Description

Description

Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, USA 20th October 2015
　
An extraordinary situation is unfolding! A massive amount of top-quality, official-grade soundboard recordings have suddenly been unearthed from Port Chester! The REO SPEEDWAGON edition is being released urgently!!

　This recent surge in unearthed recordings is truly extraordinary and shocking. We don’t know the reason or circumstances, but without any warning, various previously unreleased soundboard recordings have suddenly started appearing one after another. The bands/artists are not consistent at all, but there is a clear commonality: the “releaser/venue/time period.” They are all being released online by the same person, the live venue is the famous Port Chester venue, the Capital Theatre, and the time period is almost entirely concentrated in the 2010s. We cannot say for certain, but judging from this circumstantial evidence, these may have been recordings made by staff who worked at the Capital Theatre in the 2010s.

　This week sees the release of the first installment of this newly discovered series. This release is the REO SPEEDWAGON edition, featuring a previously unreleased soundboard recording of their October 20, 2015 Port Chester performance. REO SPEEDWAGON hasn’t released an album since 2009’s “NOT SO SILENT NIGHT,” focusing instead on live performances. As a result, it’s been difficult to keep track of their recent activities. This is a good opportunity to start by looking back at their activities at that time.

・March 27th – April 18th: US #1 (8 shows)
・May 9th – May 24th: US #2 (7 shows)
・June 25th – August 18th: US #3 (16 shows)
・September 10th – 12th: US #4a (3 shows)
《September 13th: Gary Richlath passes away》
・September 15th – 29th: US #4b (10 shows)
・October 15th – November 14th: US #5 (17 shows) ←★HERE★
・December 11th – 31st: US #6 (4 shows)

[First-ever release of a completely official-quality soundboard recording]
　This is REO SPEEDWAGON in 2015. They toured energetically throughout the year, but all of it was limited to their home country, America. 2015 is also memorable for the news of Gary Richrath’s death. This Port Chester performance was the fifth show of their “US #5” tour, approximately one month after that.

　This recording, captured at such a show, is truly a soundboard recording of official quality. The freshness is astonishing; everything from the vocalist’s breathing to the guitar’s attack, the subtle keyboard phrases, and the nuances of the rhythm section is beautifully clear. For a leaked soundboard recording of this kind, the mix balance is also well-maintained, and (although the crowd noise is distant) it is of a quality that would not be inferior even if it were released as an official live album. It’s not just rare; it’s a first-class piece of music in itself.

[A crucial live album where you can hear unreleased songs and even tribute MCs]
　This full show, packed with hit songs, can be enjoyed with a sound that’s practically official. When it comes to 2010s performances, the official video “LIVE AT MOONDANCE JAM” is famous, but the selection on this album is similar yet different. Let’s compare them and organize the setlist here.

●Forbidden Night (5 songs)
– Don’t Let Him Go / Take It On The Run / In Your Letter / Tough Guys (★) / Keep On Loving You
●Others (10 songs)
– Shining Earth: Music Man (★) / Golden Country
– Tuna Fish: Time For Me To Fly / Roll With The Changes
– Others: Keep Pushin’ / Can’t Fight This Feeling / That Ain’t Love (★) / Whipping Boy (★★) / Back On The Road Again / Ridin’ The Storm Out
*Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included in the official video “LIVE AT MOONDANCE JAM”. Songs marked with “★★” are unreleased.

…And that’s how it is. Centered around five songs from his masterpiece, ‘HI INFIDELITY’, it features a dazzling array of hit songs.
It’s great that we can hear “Tough Guys,” “Music Man,” and “That Ain’t Love,” which weren’t included in “LIVE AT MOONDANCE JAM,” on the soundboard, but the biggest highlight is “Whipping Boy.” It was an unreleased track that ultimately never made it onto any studio album, and this release lets you experience it in completely official-quality. It’s truly a treasure.

　Another element that gives this album a unique weight is Kevin Cronin’s MCing. His tribute to Gary Richrath is etched with raw, official-quality sound.

　This superb soundboard recording of REO SPEEDWAGON is the first in a massive Port Chester unearthing project. Not only is it of fully official quality, but it’s also a “semi-official” live album that includes the unreleased track “Whipping Boy.” This is an absolute must-have album that also conveys feelings for his close friends, so please enjoy it to the fullest.

Disc 1(45:20)
01. Intro Music >
02. Don’t Let Him Go >
03. Music Man
04. Take It On The Run
05. Keep Pushin’
06. “I’m really gonna miss that guy” story
07. In Your Letter
08. “Vow of puberty” story
09. Can’t Fight This Feeling
10. That Ain’t Love
11. Tough Guys
12. Gary Richrath memorial カットアウト

Disc 2(46:10)
01. Golden Country　カットイン
02. “Of course it’s about you” story
03. Whipping Boy
04. Time For Me To Fly >
05. Back On The Road Again
06. Roll With The Changes
Encore:
07. Keep On Loving You
08. Ridin’ The Storm Out Member Introduction

Kevin Cronin – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (1972–1973, 1976–2024)
Neal Doughty – keyboards (1966–2024; not touring 2023–2024)
Bruce Hall – bass, vocals (1977–2024; not touring late 2023–2024)
Dave Amato – lead guitar, vocals (1989–2024)
Bryan Hitt – drums, percussion (1989–2024)