Roll With The Changes - REO Speedwagon | The Midnight Special

REO Speedwagon performed December 5, 1980
Follow us on Social Media:
/ themidnightspecialtvshow
/ themidnightspecialtvshow
/ themidnightspecialtvshow
/ tmstvshow

[@briancunningham2155]

Garys swagger always matched his playing.That little smile. He knew.

[@702tapatio4]

I was there that night! They must have played this song 10 times, can’t remember if it was technical problems or just to get different camera angles. I was 16 or 17. I’ll be 62 soon. Best of times.

[@robertbeattie1061]

Thanks! Good to know.

[@SimonSheen990]

Kevin Cronin: vocal + piano Gary Richrath: guitar Bruce Hall: bass Neal Doughty: keyboards Alan Gratzer: drums

[@darlawrence9295]

You were close but it should have read... Gary Richrath on guitar. Bruce Hall on bass. Neal Doughty on keyboards. Alan Gratzer on drums I'm Kevin Cronin and we're REO Speedwagon. We love you! Thank you and goodnight!! Man I loved Reo before High Infidelity.

[@genericusername1365]

@@darlawrence9295 High Infedelity was the beginning of the end.

[@darlawrence9295]

@@genericusername1365 💯

[@dragon2knight]

One of the best songs of an impressive group! Gary was smokin' on this one!

[@eric_in_florida]

RIP Gary 🙏

[@StudioDaVeed]

There are (IMO) 2 lead guitar players that are truly "ONE' with the instrument that is far beyond most others. Angus Young Gary Richrath They way they carry themselves as they play and having a damn good time doing it.

[@Terk131]

@@StudioDaVeedYou cannot leave Mark Farner off that list. Guy NEVER looks at his guitar and just jams

[@StudioDaVeed]

@@Terk131 Saw GFR in 2018 but wasn't with Mark...

[@Terk131]

@@StudioDaVeed Mark is in a league of his own man. Just Awesome

[@eric_in_florida]

We were lucky enough to see REO a few times in the late 70's when they were really rocking. Just an outstanding live band.

[@scott7684]

the only time they rocked

[@ericcantona7]

Howard Stern absolutely killing the vocals

[@robertkelly9772]

Who would've thought he'd go woke in 2024.

[@lowellcalavera6045]

Gary was a perfect 70s' guitar god. Unknown to most of the world, he was huge in my teenage musical universe. "You Get What You Play For" is still one of my favorite live albums 50 years (hard to believe!!) later.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

"You Get What You Play For" is excellent, dude with Gregg Philbin on the bass or Regis is what Kevin called him.

[@eric_in_florida]

Boy you got that right! I put it up there with the Outlaws and the UFO double live albums as my top 3. (Thin Lizzy #4.)

[@robbieyates1685]

IMHO he had the ultimate rock guitar tone. It was perfection.

[@BrianKliewer]

@@eric_in_florida Outlaws "Bring It Back Alive" is one of my all time favorites! Fantastic live album!

[@10000jims]

Also very underrated as a songwriter.

[@robcreel4257]

I saw these dudes a couple of times back in this time. Always a good show! Gary Richrath was such a badass player. Loved that dude!

[@robcreel4257]

@@wildwoodandonyx Excellent suggestion! I'm gonna do just that.

[@Neelloc83]

Rocking REO Speedwagon, all is right in the world on a Friday.

[@CaptainRon1913]

The whole band clicked at that time. Gary with his melodic scorching leads, Neil with his keyboard classic licks, Alan one of the most consistent and steady drummers in rock history, Bruce great base playing and vocals, and of course Kevin. REO is not REO without Kevin's voice. Glad I got to see them several times back then.

[@DannyDick-gk5wk]

I think if there is a god he was around in the 70ss and left in the late 80ss

[@StudioDaVeed]

There are (IMO) 2 lead guitar players that are truly "ONE' with the instrument that is far beyond most others. Angus Young Gary Richrath They way they carry themselves as they play and having a damn good time doing it.

