R.E.O. Speedwagon - 157 Riverside Avenue (morning piano lesson)

[Paha Sapa]

This is off the first album. It is a flat-out rocker. This song was the top 40 attempt. It received quite a bit of airplay at the time. Really fun piano and lead guitar.


Lyrics

We flew into town on Sunday, had to find a place by Monday
Tried Bridgeport and Westport, 'til we found a place that we thought would do
157 Riverside Avenue.
Saugatuck River's flowin', Mother nature's colors were showin'
So cold, so rainy, we couldn't help feelin' blue
Not enough time, too many things to do.
We met a young girl on Main street, wanted to just pass her by
She was homely, so lonely, She said, "Can I make love to you."
We shouted 157 Riverside Avenue.
It's over, Miss Lena, we're leaving. Such a pleasant stay, I must say.
So nice, so easy, we hate to say goodbye to you
At 157 Riverside Avenue.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Gratzer / Gary Richrath / Neal Doughty / Peter Philbin / Terry Luttrell
157 Riverside Avenue lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. So many hilarious memories from this song.

This was THE air guitar song of my high school.

[Midnight Writer]

2. This was when REO was a flatout rocking boogie band. They used to play a lot in my area.

Gary Richrath was a true guitar hero.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Shame, What Happened To Him

We knew those guys. Gary was actually very introverted.
He had serious substance issues at one point, but when he finally kicked it, he replaced it food. Lots of food, and jot all that healthy.
He gained a ton of weight and with the prior stresses on his system, his heart and other organs couldn't keep up.
He had a severe stomach ailment and couldn't survive the procedure.
He died 10 days before my 59th birthday. He was 65.
We drove to Bloomington for the wake.

[Midnight Writer]

4. He went solo for a spell. We went and saw him playing to a very sparse crowd in Springfield.

I thought it was a great show, but there weren't many people there.

REO kind of got taken over by power ballads. To me, power ballads are the songs you have to sit through to hear the good stuff.

Guess I am in the minority there, because the power ballads really spiked their sales.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Mostly Agree

I'm not big on most power ballads, either.
That Dianne Warren stuff made Heart a ton of money, but made me lose interest & i was a very big fan.
I always thought Gary's solo on "Keep on Lovin'" was misplaced. Just never felt like it fit the song.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Mostly Agree

I'm not big on most power ballads, either.
That Dianne Warren stuff made Heart a ton of money, but made me lose interest & i was a very big fan.
I always thought Gary's solo on "Keep on Lovin'" was misplaced. Just never felt like it fit the song.

[LT Barclay]

7. Some of them had no power at all

I would have had nothing good to say about REO mostly because of “take it on the run” and then I rediscovered this song!!!