Life as We Know It (REO Speedwagon album)

For the album by Lonestar, see Life as We Know It (Lonestar album).

Life as We Know It
Studio album by REO Speedwagon
Released	9 February 1987 [1]
Recorded	April–December 1986
Studio	Rumbo Recorders (Los Angeles)
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	[2]
Rolling Stone	(unfavorable) [3]

Life as We Know It is the twelfth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1987.

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 original drummer Alan Gratzer, as well as their final top 40 album to date.

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"New Way to Love"	Kevin Cronin	4:08
2.	"That Ain't Love"	Cronin	4:01
3.	"In My Dreams"	Cronin, Tom Kelly	4:30
4.	"One Too Many Girlfriends"	Cronin	3:57
5.	"Variety Tonight"	Neal Doughty	4:26

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Screams and Whispers"	Kelly, Gary Richrath, Billy Steinberg	3:29
7.	"Can't Get You Out of My Heart"	Cronin, Kelly, Steinberg	3:33
8.	"Over the Edge"	Kelly, Richrath, Steinberg	3:56
9.	"Accidents Can Happen"	Bruce Hall, Jeffery B. Hall	4:20
10.	"Tired of Getting Nowhere"	Cronin	4:11

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

Charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [4]	73
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [5]	24
US Billboard 200 [6]	28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [7]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "FMQB" (PDF). p. 45.
2. Stone, Doug. REO Speedwagon: Life as We Know It at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
3. Rolling Stone review
4. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0798". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
5. "Swedishcharts.com – REO Speedwagon – Life as We Know It". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
6. "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
7. "American album certifications – R.E.O. Speedwagon – Life as We Know It". Recording Industry Association of America.

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