One of the most popular tracks on this record was ' 157 Riverside Avenue. The band's debut album, REO Speedwagon, was released on Epic Records in 1971. The lineup on the first album consisted of Doughty, Gratzer, Philbin, Luttrell, and Richrath. Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut where it recorded original material for its first album. The Midwestern United States used to be an REO Speedwagon fan stronghold, and has its roots in this period of the band's history. But by early 1971, the band's lineup was stable at last.

During these early years, there were also several others(including horn players, etc.) who quickly came and went. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously.

Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois -based guitar player and prolific songwriter who brought original material to the band. Another guitarist, Steve Scorfina, came aboard, only to be replaced by Gary Richrath by late 1970. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assumed the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. Crownover played guitar for the group until the summer of 1969 when Bill Fiorio (ex- Lothar and the Hand People ) replaced him. Around the same time, Neil Crownover and Gregg Philbin were brought in to replace the graduating Joe Matt and Mike Blair. Terry Luttrell was the one chosen to assume this position. In the spring of 1968, the group decided to recruit a permanent front man to handle most of the singing. Sometimes the members would switch around on their instruments(with Doughty even playing drums on one song, etc.). In the beginning, Gratzer handled about 95 percent of the lead singing, with occasional turns by the others. The first line up consisted of Neal Doughty on keyboards, Alan Gratzer on drums and vocals, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals and Mike Blair on bass and vocals.

REO Speedwagon was formed by students attending the University of Illinois in Champaign in the fall of 1967 to play cover songs in campus bars. ) In 1971, GM gave the band rights to the name and logo. ('R.E.O.' are initials of the company's founder, Ransom Eli Olds, who also founded Oldsmobile, once a division of General Motors. REO Speedwagon took its name from the REO Speed Wagon, a firetruck manufactured by the REO Motor Car Company.

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