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

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.[6] The album sold over 2 million copies in the US, which led it to being certified 2× Platinum.

You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
Studio album by
REO Speedwagon
ReleasedMarch 16, 1978 (1978-03-16)
Recorded1977–78 at Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, CA, vocals recorded at Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, CA and Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
GenreArena rock[1]
Length33:47
LabelEpic
ProducerKevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Paul Grupp, John Boylan
REO Speedwagon chronology
Live: You Get What You Play For
(1977)		 You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
(1978)		 Nine Lives
(1979)
Singles from You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
  1. "Roll with the Changes"
    Released: April 1978[2]
  2. "Time for Me to Fly"
    Released: July 1978[3]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[5]

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",[7] and in 2014 its title was featured in NME's list of "The 50 Worst Album Titles in History".[8] 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.[9][10]

"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."[11] The song was also briefly featured in the 2013 movie "Jobs".

"Time for Me to Fly"
Main article: 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.[12] The song would again hit the top 40 in 2020 on Billboard's Digital Songs Chart after it was featured on Netflix's Ozark third-season episode, "Kevin Cronin was Here."[9][10] It was also used in the films Vision Quest and Grown Ups.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Roll with the Changes"Kevin Cronin5:37
2."Time for Me to Fly"Cronin3:42
3."Runnin' Blind"Debbie Mackron, Gary Richrath3:08
4."Blazin' Your Own Trail Again"Cronin3:32
5."Sing to Me"Richrath2:34
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lucky for You"Cronin, Richrath5:02
2."Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?"Richrath2:53
3."The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot"Richrath2:17
4."Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight"Cronin, Richrath4:58

Personnel

REO Speedwagon[13]

Additional personnel

  • Lon Price – saxophone (track 9)
  • Angelle Trosclair, Denise McCall, Denny Henson, Tom Kelly – backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4)

Production

  • Paul Grupp – producer, engineer
  • John Boylan – executive producer

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release history and formats for You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
Region Date Label Format Catalog #
United States March 16, 1978 Epic Stereo vinyl E-35082
1978 Cassette PET-35082
8-track E35082
1985 CD EK35082
2000 CD (Remaster) EK-61613
Japan 2011 Sony Music CD (DSD-Remaster) EICP 1488
United Kingdom 2013 Rock Candy CD-24 bit audio
(Remastered & Reloaded)		 CANDY176

References
  1. Trenz, Brandon (1998). "REO Speedwagon". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 935–936.
  2. "REO speedwagon singles".
  3. "REO speedwagon singles".
  4. DeGagne, Mike. REO Speedwagon: You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  5. "REO Speedwagon: You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Albums (Seventh ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.
  7. "The Worst Record Covers of All Time - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com.
  8. "The 50 Worst Album Titles Ever - NME". March 10, 2015.
  9. Tallerico, Brian (March 27, 2020). "Ozark Recap: Time For Me to Fly". Vulture.
  10. "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.
  11. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 6, 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  12. "Why REO Speedwagon's 'Time for Me to Fly' Took 10 Years to Write". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  13. REO Speedwagon — You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish. Rock Candy Records Ltd. 2013. p. 16.
  14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 250. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4563b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
  16. "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July, 8 2023.
  17. "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  18. "Cash Box Top 100 6/24/78". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  19. "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 13, June 24, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 24, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  20. "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 24, September 9, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 9, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  21. "American album certifications – R.E.O._Speedwagon – You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
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