Life as We Know It (REO Speedwagon album)

Life as We Know It
Studio album by REO Speedwagon
Released	February 1987
Recorded	April–December 1986; Rumbo Recorders (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Rock
Length	40:19
Label	Epic
Producer	Kevin Cronin Gary Richrath Alan Gratzer David DeVore
REO Speedwagon chronology
Wheels Are Turnin' (1984) Life as We Know It (1987) The Hits (1988)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	(unfavorable)[2]

Life as We Know It is the twelfth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music). It features "That Ain't Love" and "In My Dreams", both of which were Top 20 hits while "Variety Tonight" reached #60 on the Hot 100. "One Too Many Girlfriends" showcased the growing tensions between band members Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath. At one point, "New Way to Love" was considered for use in the film Top Gun. This is the group's final studio release with Richrath and Gratzer, as well as their final top 40 album to date.

Track listing[]

Personnel[]

REO Speedwagon

• Kevin Cronin – lead vocals (1-8, 10), backing vocals (1, 3, 7, 10), rhythm "left side" guitar (1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 6, 7)
• Gary Richrath – lead guitar (1, 2, 4-10), rhythm "right side" guitar (1, 4, 5, 10), electric guitar (3)
• Neal Doughty – acoustic piano (1), synthesizers (2-10), organ (3, 4, 10), Emulator sax (6)
• Bruce Hall – bass, lead vocals (9)
• Alan Gratzer – drums

Additional musicians

• Steve Forman – percussion (3, 10)
• Greg Smith – baritone saxophone (1, 10), bass saxophone (1)
• Lon Price – tenor saxophone (1, 10), horn arrangements (1, 10), soprano saxophone (10)
• Paris Cronin – alto saxophone (10)
• Nick Lane – trombone (10)
• Rick Braun – trumpet (10)
• Lee Thornburg – trumpet (10)
• Bob Carlisle – backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 7)
• Tom Kelly – backing vocals (2, 3, 4)
• Julia Waters – backing vocals (5, 10)
• Maxine Waters – backing vocals (5, 10)
• Terry Wood – backing vocals (5, 10)

Production[]

• Kevin Cronin – producer
• Alan Gratzer – producer
• Gary Richrath – producer
• David DeVore – producer, engineer
• Julian Stoll – assistant engineer
• Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc (Hollywood, California).
• Dave Snow – art coordinator
• REO Speedwagon – cover concept
• Donald Ryan – cover artwork
• Aaron Rapoport – photography

References[]

• REO Speedwagon - Life As We Know It @ MSN Music