Originally formed in 1967 and hailing from Champaign, Illinois, after a few line-up hiccups, the classic REO line-up was solidified once and for all in 1977: Kevin Cronin supplying vocals, guitar, and piano, Gary Richrath on guitar, Bruce Hall on bass, Neal Doughty on keyboards, organs, and synthesizer, and Alan Gratzer on drums.

And the quintet immediately went on to issue a trio of albums (Live: You Get What You Play For, You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish, and Nine Lives) that as evidenced by their Billboard chart placings, offered clear evidence that the quintet was inching closer and closer to a massive commercial breakthrough.

Recorded and filmed on November 10, 1979 in Hamburg, Germany at the Markthalle, the video and audio included on Live at Rockpalast captures REO in all their '70s hard rockin' glory, as evidenced by the inclusion of such classic tunes as "Ridin' the Storm Out" and "Roll With the Changes," plus such fan favorites as the set-opening "Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight" and "Easy Money." Also included are tunes that are ripe for rediscovery, including "Heavy on Your Love," "Golden Country," and the positively awesomely-titled "The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot."