The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken explained

The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken
Type:studio
Artist:REO Speedwagon
Cover:REO - The Earth A Small Man album cover.jpg
Caption:Original album artwork by Mark Ryden
Released:August 1990
Recorded:September 3, 1989 – May 31, 1990
Studio:Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California)
One On One Studios (North Hollywood, California)
Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
Genre:Rock
Length:46:26
Label:Epic
Producer:Kevin Cronin, Jesse Harms, Tom Lord-Alge, Jim Scott
Prev Title:The Hits
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:Building the Bridge
Next Year:1996

The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken is the thirteenth studio album by REO Speedwagon, and was released in 1990.

It marked the end of their contract with Epic Records and is, to date, the last REO album to chart, peaking at No. 129 on the Billboard 200.[1] The song "Love Is a Rock" reached No. 65 on Billboard's Hot 100, and "Live It Up" reached No. 6 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. "Go For Broke" was written for the film Days of Thunder but ultimately not used.

Following the departure of two long-time members, guitarist and songwriter Gary Richrath and drummer Alan Gratzer, more than half of the songs on this album were written or co-written by keyboardist Jesse Harms. It is also the first album to include guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt who remain with the band as of 2023.

Personnel

REO Speedwagon[2]

Additional performers

Production

Charts

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1990"Love Is a Rock"US Billboard Hot 10065[3]
US Mainstream Rock31
Japanese Singles Chart53[4]
"Live It Up"US Mainstream Rock6
Canadian RPM Singles Chart81[5]

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog #
USA August 1990 Epic Records E-45246
USA 1990 Epic Records TapeET-45246
USA1990Epic RecordsCDEK45246

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . Top Pop Albums . Seventh . 2011 . Record Research . 978-0-89820-183-3.
  2. Book: REO Speedwagon — The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. 1990. Sony Music Entertainment. 3.
  3. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=REO Speedwagon|chart=all}} Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon ]. Billboard charts . 2016-10-07.
  4. Web site: Song artist 610 - REO Speedwagon . TsorT . February 1, 2015.
  5. Web site: Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 19, September 22, 1990. RPM. September 22, 1990. February 1, 2015.