Nine Lives is the eighth studio album by REO Speedwagon. It peaked at number #33 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1979. The album went gold on December 5, 1979. The title Nine Lives was chosen because the album was the band’s ninth, including their live album, and it also featured nine songs. It was the last REO album to prominently feature a more hard rock sound. The group would turn to more pop-oriented material with 1980’s Hi Infidelity. In 2013, the album was released on CD by UK-based company Rock Candy Records, with expanded liner notes and photos.
The track “Only The Strong Survive” also later appeared on Gary Richrath’s 1992 album Only the Strong
Tracks
1 Heavy on Your Love (Gary Richrath, Kevin Cronin) 3:35
2 Drop it (An Old Disguise) (Kevin Cronin) 3:14
3 Only the Strong Survive (Gary Richrath) 3:52
4 Easy Money (Gary Richrath) 4:01
5 Rock & Roll Music (Chuck Berry) 2:55
6 Take Me (Kevin Cronin) 3:29
7 I Need You Tonight (Kevin Cronin) 3:35
8 Meet Me on the Mountain (Gary Richrath) 4:04
9 Back on the Road Again (Bruce Hall) 5:39
Musicians
1 Heavy on Your Love
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Organ | Neil Doughty |
| Percussion | Alan Gratzer |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
2 Drop it (An Old Disguise)
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Guitar | Kevin Cronin |
| Piano | Neil Doughty |
| Background Vocals | Bruce Hall |
| Background Vocals | Alan Gratzer |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
3 Only the Strong Survive
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Guitar | Kevin Cronin |
| Piano | Neil Doughty |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
4 Easy Money
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Organ | Neil Doughty |
| Percussion | Steve Forman |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
5 Rock & Roll Music
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Guitar | Kevin Cronin |
| Piano | Neil Doughty |
| Percussion | Alan Gratzer |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
6 Take Me
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Guitar | Kevin Cronin |
| Synthesizer | Neil Doughty |
| Percussion | Steve Forman |
| Background Vocals | Bill Champlin |
| Background Vocals | Tom Kelly |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
7 I Need You Tonight
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Acoustic Guitar | Kevin Cronin |
| Piano | Neil Doughty |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
8 Meet Me on the Mountain
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Hammond Organ | Neil Doughty |
| Moog | Neil Doughty |
| Percussion | Alan Gratzer |
| Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
9 Back on the Road Again
| Bass | Bruce Hall |
| Drums | Alan Gratzer |
| Guitar | Gary Richrath |
| Guitar | Kevin Cronin |
| Hammond Organ | Neil Doughty |
| Percussion | Alan Gratzer |
| Background Vocals | Kevin Cronin |
| Vocals | Bruce Hall |
Nine Lives is the eighth studio album by REO Speedwagon. It peaked at number #33 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1979. The album went gold on December 5, 1979. The title Nine Lives was chosen because the album was the band’s ninth, including their live album, and it also featured nine songs. It was the last REO album to prominently feature a more hard rock sound. The group would turn to more pop-oriented material with 1980’s Hi Infidelity. In 2013, the album was released on CD by UK-based company Rock Candy Records, with expanded liner notes and photos.