[@lastinline1958]

Thumb up, even though they cut off the ending.

[@ruthylopez]

Right from the beginning at :09 you can see how Gary is basically ONE with his guitar. So damn cool. And thankfully, since Cronin wasn't in control of the cameras (like in most videos), we actually get to see a LITTLE of Gary.

[@michaelschmidt9708]

'Roll With The Changes' and 'Hold Your Head Up' by Argent - the two songs that will get you thru life no matter what.

[@GregZentTrumpetMan]

Midnight Special was worth staying up for. Late night tv these days is a frickin trash dump

[@that70sgirl90]

Good song! Sometimes, it's not always easy to "Roll With The Changes,"but time just keeps moving on. Happy Friday 🥳 Thank you for sharing! 💖

[@drfreud65]

Naw, it Keeps Pushin On. 😂

[@threeofakindbygeneraldean3007]

Their best song + obviously a great performance. Whenever both richrath + keyboard player (cannot remember how to spell his name) are in top form, reo seem invincible!

[@ronnieparker4311]

I wish I could time travel back!!!! Space ace Ron ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@sammi5281]

Gary was very underrated

[@bronyraur7439]

Killer!!! My band covers this song, I LOOOOVE THIS SONG!!!!!

[@MetalJesusRocks]

One of the GREATEST 70s songs of all time. Still kicks ass all these years later 🤘

[@Dean67]

One of their many gems in that back catalogue. Tremendous.

[@ap42869]

A beautiful fountain

[@crypto1701]

REO Speedwagon NEVER disappointed in concert! They still tour as far as I know. I saw them through four decades.. always a great show!

[@janicetrimmell6897]

Wow, I just love this. I'm back in the time machine to college.

[@gchase4073]

REO was always famously a great live band. Love Gary Richrath's lead riffs on this one. Great fun song!

[@richardclark.]

The best Gary lead of all time imo.

[@rrob268]

Too bad this wasn’t live…..

[@gchase4073]

@@rrob268 I beg to differ. Alot of of Midnight Special is lip syncing but not this performance.

[@jwingnut1]

I love how every old REO video is full of people who came here for Gary. Simply one of the best.

[@fredvahldiek738]

Saw REO with Gary a few times. Also saw one of his solo tours opening for Trower. Drove in to Phoenix from LA. If I remember correctly, I was there as a request to be one of the sound guys. At the last minute the original guy got his stuff sorted out and I didn't go out on the rest of the tour. Still got paid for the show and all my expenses! Awesome experience. Both Gary and Robin were great. As players and as human beings.

[@StephanieJeanne]

Another great REO performance! They really had that crowd pumped!! 🔥💜 I saw a familiar name on the end credits Dick Ebersol, who later produced for SNL. Thanks for another awesome bit of history, Midnight!✌️ Special!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

You are very welcome, Burt Sugarman

[@702tapatio4]

I noticed that also.👍

[@srpdesigns]

Has everything you could possibly want in a classic rock song!! 💯🇺🇸

[@cindi3641]

Love REO ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@damrat]

It took me most of my life to realize how hard this band rocked.

[@execatty]

See them live you'll really understand

[@davidziemann9653]

Me too. Was able to see them live in about 2003 and they blew me away. I only wish I would've realized how good they were earlier and seen Gary Richrath live, have an unhealthy mancrush on him!

[@execatty]

@@davidziemann9653 seeing them for 4th time in ten years next month jones beach they still Kik ass

[@scott7684]

sad

[@mustlovepretzels]

From 1980? I don't think the Philly area even had "Midnight Special" in 1980. More like "SNL". Thanks for posting Midnight Special. Cheers!🥨

[@Jeffrey.Seelman]

Truly one of my very favorite songs by them. Such meaning. Such positivity. Thank you very much midnight special. You rock!

