Ridin' the Storm Out

Ridin' the Storm Out is the third studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1973. It peaked at number 171 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1981,[1] and reaching platinum status in 1989. It was the first album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. The sessions started out with Kevin Cronin, but he left the band before the album was finished, due to creative differences. The title track would later become a hit for the band on their live album, after Cronin had returned to the band. The song refers to the band being stuck in a harsh winter blizzard after a show in Boulder, Colorado, at a bar named Tulagi's (now closed).

Ridin' the Storm Out
Studio album by REO Speedwagon
Released	December 21, 1973
Recorded	1973
Genre	Blues rock, hard rock, psychedelic rock
Length	36:26
Label	Epic
Producer	Bill Halverson
REO Speedwagon chronology
R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972) Ridin' the Storm Out (1973) Lost in a Dream (1974)

The album includes a new composition by Stephen Stills, "Open Up", which was never recorded by Stills himself or any of his bands, though "Know You Got to Run" from Stephen Stills 2 is essentially an embryonic version of the song. "Know You Got to Run" consists of only verses and uses a sombre acoustic folk arrangement, while "Open Up" includes a chorus and uses an up-tempo rock arrangement.

Cronin's original version of "Son of a Poor Man" is featured on the compilation albums A Decade of Rock and Roll: 1970-1980, and The Essential REO Speedwagon. "Son of a Poor Man" and "Ridin' the Storm Out" were featured on the live album Live: You Get What You Play For. The studio version of "Ridin' the Storm Out" with Cronin on vocals was released on the compilation "Box Set Series" in 2014, "The Early Years 1971-1977" boxed set in 2018 and as a downloadable track in the music video game Rock Band.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ridin' the Storm Out"	Gary Richrath	4:12
2.	"Whiskey Night"	Richrath	4:42
3.	"Oh Woman"	Richrath	2:46
4.	"Find My Fortune"	Richrath	2:53
5.	"Open Up"	Stephen Stills	3:31

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Movin'"	Kevin Cronin	3:20
7.	"Son of a Poor Man"	Richrath	3:44
8.	"Start a New Life"	Richrath	3:50
9.	"It's Everywhere"	Cronin	3:26
10.	"Without Expression (Don't Be the Man)"	Terry Reid	3:51

Personnel

REO Speedwagon[3]

• Mike Murphy – lead vocals
• Gary Richrath – guitar, lead vocal on "Find My Fortune"
• Neal Doughty – keyboards
• Gregg Philbin – bass
• Alan Gratzer – drums

Additional personnel[3]

• Gene Estes – percussion
• Guille Garcia – percussion
• Joe Walsh – slide guitar on "Whiskey Night", "Open Up" and "Start A New Life"
• Gloria Jones – backing vocals
• Carolyn Willis – backing vocals
• Oma Drake – backing vocals

Charts

Album Chart (1981) Peak position US Billboard 200 171[4]

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[5] Platinum 1,000,000^^ ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Title	Label	Format	Catalog #
USA	December 1973	Ridin' the Storm Out	Epic Records	Stereo Vinyl	E-32378
USA	1973	Ridin' the Storm Out	Epic Records	Tape	PET-32378
USA	1973	Ridin' the Storm Out	Epic Records	8 TRK	E32378
USA	1986	Ridin' the Storm Out	Epic Records	CD	EK32378
UK	2008	Ridin' the Storm Out / Lost in a Dream	BGO Records	CD (Digitally re-mastered)	BGOCD805
Japan	2011	Ridin' the Storm Out	Sony Music	CD (DSD-Remaster)	EICP 1482

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Albums (Seventh ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. REO Speedwagon: Ridin' the Storm Out at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
3. R.E.O. Speedwagon — Ridin' the Storm Out / Lost in a Dream. BGO Records. 2008. p. 2.
4. "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
5. "American album certifications – R.E.O. Speedwagon – Ridin' the Storm Out". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 2, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.