# Styx. REO Speedwagon. Toto. ELO. What ARE these people? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109 "2004-05-26T02:43:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/81 "2004-05-27T21:19:55Z")
Ok, I’ll play. Some of you will probably cry, “foul”, though. I’m going to use a few that weren’t listed. 1. _Roll With the Changes_, REO Speedwagon 2. _She’s Tight_, Cheap Trick 3. _Blue Collar Man_, Styx 4. _My Kinda Lover_, Billy Squier 5. _Any Way You Want It_, Journey 6. _Double Vision_, Foreigner 7. _Shake It Up_, Cars 8. _Fantasy Girl_, .38 Special 9. _Point of Know Return_, Kansas 10. _Dream Police_, Cheap Trick 11. _Urgent_, Foreigner 12. _More Than a Feeling_, Boston 13. _Caught Up In You_, .38 Special 14. _Think I’m In Love_, Eddie Money 15. _Riding the Storm Out_, REO Speedwagon That’s just 15, but that’s about all that will fit on a CD. There are tons of good songs by these people, but a lot of them were so overplayed that I couldn’t put them on a CD for my car. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/82 "2004-05-28T03:58:18Z")
Well some of these bands used synthesizers to create a mock symphonic sound. The Beatles (George Martin) used actual orchestras but by the late ‘70s early ‘80s synthesizers were available to have a keyboard player create something like that. Styx, Kansas, ELO, all created this sort of sound. So maybe you could call it synth-rock. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/83 "2004-05-28T04:47:26Z")
Lisa: “I’ve never heard of these bands, Mom. What kind of music do they play?” Bart: “Crap rock?” Marge: “No …” Homer: “Wuss rock?” Marge: “That’s it.” ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/84 "2004-05-28T04:49:18Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Hey, Chicago had its good points, though that song is inexcusable. Beginnings, Saturday in the Park, Colour my World. Just buy a best of album and forget about everything after the 80s. Good news, **Wolfian**. I think **Jurph’s** post might have made it look like “Take It On The Run” was by Chicago, but I don’t think so. The only version I’ve ever known of was by REO Speedwagon. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/85 "2004-05-28T16:22:23Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > 1. _Shake It Up_, Cars Nooo nononono no no NO. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/86 "2004-05-28T16:37:11Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Good news, **Wolfian**. I think **Jurph’s** post might have made it look like “Take It On The Run” was by Chicago, but I don’t think so. The only version I’ve ever known of was by REO Speedwagon. That doesn’t excuse the rap album. :shudder: ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/87 "2004-05-28T18:21:14Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Nooo nononono no no NO. Bah! Pick another Cars song then. I picked that one because they aren’t quite in the same mold as these other bands, but that song is close. If I was actually burning this CD, they would be on there, but it would probably be a different song. I was kind of thinking about some Jackson Browne too, but I figured I would get clobbered for going too far off the path. For the record, I lean towards older metal. CD’s reached their peak for me with the Black Metallica release. I like some new stuff. I don’t really know the names of a lot of it, but I like Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin (obligatory BB plug) and others. Which brings up another question. Would Creed (which I admit I like **duck** ) be considered the modern equivalent of the bands in this thread? If not, who would be? As far as the compilation goes, hell, add another Cheap Trick song. You can’t go wrong there! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kings\_Gambit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kings\_Gambit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kings_Gambit1)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/88 "2004-05-28T18:42:40Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > Would Creed (which I admit I like **duck** ) be considered the modern equivalent of the bands in this thread? If not, who would be?🙂 Most of the above mentioned bands are still touring! :eek: Since the lineups of each band, usually, has changed quite a bit, in a weird way, they are the modern equivalent of their former selves! 😃 Honestly, I don’t think there are any modern bands that are comparable to these lovable dinosaurs. They are bands from a point in time that can never, and should never, be reproduced. Plus, this type of music is not very popular with the youth of today (or for the last 10-15 years for that matter). New bands coming out with this type of music would have a very, very hard time “making it”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/89 "2004-05-28T18:54:15Z")
I think you missed my question just a little or I didn’t word it right. :smack: I guess my question is more like, what bands will be in this category in 20 years? Put another way, which current band is on the same path that these bands were on 20 years ago? ---
**Author:** ![Kings\_Gambit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kings\_Gambit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kings_Gambit1)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/90 "2004-05-28T19:17:43Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > I think you missed my question just a little or I didn’t word it right. :smack: > > I guess my question is more like, what bands will be in this category in 20 years? Put another way, which current band is on the same path that these bands were on 20 years ago? If you are not referring to their musical style, I’m not sure what you mean. What exactly do you mean by “on the same path that these bands where on” and “in this category”? In a general sense, I think a lot of today’s bands will be “on the same path”…and “category”: A 20+ year career with 1 or 2 really good albums, and 8 + really crappy albums. 5+ lineup changes (with 1 or 2 unfortunate deaths), including 3 or 4 different lead singers. Lots of drugs and alchohol. Lots of groupies. And just when you thought the group was gone for good…BAM! A “Behind the Music” special is released, which is immediately followed by a new album and tour. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/91 "2004-05-28T19:41:12Z")
> [@Kings\_Gambit1](#): > > If you are not referring to their musical style, I’m not sure what you mean. What exactly do you mean by “on the same path that these bands where on” and “in this category”? I guess I was going more for rock bands that in 20 years people will look back and say, “you know, I like those old songs but they sure are cheesy\*.” Really though, it’s a heck of a testiment to these bands that we are talking about them 20 years after their peak. Most of them are still touring. The last time I saw both REO and Cheap Trick, they still sounded good. I’ve heard the same thing about Styx when they did a summer concert here (I missed the show). Kids who weren’t born when they were popular even liked them. \*\* - sorry **Walloon** \* ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/92 "2004-05-28T19:47:54Z")
The term would be **Innocuous Rock** in that the music was amped, but you could sing the lyrics in front of your mother. I cannot believe anyone would put The Eagles into the same category as REO Speedwagon. Don Henley could father my children. Hey, there’s no shame in taking Viagra! Now excuse me while I go listen to “Journey, Live” and recapture my youth. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/93 "2004-05-28T19:56:33Z")
> [@](#): > > The term I’ve always used has been “Schlock Rock”, You might want to consider a different term. [Schlock Rock](http://www.schlockrock.com) is actually the name of a Jewish band which takes pop and rock songs and makes Jewish-oriented parodies of them. They’re OK, but they’re no Country Yossi and the Shteeble-Hoppers. ;j ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/94 "2004-05-28T20:47:16Z")
> [@mbacko1](#): > > For the longest time I thought Chicago only had one interesting album _Chicago Transit Authority_, their first album. I figured that most of the rest of their songs were sappy ballads because that is all I heard on the radio. Recently I purchased some of their early albums (before Terry Kath died) and there is some really great blues and jazz influenced rock music. This is one of the qualities I noticed immediately about nearly all the bands listed in the OP. Their early albums are really interesting, and then at some point they went corporate or otherwise “jumped the shark” (for lack of a better term) and their later work simply pales in comparison. Journey started out as a spinoff from Santana, and if you listen to any of the pre-Steve Perry albums, they have a definite Santana flavor. Same with the first few Kansas, Styx, or ELO albums, there’s some _really_ good stuff in there. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/95 "2004-05-29T02:12:31Z")
Neither Cheap Trick nor the Cars belong in this classification. ---
**Author:** ![Ace\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Ace\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace_Face)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styx-reo-speedwagon-toto-elo-what-are-these-people/247109/96 "2004-05-29T03:10:17Z")
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