[@matthewkester3677]

oh yeah, killer keyboard solo by Neal, followed by Gary's guitar solo, such a magical song

[@s.k.6616]

Southern rock gets a lot of attention, but what about Midwestern rock?

[@GregZentTrumpetMan]

Its only good a few months a year! 😝

[@lakefield2112]

Fantastic. Thanks for posting this (just wish we could have seen the full ending of the song). Gary Richrath (RIP) was so darn good with that Les Paul that he looked like he wasn't even breaking a sweat.🤘

[@Boss302Kirk]

Saw REO in '72. Gary Richrath was fantastic! "Golden Country" was stellar!

[@williamevans3132]

Gary RIP. So sad what happened. He was the man. Up there with Koss and Tommy Bolin. Another 2 BRILLIANT but mainly forgotten and underrated geniuses😢

[@karencline614]

Everyone one of those guys were fabulous and they made great magic together for us to love. Thank you guys. We love ya

[@amylyno]

Gary Richrath at the top of his game!

[@rpmontero]

What a fantastic band REO was

[@steverickenbacher7110]

This is one of the best songs of the 70s, and it was recorded before REO hit it big by getting all "power-ballady".

[@effthegop]

Back in the day I didn't think this band was cool enough. In retrospect, they absolutely killed it.

[@user-ry8lw8je8l]

Kick-Ass guys kick ass 💯👍😎

[@apbadogs]

I was never a huge REO fan but GD they were so good at their peak. I realize that now. And those kids who were so lucky to get into see the Midnight Special shows, I hope they know the greatness they witnessed.

[@jeddyhi]

The sound of Gary's Gibson in this song is addicting. The man had something going on and he knew it.

[@johnshields6852]

20 yrs old back then, loved REO named after Oldsmobile firetrucks, which my young son called firefks, working 2 jobs didn't get to see this one but it was the only way to see bands other than going to their concerts.

[@philiphughes7481]

Gary Richrath putting on a clinic as he always did. One of the most criminally underrated guitarists of all time. He was the driving force behind REO Speedwagon and the band was never the same after he left. R.I.P. Gary!

[@richardclark.]

i love this band and grew up with a couple of these guys in Champaign but this isnt a Gary clinic. This was pulled directly from the album track with only Kevins vocal track and backing vocals done live. They were all basically faking it.

[@JD-bd5rd]

A clinic? They weren’t playing their instruments live here. Not even the background vocals were live. The only thing that wasn’t prerecorded here is Kevin’s vocals

[@JD-bd5rd]

Look at 02:52. Bass players clapping but bass chords continue to play 😂

[@JD-bd5rd]

Also, Gary was NOT underrated. He was always known as a fantastic guitarist… there’s always gotta be at least one “one of the most underrated _____” posts on these videos 🙄

[@tmt8425]

⁠@@JD-bd5rd Drums aren’t pre-recorded either.

[@davidallen527]

Make it scream Gary man jamming on out you were the best,

[@crystalr.8913]

I love watching people when they really feel the music, like these guys!

[@somejackball]

i tried collage for a bit in 81 (so that went great, lolz) and everyone was listening to REO it seemed like, so i hopped on board and purchased couple their latest tapes.. was Paris Jr College, N Texas. all the young guys with a little money were driving Turbo Trans Ams, and listening to REM. also Ozzy, Rush, Van Halen etc.. some good times! ☮

[@dw4563]

I never realized Howard Stern was the lead singer for REO

[@scott7684]

lol

[@BridgeGuitar]

This song has some of my favorite musical moments ever…

[@ardiris2715]

The keyboardist took his hands off his organ before the end of his solo. (:

[@Tony-r7v]

Take another look. His right hand is still playing

[@richardclark.]

thats because the whole thing was taken off the album track except for the vocals. if it makes you feel better a groupie put her hand back on his organ later.

