You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish explained

You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
Type:studio
Artist:REO Speedwagon
Cover:YouCanTuneaPianoButYouCantTunaFish.jpg
Released:[1]
Recorded:1977–78
Studio:
Genre:Arena rock[2]
Length:33:47
Label:Epic
Producer:Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Paul Grupp, John Boylan
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Nine Lives
Next Year:1979

You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish is the seventh studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1978. It was their first album to be co-produced by lead singer Kevin Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath. The album was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at No. 29.[3] The album sold over 2 million copies in the US, which led it to being certified 2× Platinum.

This is the first album to feature Bruce Hall on bass, replacing Gregg Philbin. In 2013, the album was released on CD by UK-based company Rock Candy Records, with expanded liner notes and photos.

The hits "Time for Me to Fly" and "Roll with the Changes" have since become two of the band's best-known songs. "Time for Me to Fly" was later covered in a bluegrass arrangement by Dolly Parton on her 1989 album White Limozeen. In 2005, the album cover was featured on Pitchfork's list of "The Worst Record Covers of All Time",[4] and in 2014 its title was featured in NMEs list of "The 50 Worst Album Titles in History".[5] In 2020, Netflix's Ozark TV series third season episode, "Kevin Cronin Was Here" featured "Time for Me to Fly", which resulted in the song making the top 40 on the Billboard Digital Songs Chart.[6] [7]

"Roll with the Changes" was featured in the 2011 movie The Cabin in the Woods. Cash Box said that it "opens with a flowing piano riff that quickly develops into a dynamic, well-structured tune propelled by electrifying guitar licks."[8] The song was also briefly featured in the 2013 movie Jobs, and the sixth season of Cobra Kai.

"Time for Me to Fly"

See main article: article and Time for Me to Fly (song). The song "Time for Me to Fly" peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978; despite this relatively modest peak position, it has become one of the band's best-known songs, and has received airplay on FM radio over the years. According to singer Kevin Cronin, the song was inspired by his breakup with his high school girlfriend.[9] The song hit the top 40 in 2020 on Billboards Digital Songs Chart after it was featured on Netflix's Ozark third-season episode, "Kevin Cronin was Here."[6] [7] It was also used in the films Vision Quest and Grown Ups.

Personnel

REO Speedwagon[10]

Additional personnel

Production

Charts

Album

Chart (1978)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[11] 98

Singles

Chart performance for singles from You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish!Year!Single!Chart!Peak
position
1978"Roll with the Changes"US Billboard Hot 100[12] 58
US Cash Box Top 100[13] 48
Canadian RPM Top Singles[14] 65
"Time for Me to Fly"US Billboard Hot 10056
Canadian RPM Top Singles[15] 90

Release history

Release history and formats for You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish! Region! Date! Label! Format! Catalog #
United StatesApril 1978EpicStereo vinylE-35082
1978CassettePET-35082
8-trackE35082
United KingdomJuly 1978vinyl
United States2000CD (Remaster)EK-61613
Japan2011Sony MusicCD (DSD-Remaster)EICP 1488
United Kingdom2013Rock CandyCD-24 bit audio
(Remastered & Reloaded)
CANDY176

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Great Rock Discography. 685.
  2. Book: Trenz, Brandon. Gary. Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . REO Speedwagon. . Detroit . 935–936.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . Top Pop Albums . Seventh . 2011 . Record Research . 978-0-89820-183-3.
  4. Web site: The Worst Record Covers of All Time - Pitchfork. pitchfork.com.
  5. Web site: The 50 Worst Album Titles Ever - NME. March 10, 2015.
  6. Web site: Ozark Recap: Time For Me to Fly. Brian. Tallerico. March 27, 2020. Vulture.
  7. Web site: REO Speedwagon's 'Time For Me To Fly' Debuts At #34 On Billboard Digital Song Sales Chart Following 'Ozark' Season 3 Feature. April 7, 2020.
  8. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. May 6, 1978. 18. Cash Box. 2022-01-01.
  9. Web site: Why REO Speedwagon’s ‘Time for Me to Fly’ Took 10 Years to Write. Ultimate Classic Rock.
  10. Book: REO Speedwagon — You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish. 2013. Rock Candy Records Ltd.. 16.
  11. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 250.
  12. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=REO Speedwagon|chart=all}} Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon ]. Billboard charts . October 2, 2016.
  13. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 6/24/78. tropicalglen.com. 2018-01-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054001/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19780624.html. 2016-03-04. dead.
  14. Web site: Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 13, June 24, 1978. RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 24, 1978. February 1, 2015.
  15. Web site: Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 24, September 9, 1978. RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 9, 1978. February 1, 2015.