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

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

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

"Roll with the Changes"/"The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot"
Released: 1978
"Time for Me to Fly"/"Runnin' Blind"
Released: 1978
"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, replacing 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.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Roll with the Changes"	Kevin Cronin	5:37
2.	"Time for Me to Fly"	Cronin	3:42
3.	"Runnin' Blind"	Debbie Mackron, Gary Richrath	3:08
4.	"Blazin' Your Own Trail Again"	Cronin	3:32
5.	"Sing to Me"	Richrath	2:34

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Lucky for You"	Cronin, Richrath	5:02
7.	"Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight?"	Richrath	2:53
8.	"The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot" (Instrumental)	Richrath	2:17
9.	"Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight"	Cronin, Richrath	4:58

Personnel

REO Speedwagon^[6]

Kevin Cronin – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards
Gary Richrath – lead guitar
Neal Doughty – keyboards
Bruce Hall – bass, background vocals
Alan Gratzer – drums, percussion, background vocals

Additional personnel

Lon Price – saxophone (track 9)
Angelle Trosclair, Denise McCall, Denny Henson, Tom Kelly – additional backing vocals

Production

Paul Grupp – producer, engineer
John Boylan – executive producer

Charts

Album

Chart (1978)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	29^[7]
Canadian Albums Chart	70^[8]

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	"Roll with the Changes"	US Billboard Hot 100	58^[7]
	"Roll with the Changes"	Canadian RPM Singles Chart	65^[9]
	"Time for Me to Fly"	US Billboard Hot 100	56^[7]
	"Time for Me to Fly"	Canadian RPM Singles Chart	90^[10]

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)^[11]	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

↑ DeGagne, Mike. You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish at AllMusic
↑ Rolling Stone review
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Albums (Seventh ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-183-3.
↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/6194-the-worst-record-covers-of-all-time/
↑ http://www.nme.com/photos/the-50-worst-album-titles-in-history/124023#/photo/32
↑ REO Speedwagon — You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish. Rock Candy Records Ltd. 2013. p. 16.
1 2 3 "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
↑ "Top Albums/CD's – Volume 29, No. 12, June 17, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 17, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
↑ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 13, June 24, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. June 24, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
↑ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 24, September 9, 1978". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 9, 1978. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
↑ "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

REO Speedwagon

Neal Doughty Kevin Cronin Bruce Hall Dave Amato Bryan Hitt Alan Gratzer Mike Blair Joe Matt Gregg Philbin Terry Luttrell Bob Crownover Joe McCabe Marty Shepard Bill Fiorio Steve Scorfina Gary Richrath Mike Murphy Graham Lear Miles Joseph Carla Day Melanie Jackson Jesse Harms

Studio albums	R.E.O. 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 Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon

Live albums	Live: You Get What You Play For Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Live-Plus Extended Versions Hi Infidelity Then Again...Live Setlist: The Very Best of REO Speedwagon Live Live in Germany 1982 Live Chicago 1979 Live At Moondance Jam Metro Center Rockford Illinois, 15th July 1983

Compilation albums	A Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980 Best Foot Forward The Hits The Second Decade of Rock and Roll 1981 to 1991 Keep On Loving You – Best Starbox Believe in Rock and Roll Only The Strong Survive Premium Best The Ballads Take It On The Run Simply The Best Keep On Rollin' The Essential REO Speedwagon Rock Breakout Years: 1981 Collections Greatest Hits, Steel Box Collection Playlist: The Very Best of REO Speedwagon The Box Set Series

Singles	"157 Riverside Avenue" "Sophisticated Lady" "Ridin' the Storm Out" "Reelin'" "Keep Pushin'" "Ridin' the Storm Out" (live) "Roll with the Changes" "Time for Me to Fly" "Only the Strong Survive" "Keep On Loving You" "Take It on the Run" "Don't Let Him Go" "In Your Letter" "Tough Guys" "Out of Season" "Keep the Fire Burnin'" "Sweet Time" "The Key" "Stillness of the Night" "Good Trouble" "I Do' Wanna Know" "Can't Fight This Feeling" "One Lonely Night" "Live Every Moment" "Wherever You're Goin' (It's Alright)" "That Ain't Love" "Variety Tonight" "In My Dreams" "Here with Me" "Live It Up" "Love Is a Rock" "I Needed to Fall" "Find Your Own Way Home" "Can't Stop Rockin" (W Styx)

Video albums	FM Live Infidelity Wheels are Turnin' A Video Anthology 1978–1990 Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Live-Plus Real Artist Working Live Aid (1985) XM Artists Confidential PBS "SoundStage" Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, The Yule Log DVD Out of Nowhere: Champaign Music Scene Documentary Live in Germany 1982 Live at Moondance Jam

Related articles	Discography

Book:REO Speedwagon

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