[@ardiris2715]

Too late. I already did that joke in the OC. LMFAO

[@lyndonbell5796]

One of my all time favorite songs. I believe it's the greatest Rock and Roll song ever recorded. It has it all. Been listening since it's release and every time that piano intro starts, I crank up the volume and Jam. It's my goto song for Motivation. I even quote it when giving Seminar talks. Thanks, Kevin Brother for this song!!!

[@bethepperson5363]

So much true talent....I've seen them more than a few times since the 70's. They give you more than your money's worth! And I'll see them again! I went through 3 copies of You Can Tuna Fish and loved every minute........

[@rebeccawagner4167]

This is exactly why I stayed up to watch the Midnight Special. REO,Speedwagon. This was so amazing to watch live. No other show brought it like the Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. This was a time when rock and roll was alive and well and going strong. It was amazing to be born back then. I'm grateful that I was.

[@lagodifuoco313]

Great live band!!! No lip-synced crap like these bands today.

[@Downhuman74]

Kevin's vocals are live but every thing else is from the studio version. Shame.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Sorry you are wrong, Burt

[@Downhuman74]

@@themidnightspecialtvshow Sorry, Burt. Gary's solo is a dead giveaway here. You can hear the overlapping guitar overdubs from the studio version as plain as day at the 4:12 mark (and a couple of other spots). Impossible to pull off live unless you have a second guitarist and he usually played it a tiny bit differently live for this very reason.

[@Downhuman74]

@@djavidianmx1832 Damn, that's a killer version. Thanks for the link. I wonder why Burt didn't post that one instead.

[@Downhuman74]

@@djavidianmx1832 😂😂👍

[@steelyd2]

2:51 the bass player starts clapping while the bass is clearly still going. That’s what gave it away for me

[@gregoryduncan3067]

That's a 1/2 and 1/2. Kevin sang live to the music track. Keep those REO clips coming, Midnight Special. Excellent.

[@StephanieJeanne]

I kinda wondered during the keyboard solo. It was great though.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

You can't go wrong with the studio recording.

[@albundy666]

That’s what I thought as I was listening to it.

[@andyinoregon]

Yep. I read somewhere that all Midnight Special performances were performed totally live until 1979, when they permitted pre-recorded backing tracks.

[@prd004.2]

Midnight special is hit and miss… Sometimes you get an honest live performance. Other times you get live singing to pre recorded backing tracks. And sadly some time you get the full Milli Vanilli

[@ptl87]

2:49 someone please fact check me on this -- the bass player is doing overhead claps but the bass just keeps on rolling, whats up with that? haha

[@eric_in_florida]

I'm afraid this is the early days of "playing along to a track". Gary's movements aren't matching up either.

[@bobmays2946]

At least Kevin’s vocals were live. Great song!

[@winkfinkerstien1957]

This song helped me through 20+ of the most difficult years of my life. Corporate America, here is my single-fingered salute to you, every time I hear and play this song! .|.

[@ZacharyWhite25]

Okay, so not cool cutting the song off right at the exciting and highly anticipated final chorus! It was a sure fire performance and it got cut short! 😡😡😡

[@henryhoward8341]

RIP guitarist Gary Richrath.

[@PaulGAckerman]

Were some camera operators on strike? Why did they only focus on Kevin and Gary? And what art film school student thought an extreme close-up on Kevin was a good idea? Your eyes are indeed pretty Kevin, now can we zoom out?

[@kerryknauf8196]

Amazing

[@IronForged]

Great to see but some serious bad camera angles used by the film crew. It was criminal that most shots of Gary Richrath are of his backside. Barely see any of his guitar work.

[@kevinkwmiller]

I think that’s because he wasn’t playing live. Good way to hide that there are two lead guitar tracks playing on the audio and only one guitar on the stage.

[@northernbrother1258]

Sounds like the vocals are live but the rest is a backing track?

[@NJP76]

Yes. This was common practice on TV performances in this era. Not sure why they did it that way, since the bands were there, along with their equipment, etc.

[@BruceMusto]

Gary was so freaking good.

[@TTT-1961.]

