Expert: Kathy - 9/7/2009

Question
I saw a video clip of the original REO lineup.  They were playing on a small studio stage (in the style of American Bandstand or Soul Train).  There was a host named London Branch for a show called The Session. I'm guessing it was an Illinois University project or media presentation but I don't really know. Do you know if there are any archives of this show and if they are available to purchase?

Answer
Hi Ed:

The 1971 "Session" video was shot in the Communications Building on the campus of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and was distributed by SIU Broadcasting. It runs 29:36, and features the following songs:

1. Gypsy Woman's Passion
2. 157 Riverside Avenue
3. Lay Me Down
4. Be a Big Man Someday
5. Anti-Establishment Man

The band line-up at that time was: Neal Doughty (keyboards)/ Terry Lutrell (vocals)/ Alan Gratzer (drums)/ Gary Richrath (guitar)/ Gregg Philbin (bass).

I don't believe this show is still legitmately commercially available, but you might give the station a shot:

WSIU Public Broadcasting
1100 Lincoln Dr - Ste 1003
SIU Mailcode 6602
Carbondale, IL 62901-4306
(866) 498-5561
http://www.wsiu.org

The station offices are closed until Tuesday for the Labor Day Weekend.

If that contact doesn't work out, I know the video was also aired on WTVP, Channel 47 in Peoria, Illinois. Here's that station's contact info:

WTVP
101 State Street
Peoria, IL 61602-1547
(309) 677-4747
wtvpmail@wtvp.org

If that doesn't work out, bootleg copies abound on the internet, with varying quality. Email me privately and I can give you some links.

In the meantime, here's an excellent YouTube recording of "157 Riverside Avenue" from that show:

http://classicrockmusicblog.com/videos/reo-speedwagon-157-riverside-avenue-video...

Good luck and thanks for a great question!

Kathy
REO FANS Pres
REO-FANS.com
reofans (at) yahoo.com