As much as I enjoy REO Speedwagon's music, I just don't feel compelled to own all of their studio albums, so I wanted a comprehensive and affordable anthology of the band's best material. Eventually I decided on the Essential REO Speedwagon 3.0 collection. Here's why:

Pros:

- Song selection - With 3 discs, you're getting a hefty 41 songs spanning the band's lengthy career. Disc 1 focuses mainly on the band's early, harder rocking days, while disc 2 covers their radio-dominating AOR days. Disc 2 would actually make a pretty effective Greatest Hits disc all by itself. Disc 3 features an additional 8 songs, mostly lesser-known, but worthwhile for the inclusion of "Tough Guys," "Out of Season" and "Do'wanna Know."

- Price - It's not exactly cheap, but it is a good value for the amount of songs you get.

Cons:

- Sound quality - Actually, the sound quality isn't bad. It's just not what it should be. Discs 1 and 2 are identical to what came in the 2004 Essential collection, so they haven't been re-remastered. They still sound pretty decent (and much better than most of their studio releases), but compared to some of the other Essential and Gold collections (Asia and Heart come to mind) this one just doesn't measure up.

- Packaging - "Eco-friendly" seems to be code for outdated liner notes and a cheap cardboard sleeve that scratches the disc. I'd almost rather have the jewel case and detailed booklet from the 2-disc Essential REO Speedwagon release than the 8 songs on this set's third disc.

If you're looking for the most REO Speedwagon hits for the money, Essential 3.0 is a pretty good deal. It's not perfect, but it is still the best REO Speedwagon collection available.

I've held off getting this compilation for a number of reasons, one of which is rectified here with the 3.0 edition adding a few missing tracks. The main hesitation is that I am concerned about the sound quality and mastering. Some reviewers of the standard, non-3.0 edition state that the sound is essentially cr*p or even remixed. Typically, the 3.0 Essential titles consist of the existing 2-CD versions (i.e. same mastering, track selection, etc.), while adding the bonus disc. Does anyone know if this version has been completely remastered a second time? The back panel states that "additional mastering" was done by Vic Anesini, one of the few mastering engineers who understands and listens to sound as well as music. If he has remastered the entire 3.0 package, I'll buy it with confidence (depsite the fact that I'll be unintentionally spending money on Can't Fight This Feeling).

As far as a proper review, this is the most comprehensive REO collection to date - essentially an expanded edition of the orignal Decade of Rock album - and the 3.0 edition makes it moreso. I could absolutely live without nearly everything past 1982 but the band were still selling records and having hits, so they need to be included in any retrospective. Sound quality? The jury is still out...

I am so pleased to have finally got "I Do' Wanna Know" in excellent remastered sound quality. This song, which was the first single, from the Wheels Are Turnin' album, is not included on any REO Speedwagon best of CD, so the inclusion on this 3.0 Essential is a huge sigh of relief. Also the previous compliation "REO Speedwagon : The Hits" is an embarrasment in sound quality by comparrison. This collection is by far the best, in my opinion, REO Speedwagon has ever sounded.

REO Speedwagon was one of those American Bands that could have only happened in the 70's. A midwestern-boogie band with a hot live show, they built their rep in the heartland and got a record deal based on their rabid - if not widespread - following. Their first few albums were bland, unexceptional affairs, most notable for the mundanity of their songs and sound. Then, like so many acts from the "Frampton Comes Alive" era, their double live album expanded their audience outside their heartland base. Which also menat that the next album was make-it-or-break-it.

In 1978, that meant tightening up the sound, pushing (in and out and back in again) singer Kevin Cronin to the forefront, making guitarist Gary Richrath tighten up the solos, and writing a batch of songs that was more than bar-band-boogie jams. "You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish" did all of that and gave the rock world one of the worst titular puns, plus REO's first major hit single with "Time for Me To Fly" and a rock radio staple with "Roll With The Changes." The album "Nine Lives" stayed the course with two songs on this set, and then came the blast.

"Hi Infidelity" became the group's high water mark in both sales and performance, putting REO into the leagues of Journey and Styx. Their first number one album, two top ten power ballads (including "Keep On Loving You" at number one) and platinum several times over, 6 of this album's 10 songs are on this set. One of them is the oddly girl-group sounding, "In Your Letter." "Good Trouble" slipped a bit; no singles, but three songs in this set, including concert fave "Keep The Fire Burning." However, one album later and "Wheels Are Turning" put the wheels back on the wagon. "Can't Fight This Feeling" went to number one and a million wedding receptions, while "I Do'Wanna Know" is probably my fave REO rocker (and makes an appearance on the bonus disc).

That was about it, as the ensuing albums began the diminishing returns, albeit with good songs and the power ballads like "In My Dreams." The good extras include a few odd-album cuts like "Just for You" and "Here With Me" from compilations and "Where You're Going" from the soundtrack to The Goonies movie. Now, as a three CD set, this is about all the REO you'll probably ever need. You get all the glory days singles and some of the better tunes from the waning days. But you're also hit with the realization that REO wasn't a very good band until "You Get What You Play For Live," which means you have to wallow through eleven 'meh' cuts on disc one before the good stuff kicks in.

Be that as it may, for your 80's nostalgia money, this is the REO set to get. If even this is too much, you can get "The Hits" or "The Ballads" collections (or even just "Hi Infidelity") for what you need.

this is a great cd and a must have for anyone that is an reo speedwagon fan.I got this cd as would rather have a compilation of their songs,rather than getting all their albums.