get something out there more upbeat following two ballad singles. Rock bands didn't necessarily want to be known for big pop ballads, so they probably wanted to regain a little more rock cred and sent this one out. The song is okay, but forgettable.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Kevin Cronin was not the original lead singer for REO. Their 1971 debut album featured vocals by Terry Luttrell. He left after the first album and Cronin was hired. He did one album with REO before also leaving the band. Mike Murphy would be their third vocalist. He would stay for three albums. When Murphy left, the band sought a new lead singer. They thought they found one in Greg X. Volz and asked him to join, but Volz was a born-again Christian and declined the invitation based on his religious beliefs. When Volz fell through, the band brought back Cronin and that began the band's most successful run. After Volz turned down the REO offer, he got an opportunity to help out on an album by the Christian rock band Petra. It worked out so well that Volz was asked to stay on as lead vocalist. From '79 to '85 Volz led the band. They were highly successful and second only to Amy Grant as the top Christian music act. But the strain of being in a successful touring band finally got to Volz and he opted to leave following the band's Grammy nominated album Beat the System. Petra would go on to even greater success and Volz turned to a solo career. The classic early line-up of Petra, including Volz, would reunite for an album and tour in 2010.

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