Take It On the Run

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Take It On the Run" is the fifth track on the REO Speedwagon album, Hi Infidelity. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached #5 on the Billboard charts. The song was written by guitarist Gary Richrath. "Take It On the Run" was the follow up single behind the group’s #1 hit, “Keep On Loving You”. The cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes has punk-covered this song for their live album Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah.

This song, unlike "Keep On Lovin’ You" and REO Speedwagon’s eventual second #1 hit, "Can’t Fight This Feeling", is not a power ballad. It is faster and has a forty-seven second guitar solo.

[edit] Trivia

• The song is featured in a commercial for the hotel chain Holiday Inn, when one of the spokesmen, acting as a business traveler in his room, starts singing a butchered version of the refrain with his headphones on and in mockery his two roommates begin to do so as well.
• Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl recorded a parody version called "Better Get a Gun", which made light of then Chicago mayor Jane Byrne moving into the Cabrini-Green public housing development.

v • d • e REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin • Dave Amato • Neal Doughty • Bruce Hall • Bryan Hitt Gary Richrath • Alan Gratzer • Gregg Philbin • Terry Luttrell • Mike Murphy • Duke Tumatoe • Jesse Harms • Graham Lear • Miles Joseph • Steve Scorfina • Joe McCabe • Mike Blair • Joe Matt • Marty Sheppard • Bob Crownover Studio albums REO Speedwagon • R.E.O./T.W.O. • Ridin' the Storm Out • Lost in a Dream • This Time We Mean It • R.E.O. • You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish • Nine Lives • Hi Infidelity • Good Trouble • Wheels Are Turnin' • Life as We Know It • The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken • Building the Bridge • Find Your Own Way Home Live albums Live: You Get What You Play For • Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Compilations The Ballads Songs "157 Riverside Avenue" • "Keep On Loving You" • "Take It On the Run" • "Can't Fight This Feeling"