cmcentral review

charl · Post by **charl** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:39 pm

Quoi...don't people today understand the concept of a live album? Some people actually don't just lip sync to a pre-recorded voice-revolutionary concept that that is. So yes they necessarily sound different and yeah sometimes choppy-also more vibrant and immediate.

Someone needs to tie that guy down and blast some Charley Patton on him. bah I say.

winterlens · Post by **winterlens** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:21 pm

Greg took over when Mike Janke (who posts here occasionally) left. I think that's been almost a year now?

The review's fairly accurate. If you listen to Dance, for example, you'll notice that John didn't try to go for the super-high "wooooah" that he does in the World Pulse Festival; it's covered by Bob doing a nifty bit of guitar work.

I'm also given to understand that the rock portion of the concert was replayed, so some of the material probably came after he'd sung through everything once already.

There are definitely places you can hear strain in his voice. He sounded pretty on in Tampa (and forgot none of the words, for whatever that's worth), but I do think his voice has shown strain when I've seen and heard him live.

Mountain Man · Post by **Mountain Man** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 8:46 pm

John Schlitt can sing better than most lead singers half his age. Personally, I love the rawness and fervor of his performance on "Farewell", and whatever "strain" that might be evident is par for the course for any live recording.

brent · Post by **brent** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 9:58 pm

It was not when REO was REO as we know it, nor when they were successful. Kevin walked away from the band multiple times, and was not the original singer either.

calicowriter · Post by **calicowriter** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:05 am

It was not when REO was REO as we know it, nor when they were successful. Kevin walked away from the band multiple times, and was not the original singer either.

Well, they may not have been successful yet nationally, but they were an established act in the midwest (like Head East). And Kevin did not quit "multiple times." REO's first lead singer was Terry Luttrell, who later went on to Starcastle. He was on one album. REO fired Terry and hired Kevin, who was one one album, then he quit to go solo for 3 years. During that time, a guy named Mike Murphy was the lead singer. He had a very country/blues sound and lasted through 3 albums. When he left, REO auditioned a couple of singers, one whom they say was so nervous he threw up all over the floor -- I hope that wasn't Greg Volz! When no one worked out, they called Kevin and he rejoined the band in 1975. He has been with them ever since.

brent · Post by **brent** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:32 am

Yes, Kevin DID quit multiple times. He quit once before they broke and once just after. Bob Cobourn interviewed them on Rock Line, and they detailed the events. Check out their archives.

Kevin has always battled with "selling out", fame and the schedules of maintaining success. He had voice issues. That finally took it's toll. Have you heard him sing lately? He has all but lost it.

They didn't bother talking about it, or it was edited out of Behind the Music.

BTW, there were three records with Terry. Two of them that they are not counting were EPs that were not on a major label.

calicowriter · Post by **calicowriter** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:52 am

I am not going to argue with you Brent, because I know you think you are never wrong, but I do know what I am talking about here. (And yes, I have heard the Rock Line interviews and do not recall ever hearing that.) I DO agree that he has voice issues. He has never had a strong voice. I thought it worked for the songs he wrote, in a singer/songwriter kind of way like Jim Croce or Gordon Lightfoot. But it isn't and never has been a classic rock voice.

And my information did not come from Behind the Music. There was a LOT of stuff that was not addressed and a lot that was edited out. I imagine most of them are that way.

sue d. · Post by **sue d.** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:06 am

but I do know what I am talking about here

This gal is THE ULTIMATE REO FAN. She has the "personal inside scoop."

Do not mess with her.

Mountain Man · Post by **Mountain Man** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:06 pm

petrafan1 wrote:did anybody know that greg volz was offered the singing job in reo speedwagon buut turned it down!

The story I heard was that he actually blew the audition. According to my friend (whom I believe heard the story from Volz himself; they know each other quite well), Volz wanted to make a grand entrance by running onto the stage but slipped and landed on his butt instead, and the audition kinda went downhill from there.

The "Volz turned down the lead spot in Reo Speedwagon" revisionism has been a popular "urban legend" of sorts among Petra fans for years. I have an old Petra songbook that actually states it in Volz's profile, and I'm not sure if that's where it originated or if it merely gave the rumor credence by printing it.

sue d. · Post by **sue d.** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:47 am

The story, in GREG'S OWN WORDS, are in this audio interview here:

http://www.cmrewind.com/new/modules/new ... storyid=28

executioner · Post by **executioner** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:15 pm

I am also a Reo fan, I know Kevin has been with them since '75. I know he was with them before that also but I'm not real famlier with their stuff pre1975.

Sorry to say it Brent but your facts are once again wrong.

Shell · Post by **Shell** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:57 pm

Well, he knows what he's talking about a lot of the time; he might want to give other people credit for knowing what they're talking about too though.

js3971 · Post by **js3971** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:34 pm

That was a cool interview from Greg. By the way, at the beginning he says those things will be in "the book." What book is he talking about?

js3971 · Post by **js3971** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:24 pm

If you listen to the other interviews there, there is a brief testimony about WhiteHeart's song "Montana Sky". It's a mellow song, but a great song. It talks about God's love being as endless as the Montana Sky. Gordon Kennedy, one of their members, had just gotten married, and then his wife committed suicide. Man that would be tough for anyone to go through.

Mountain Man · Post by **Mountain Man** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:11 pm

sue d. wrote:The story, in GREG'S OWN WORDS, are in this audio interview here:

http://www.cmrewind.com/new/modules/new ... storyid=28

So what's the story? I don't really feel like listening to the whole interview.

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