Keep the Fire Burnin' (REO Speedwagon song)

"Keep the Fire Burnin'" is a song by REO Speedwagon from their 1982 album Good Trouble. This single was the only track from the Good Trouble album to make the top ten on the pop charts, cresting at number seven.

Background
It is also the only tune from the album to feature Kevin Cronin on keyboards (piano), which, although primarily the band's lead singer and acoustic/rhythm guitarist, he had begun using (in the studio) on the You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish album.

This is the only song from the band's Good Trouble album to have been performed live in its entirety following its supporting tour in 1983. Despite that fact, however, it is still a significant rarity in the band's setlists that has only been performed a handful of times over the last 35 years. In the past couple of decades, Kevin Cronin has played a shortened version of song during solo acoustic sets during REO concerts. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, the entire band has played a remixed version of the song in its entirety at select concerts. For unknown reasons, the song is the only one of the band's major hit singles that was not included on their compilation album The Hits.

Reception
Cash Box said that "the song isn't much different from a lot of the band's material since 'Roll With The Changes' and it's just a tad more melodic and uplifting than 'Don't Let Him Go.'" Billboard said that "urgent uptempo rhythms, surging organ and vaulting vocals all continue the platinum style perfected on Hi Infidelity."

Personnel
REO Speedwagon
 * Kevin Cronin – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic piano, acoustic guitar
 * Gary Richrath – electric guitar
 * Neal Doughty – organ
 * Bruce Hall – bass
 * Alan Gratzer – drums

Additional personnel
 * Tom Kelly – backing vocals
 * Richard Page – backing vocals