| "Keep the Fire Burnin" | |
| Cover: | Keep the Fire Burnin cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | REO Speedwagon |
| Album: | Good Trouble |
| B-Side: | I'll Follow You |
| Released: | June 1982 |
| Recorded: | May 1982 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Length: | 3:53 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Producer: | Kevin Beamish, Kevin Cronin, Alan Gratzer, Gary Richrath |
| Prev Title: | In Your Letter |
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | Sweet Time |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
"Keep the Fire Burnin'" is a song by REO Speedwagon from their 1982 album Good Trouble. This single was the only track from the Good Trouble album to make the top ten on the pop charts, cresting at number seven.[1]
It is also the only tune from the album to feature Kevin Cronin on keyboards (piano), which, although primarily the band's lead singer and acoustic/rhythm guitarist, he had begun using (in the studio) on the You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish album.[2]
This is the only song from the band's Good Trouble album to have been performed live in its entirety following its supporting tour in 1983. Despite that fact, however, it is still a significant rarity in the band's setlists that has only been performed a handful of times over the last 35 years. In the past couple of decades, Kevin Cronin has played a shortened version of song during solo acoustic sets during REO concerts. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, the entire band has played a remixed version of the song in its entirety at select concerts. For unknown reasons, the song is the only one of the band's major hit singles that was not included on their compilation album The Hits.
Cash Box said that "the song isn't much different from a lot of the band's material since 'Roll With The Changes' and it's just a tad more melodic and uplifting than 'Don't Let Him Go.'"[3] Billboard said that "urgent uptempo rhythms, surging organ and vaulting vocals all continue the platinum style perfected on Hi Infidelity."[4]
REO Speedwagon[5]
Additional personnel
| Chart (1982) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (CHUM)[6] | 2 | |
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart[7] | 10 | |
| Germany Media Control Charts[8] | 68 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 7 | |
| US Top Rock Tracks | 2 | |
| US Cash Box[10] | 10 | |
| US Radio & Records (R&R)[11] [12] | 8 |
| Chart (1982) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[13] | 88 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 50 | |
| US Cash Box[15] | 63 |