God, Gary had his way with the women too; see the women drooling over him!!! Hey Bruce, what’s with the shoes???!!!

[@aprilcox871]

Sounds like only the vocals are live?

[@brettengland192]

The only thing live in this video is Kevin Cronin's vocal.

[@kbusby4824]

Was fortunate to see REO in Champaign in 1981. Gary Richrath was a great guitarist. Watch a live version of Golden Country. RIP Gary.

[@BC99]

A hard song to sing at this tempo. He barely has time to grab breaths.

[@williamjones6031]

This was one of my favorite songs for a minute. I love the change over from Neil on the piano/keyboard to Gary😇 guitar. Too bad the "changes" they were talking about was their change in their overall product with "Hi Infidelity" It got them their well-deserved millions but was a drastic change to the dark side of HI. I bought the album the day it was released. Listened to it twice and sent it to my 12-year-old sister and said you're gonna love this. She didn't. She couldn't even believe it was REO. THIS was the good stuff. It's a crime they're not in the R&R HOF They're still touring. Catch them while you still can.

[@lotusmaglite]

I hate REO Speedwagon. I never, ever tire of this song. I am a beautiful mystery.

[@planomathandscience]

Dude's so damned goofy looking. But he can play rock and roll

[@ernestconnell8087]

Good stuff, good times 🍻

[@rickciardella]

No lip syncing allowed on the midnight special. Every note played live.....

[@c5pilot1]

You cant cut the ending off like that though KZbin!

[@scottleitch2957]

Gary, oh man, gone too soon.

[@robertbishop5357]

Gary made this band what it is. Without him REO would have been another bar band. He gave it direction.

[@TheRonnie34567]

Yes he did, but with out Gary he would of been just a piano player from chicago

[@scottyandell3644]

My first concert was REO in ‘79

[@jrfrondelli2023]

OUT-F**king-STANDING!!! 💖

[@darlawrence9295]

It must be 1:30 in the morning on a Saturday night! Oh wait. I'm not in high school anymore. But watching that sure made me feel like a kid again!😊❤

[@danallshaw1131]

Great camera work with Kevin and the rest of the guys. 😎🎸🎸🎸🎸.

[@montag4516]

A fine performance and a good time for all who were there.

[@JoyfulSaturn-cz2ui]

Like the guitar was part of his anatomy. Defineately one of the very best Rock guitarist of all time.

[@Nobody_Important_Yea]

Saw them around that time and they were great. This seems a little Doctored with the Gary's guitar and backing vocals.

[@richardclark.]

it was all the album tracks with only the vocals going live.

[@JD-bd5rd]

Can’t believe they didn’t play their instruments live there…. And did Gary have eyeliner on? 😂

[@wimweender1306]

😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤👍

[@peteryyz43]

I-uh love-uh Kevin-uh Cronin's-uh voice-uh.

[@testicuslargus6477]

I'm pretty sure he's James Hetfield's vocal influence.

[@oldtownskowey2204]

Damn, I'm old....

[@kevinhull6139]

What I would pay to go back in time to see Gary and REO Speedwagon live

[@markriva4259]

Nice combo of live and tape, including the air guitar solo!

[@knowmusicman157]

Yes the guitar isn’t live

[@midgeberg22]

Best rock band ever!!!

[@canalcksofficial1745]

When did it happen? Year

[@TheHuckster100]

It says on the top, December 1980.

[@thinkbeforyouvote]

Saw them live a couple of times. He sounds as good every time he sings this song, LIVE, not lip sync'd like so many on the show did in the later years.

[@richardclark.]

the rest of the band was recorded on this though. only kevin and the backing guys had live mics. Kevins voice was great in this though. powerful; and right on the edge of ragged!

[@saxmidiman]

that was plain rude

[@johnchapman6992]

I have seen them seven times and can't wait until the eight I hope it will be soon

[@SoulStylistJukeBox]

Cobra Kai season 6!