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

You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
Studio album by REO Speedwagon
Released March 16, 1978
Recorded 1977–78 at Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, CA, vocals recorded at Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, CA and Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
Genre Soft rock, hard rock
Length 33:47
Label Epic
Producer Kevin 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 untitled
  1. "Roll with the Changes"/"The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot"
    Released: 1978
  2. "Time for Me to Fly"/"Runnin' Blind"
    Released: 1978
  3. "Time for Me to Fly"/"Lightning"
    Released: March 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Rolling Stone (favorable) [2]

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 #29.[3] The album sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. which led it to go 2× Platinum.

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

The track "Time for Me to Fly" was covered by Dolly Parton on her 1989 album White Limozeen. In 2005, the album cover was featured in Pitchfork Media's list of "The Worst Record Covers of All Time",[4] and in 2014 its title was featured in NME's list of "The 50 Worst Album Titles in History."[5]

Track listing

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

Personnel

[6]

Charts

Album

Chart (1978) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 29[3]
Canadian Albums Chart 70[7]

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1978 "Roll with the Changes" US Billboard Hot 100 58[3]
Canadian RPM Singles Chart 65[8]
"Time for Me to Fly" US Billboard Hot 100 56[3]
Canadian RPM Singles Chart 90[9]

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[10] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog #
USA March 16, 1978 Epic Records Stereo Vinyl E-35082
USA 1978 Epic Records Tape PET-35082
USA 1978 Epic Records 8 TRK E35082
USA 1985 Epic Records CD EK35082
USA 2000 Epic Records CD (Remaster) EK-61613
Japan 2011 Sony Music CD (DSD-Remaster) EICP 1488
UK 2013 Rock Candy Records CD-24 bit audio
(Remastered & Reloaded)		 CANDY176

References

  1. ↑ DeGagne, Mike. You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish Billboard Albums / Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
  4. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/6194-the-worst-record-covers-of-all-time/
  5. ↑ http://www.nme.com/photos/the-50-worst-album-titles-in-history/124023#/photo/32
  6. ↑ REO Speedwagon – You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish @Discogs.com Retrieved 9-20-2014.
  7. ↑ "Top Albums/CD's – Volume 29, No. 12, June 17, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 17, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 13, June 24, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 24, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 24, September 9, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 9, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "American album certifications – R.E.O._Speedwagon – You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 18 January 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH