Hi Infidelity is the ninth studio album by the American rock band REO Speedwagon, released on November 21, 1980, by Epic Records.[1] The album marked a commercial breakthrough for the band, topping the Billboard 200 chart for 15 non-consecutive weeks and becoming the best-selling album of 1981 in the United States, with over 10 million copies sold domestically and certified diamond by the RIAA.[2][3] Globally, it has sold an estimated 20 million copies, propelled by its blend of hard rock energy and heartfelt ballads.[4]The album's success was driven by three major singles: "Keep On Loving You," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100; "Take It on the Run," peaking at number five; and "Don't Let Him Go," which climbed to number 24.[5][5][2] Written primarily by lead singer Kevin Cronin and guitarist Gary Richrath, the tracks captured themes of love, heartbreak, and resilience, resonating with audiences during the early 1980sarena rock era. The album's title is a pun on "high fidelity," reflected in its cover art depicting infidelity in a stereo setup. Produced by Cronin, Richrath, Alan Gratzer, and Kevin Beamish, Hi Infidelity shifted REO Speedwagon from regional favorites to international stars, solidifying their legacy in rock music.[6][7]
Background and development
REO Speedwagon's early career
REO Speedwagon was formed in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, by keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer, who met as students at the University of Illinois during their first week of classes.[8] The duo named the band after the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 flatbed truck produced by the REO Motor Car Company and an early precursor to the pickup truck.[9] Initially a college bar band, the group evolved through various lineups in its early years, with Doughty and Gratzer as the constants. By 1971, the core configuration included lead vocalist Terry Luttrell, bassist Gregg Philbin, and guitarist Gary Richrath, who joined that year and brought a harder rock edge to their sound.[10]Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kevin Cronin joined in 1972 shortly after the band's self-titled debut album, contributing to the follow-up R.E.O./T.W.O. and writing key tracks like "Music Man."[11] However, creative differences led to Cronin's departure during the recording of the 1973 album Ridin' the Storm Out, where his vocals were replaced by those of Mike Murphy.[12] Cronin returned permanently in 1976 for the album R.E.O., co-writing songs with Richrath such as "Keep Pushin'" and helping solidify the band's songwriting foundation amid ongoing lineup stability with Philbin, Doughty, and Gratzer.[11] In 1977, bassist Gregg Philbin departed and was replaced by Bruce Hall. This period marked a shift toward more accessible, melody-driven rock, though the band still relied heavily on relentless touring to build a dedicated Midwest following.From 1971 to 1976, REO Speedwagon released six studio albums on Epic Records, each achieving modest sales of over 150,000 copies but failing to break through nationally beyond regional popularity.[13] Their 1977 live album You Get What You Play For captured their energetic stage presence and sold better, reaching the Top 30, yet it did not translate to widespread commercial success.[12] The 1978 studio release You Can Tell by the Time marked an improvement, peaking at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 and earning double platinum certification for over 2 million units sold. The 1979 studio release Nine Lives represented a slight improvement over earlier efforts, peaking at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 and earning goldcertification for 500,000 units sold.[14] Despite Epic's continued support through a decade of grueling road work—often sharing bills with acts like Bob Seger and Styx—the band's stagnant chart performance created mounting pressure from the label for a breakthrough hit.[13]By 1980, after nearly 13 years of non-stop touring, REO Speedwagon faced the risk of disbandment due to internal tensions exacerbated by the constant demands of life on the road, as noted by Cronin, who highlighted the strain on personal relationships and the urgency to deliver commercially viable material.[12] This precarious situation underscored the high stakes as the band approached what would become a pivotal recording project.
Album conception and title origin
In early 1980, REO Speedwagon faced significant doubts from Epic Records following the commercial disappointment of their 1979 album Nine Lives, which peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 and failed to sustain the band's momentum after a decade of touring and releases.[15] This underperformance, combined with internal band struggles, motivated a creative pivot toward a more polished, radio-friendly sound emphasizing melodic ballads and emotional depth.[16] Vocalist Kevin Cronin and guitarist Gary Richrath led this shift, drawing from personal turmoil to craft material that blended accessible hooks with raw sentiment, aiming to recapture mainstream appeal.[17]The album's title, Hi Infidelity, emerged as a pun on "high fidelity"—the longstanding audio engineering term for accurate sound reproduction—while encapsulating themes of romantic betrayal and relational discord central to the record.[18] Cronin has recounted the title reflecting the band's collective "messy" personal lives marked by infidelity and heartbreak from years of relentless touring.[15] Specifically, Cronin's experiences with a strained marriage informed key ballads like "Keep on Loving You," written in a cathartic late-night session amid real-life emotional upheaval from a prior engagement.[17]The artwork concept reinforced the title's duality, illustrating a man (depicted from behind as Cronin) adjusting a stereo turntable in a domestic setting disrupted by an act of infidelity in the background.[19] This visual pun tied directly to the album's exploration of betrayal, with the stereo evoking audio clarity amid relational chaos.To maintain creative control, the band opted to self-produce significant elements, starting with rough demos recorded over three days at the rundown Crystal Studio in Hollywood, which ultimately comprised half of the final masters and preserved the songs' authentic vulnerability.[15]
Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording sessions for Hi Infidelity primarily took place at Crystal Studios in Hollywood, California, and Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California, spanning June through October 1980.[20][21]These sessions stood out for their efficiency, as the band laid down basic tracks rapidly; demos captured live on the floor at Crystal Studios over three days in July 1980 provided roughly half the material for the final album, which was then mixed quickly to meet release demands.[15][22]Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath assumed major production responsibilities alongside Kevin Beamish, enabling tight oversight of the sound and distinguishing the process from the band's more externally guided prior albums.[20]Among the innovative approaches, the band employed live room recording techniques to infuse the tracks with raw energy and immediacy, a method that carried over from the demo phase.[15] Additionally, the introduction to "Tough Guys" incorporates a vintage audio clip from the 1937 Our Gang comedy short "Hearts Are Thumps," adding a playful, nostalgic layer.[23]The sessions occurred under considerable pressure from Epic Records, which had grown impatient after a decade of the band's inconsistent commercial results, imposing a compressed timeline that forced experimentation with polished pop-rock arrangements aimed at attracting a wider audience beyond their core hard rock followers.[15]
Key personnel and contributions
The core lineup of REO Speedwagon for Hi Infidelity consisted of Kevin Cronin handling lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and piano on select tracks such as "Keep On Loving You"; Gary Richrath on lead guitar and backing vocals; Neal Doughty on keyboards; Bruce Hall on bass and backing vocals; and Alan Gratzer on drums and percussion.[24][25] These members brought a collaborative dynamic to the album, with Cronin and Richrath taking central roles in songwriting and arrangement.[20]Additional contributors included Tom Kelly, who provided background vocals on the track "Keep On Loving You," enhancing its layered harmonies.[26] These outside inputs helped refine the album's polished arena rock sound without overshadowing the band's core instrumentation.The production was largely self-directed by Cronin and Richrath, who co-produced alongside Beamish, with Gratzer credited as co-producer for his input on overall structure and flow.[24][27] Engineering duties were led by Beamish, assisted by Jeff Eccles and Tom Cummings, ensuring a clean, radio-friendly mix that captured the band's live energy.[24] Cronin drew from personal experiences of relationships and turmoil to craft lyrics for hit songs like "Take It on the Run" and "Keep On Loving You," infusing them with emotional authenticity.[28] Richrath, meanwhile, delivered signature guitar solos across tracks such as "Don't Let Him Go," focusing on melodic hooks that complemented the album's heartfelt themes.[29]
Composition and themes
Musical style
Hi Infidelity marked a pivotal shift for REO Speedwagon, transitioning from their hard rock origins in the 1970s to a more accessible arena rock sound infused with pop sensibilities. This evolution softened their earlier aggressive edge, incorporating melodic structures and radio-friendly hooks that broadened their appeal beyond traditional rock audiences. The album's production emphasized a polished, stadium-ready aesthetic, blending the band's rock foundation with commercial polish to achieve mainstream success.[16]Instrumentation on the album highlights Gary Richrath's prominent guitar riffs and melodic solos, which provide a driving rock backbone, while Neal Doughty's keyboards add atmospheric layers and pop-inflected textures. Kevin Cronin's emotive tenor vocals, often layered with harmonies from the band, deliver heartfelt delivery that enhances the songs' emotional resonance. This combination creates a cohesive sound that balances raw energy with refined accessibility, evident in the integration of power chords and synth-like keyboard elements.[30][16]Thematically, Hi Infidelity explores love, betrayal, and personal resilience, with lyrics inspired by real-life relational dramas that lend authenticity and relatability to the material. These narratives are woven into both uptempo rockers and introspective ballads, such as the energetic "Don't Let Him Go" contrasting with slower, anthemic tracks, fostering an emotional accessibility that resonated widely. This thematic focus, paired with the album's stylistic blend, solidified REO Speedwagon's breakthrough into pop-rock stardom.[31][16]
Individual songs and songwriting
The songwriting for Hi Infidelity was predominantly collaborative, with Kevin Cronin often taking the lead on lyrics while guitarist Gary Richrath contributed melodies and riffs, emphasizing catchy hooks tailored for album-oriented rock (AOR) radio play.[29][32] This process drew from personal turmoil within the band, transforming interpersonal tensions into therapeutic expressions that resonated widely.[15]"Keep On Loving You," a poignant ballad penned solely by Cronin in 1979, explores themes of perseverance in love amid heartbreak and betrayal, reflecting his own emotional experiences.[1][32] Cronin composed it late one night after awakening with three simple piano chords (F, G, and A minor) looping in his mind, which he recorded on a Wurlitzerelectric piano in his home studio; the lyrics emerged organically as a raw, cathartic outpouring.[29][1] Initially a rough demo that the band and label Epic Records resisted including due to its unconventional structure—a seemingly upbeat melody masking darker verses—Richrath's aggressive, "gnarly" guitar solo during recording added an unintended layer of tension, elevating it to the album's lead single and a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1981.[29][15][1]"Take It on the Run," a co-write credited primarily to Richrath with significant arrangement input from Cronin, delves into jealousy fueled by rumors and hearsay in a relationship, inspired by the band's internal gossip and dynamics.[29][32] Richrath delivered a demo featuring the iconic opening line—"Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend"—which immediately captivated Cronin, prompting him to refine the chorus with the line "You're under the gun" and accelerate the tempo from a slower ballad into an energetic rock track during sessions at Richrath's ranch.[29][15] The narrative-driven lyrics, emphasizing emotional turmoil through a chain of unreliable information, helped propel it to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981.[1]"Don't Let Him Go," an upbeat rocker written entirely by Cronin, serves as a cautionary tale against relational complacency, drawing from the band's fracturing personal lives during a period of intense pressure.[29][15] As the first song composed for the album, it originated from Cronin's adaptation of a Bo Diddley-inspired beat, creating a character-driven narrative urging resilience and commitment; though initially released as the B-side to "Keep On Loving You," it garnered significant radio airplay and peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981.[29][1]Among other notable tracks, "Tough Guys" by Cronin offers social commentary on bullying and vulnerability, rooted in his own repressed childhood experiences of being targeted, and opens with a comedic clip from the 1937 Little Rascals short Hearts Are Thumps for ironic contrast.[29][1] "Out of Season," co-written by Cronin and Tom Kelly, features bass-driven propulsion from Bruce Hall and highlights a more constructed approach, with Cronin providing the verses and Kelly the chorus, seamlessly fused in a spontaneous collaboration despite an abrupt transition.[29]
Track listing
Original 1980 release
The original 1980 release of Hi Infidelity featured ten tracks, all original compositions primarily written by REO Speedwagon band members Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, and Bruce Hall, with some co-writing contributions from external collaborator Tom Kelly; the album's total runtime is approximately 35 minutes.[33] Released by Epic Records on November 21, 1980, it was issued in vinyl LP, cassette, and 8-track cartridge formats, including a printed inner sleeve with full lyrics, credits, and band photos.[33][34] The standard edition contained no bonus tracks, emphasizing the core set of material centered on themes of romantic infidelity and emotional turmoil.[33]
Following its initial release, Hi Infidelity saw several reissues in various formats, reflecting the album's sustained popularity and advancements in audio technology. Standard CD editions appeared in the 1990s, maintaining the original track listing without additions, as part of Epic Records' catalog updates for compact disc distribution.[36][37] These reissues, such as the 1990 and 1995 pressings, preserved the album's core content while improving accessibility for digital-era collectors.[38]In 2007, a live rendition titled Hi Infidelity... Then Again Live was released exclusively through XM Satellite Radio, featuring live performances of all ten tracks recorded at the XM Performance Theater in 2004.[39][40] This edition captured the band's energetic reinterpretation of the album's material in a studio setting.The most expansive reissue came in 2011 for the album's 30th anniversary, issued by Epic/Legacy as a two-CD set. Disc one contained the original tracks remastered for enhanced audio clarity, while disc two added nine bonus selections, consisting of studio demos (such as an early version of "Keep On Loving You") recorded live at Crystal Studios in 1980.[41][42] This edition highlighted the album's production history and provided fans with previously unreleased material.[31]
Edition
Year
Format
Label
Key Features
Standard CD Reissue
1990
CD
Epic
Original tracks; no bonuses
Standard CD Reissue
1995
CD
Epic/Legacy
Original tracks; gold series mastering
Hi Infidelity... Then Again Live
2007 (recorded 2004)
CD
XM Satellite Radio
Live versions of all ten album tracks
30th Anniversary Edition
2011
2-CD
Epic/Legacy
Remastered original + nine studio demos (e.g., early "Keep On Loving You")
Remastered Edition
2024
Vinyl (sea glass colored) / Digital
Epic
High-fidelity remaster; no new tracks; improved clarity for streaming and analog
By the 2000s, Hi Infidelity became widely available in digital formats on platforms like Spotify, enabling high-resolution streaming of both the standard and remastered versions without physical media.[43] The 2024 remaster, released by Epic, focused on vinyl reissue and streaming updates, emphasizing sonic improvements like greater dynamic range and detail retrieval from the original masters, though it retained the unaltered track list.[44][45] These efforts underscore the album's enduring appeal, making it accessible across modern playback methods.[46]
Commercial performance
Chart positions
Hi Infidelity achieved significant commercial success on music charts worldwide upon its release. In the United States, the album topped the Billboard 200 chart on February 21, 1981, holding the number-one position for 15 non-consecutive weeks and displacing John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy from the summit.[1][47] It was recognized as the best-selling rock album of 1981 in the US based on Billboard's year-end chart rankings.[2]The album's performance extended internationally, as shown in the following peak positions:
Chart
Peak Position
Canada (RPM 100 Albums)
1
UK Albums (OCC)
6
Australia (Kent Music Report)
6
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
34
The strong chart runs of its lead singles further bolstered the album's endurance on the Billboard 200. "Keep On Loving You" reached number one on the USBillboard Hot 100 for one week in March 1981, marking REO Speedwagon's first chart-topping single.[5] "Take It on the Run" peaked at number five on the same chart later that year.[5]
Sales and certifications
Hi Infidelity achieved significant commercial success, becoming the best-selling album of 1981 in the United States.[51]In the US, the album has sold over 10 million copies and was certified 10× Platinum (Diamond) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 17, 2017.[52] It previously received 9× Platinum certification on March 7, 1995.[53]Internationally, the album was certified 5× Platinum by Music Canada for shipments of 500,000 units in 1983.[54] In the United Kingdom, it earned a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on June 30, 1981, denoting sales of 60,000 copies.[54]Worldwide sales are estimated at 20 million copies.[54]
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Upon its release in November 1980, Hi Infidelity elicited mixed responses from critics, who grappled with REO Speedwagon's pivot from their established hard rock sound toward a more polished, radio-friendly pop-rock aesthetic. While some reviewers expressed initial skepticism about the band's ability to transcend their "heartland rock" label and previous formulaic output, the album's emphasis on melodic hooks and emotional ballads was frequently highlighted as a step forward in craftsmanship.A March 1981 Rolling Stone feature on the band's breakout success described Hi Infidelity as featuring "three or four midtempo ballads and lots of vocal harmonies," positioning it firmly as pop-rock rather than the hard rock for which REO Speedwagon was known, though it noted the shift contributed to their arena-ready appeal. Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, awarded the album a B− grade, commending the band's adept use of hooks and "readymade" elements while critiquing the surrounding era as "crummy" and questioning if such commercial dominance was warranted; he singled out "Tough Guys" for its sharp, irreverent verse about misguided enthusiasm.[55][56]Trade press outlets were generally optimistic about the album's market potential. In its December 6, 1980, issue, Billboard praised Hi Infidelity for offering more than "just good time rock 'n' roll," emphasizing its "catchy hooks and strong melodies" and recommending tracks like the power ballad "Keep On Loving You" and "Tough Guys" for their hit potential; the review forecasted it as the band's best work to date and a surefire commercial success, a prediction borne out by the subsequent singles' chart performance. This positive reevaluation amid early doubts underscored the album's role in elevating REO Speedwagon beyond their rock roots.[57]
Retrospective assessments
In the decades following its release, Hi Infidelity has garnered widespread acclaim from critics who view it as a pinnacle of REO Speedwagon's catalog, often highlighting its seamless fusion of rock vigor and pop appeal that propelled the band to mainstream stardom. AllMusic's retrospective review, penned by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, awards the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising it as the band's creative zenith for capturing "unabashedly mainstream rock" with an underlying emotional urgency that elevates its polished production.[20] This assessment underscores how the record transformed REO Speedwagon from regional openers into arena headliners, a shift that contrasted with the mixed contemporary reactions of the early 1980s.Later analyses in the 2010s further emphasize the album's enduring balance of emotional ballads and driving rock tracks, positioning it as a commercial and artistic breakthrough. A 2010 Goldmine magazine feature, drawing on interviews with frontman Kevin Cronin, portrays the album as a career-saving force after years of near-misses, with the band crediting its raw energy for reviving their trajectory; the publication also lauds the 30th anniversary reissue's inclusion of high-fidelity demos from Crystal Studios, which preserve about half of the final tracks in their unpolished form.[15]Reviews of the 2011 30th anniversary edition reinforced the album's lasting hooks and nostalgic pull. Seattle PI critic Joseph Timmons rated the expanded two-disc set highly for its "perfect pitch rock anthems" that remain as captivating today as in 1980, emphasizing the nostalgic value of revisiting tracks like "Take It on the Run" amid personal memories of the band's live prowess, for blending archival depth with timeless appeal.[58] In a June 2025 Ultimate Classic Rock interview, longtime members reflected on the album as a pivotal shift blending heartfelt ballads with rock energy, acknowledging early "selling out" criticisms but praising its role in their breakthrough success and enduring legacy.[16] These modern evaluations collectively affirm Hi Infidelity's evolution from a surprise hit to a cornerstone of classic rock, appreciated for its role in bridging hard rock roots with radio-friendly polish.
Legacy
Impact on the band's career
The release of Hi Infidelity in 1980 propelled REO Speedwagon from a mid-level rock act into arena headliners, enabling extensive touring that included over 130 live dates in 1980-1981 and stadium performances such as the August 2, 1981, show at Oakland Stadium alongside .38 Special, Kansas, UFO, and Gamma.[16][59] This momentum directly influenced their follow-up album, Good Trouble (1982), which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and achieved double platinum status, building on the ballad-heavy style that defined their commercial peak.The album's success transformed the band's trajectory, elevating them from years of modest sales and lineup instability to enduring rock icons, with the songwriting partnership between vocalist Kevin Cronin and guitarist Gary Richrath becoming central to their identity through hits like "Keep On Loving You" and "Take It on the Run."[60]Hi Infidelity's 10 million U.S. sales provided financial stability that sustained the group for decades, underscoring a dramatic turnaround from pre-album struggles where previous records like Nine Lives (1979) had only reached No. 33 on the charts.In the long term, the album's legacy anchored REO Speedwagon's performances, as evidenced by their 2024 "Live Infidelity" farewell residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas, where they played Hi Infidelity in full during final shows, highlighting its enduring role in their catalog.[61] The record also earned a 1982 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, signaling the band's pivot toward the 1980s power ballad trend that shaped their subsequent hits.[62]
Cultural and musical influence
"Keep On Loving You," the lead single from Hi Infidelity, is widely regarded as a prototypical power ballad, establishing a template for the format that dominated MTV-era rock hits in the 1980s.[2] Its blend of emotional lyrics, soaring vocals, and dramatic instrumentation influenced the genre's evolution, paving the way for similar anthemic tracks in arena rock.[63]The album left a notable cultural footprint through its songs' appearances in media. Tracks like "Keep On Loving You" featured in 1980s films such as The Last American Virgin (1982), where it underscored romantic scenes, and later in movies including Crank: High Voltage (2009) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009).[64] On television, REO Speedwagon performed "Take It on the Run" in the 1996 Simpsons episode "Homerpalooza," highlighting the band's enduring appeal in pop culture parodies.[65] The album's title, a pun on "high fidelity" audio equipment and themes of romantic betrayal, has been referenced in discussions of infidelity in relationships, reflecting its thematic resonance beyond music.[19]Musically, Hi Infidelity played a key role in transitioning album-oriented rock (AOR) radio toward pop-rock hybrids, with its accessible melodies and production appealing to broader audiences while retaining rock roots.[33] The 2024 remaster release revitalized interest in the album via streaming platforms.[43]A pivotal moment in its legacy occurred on February 21, 1981, when Hi Infidelity displaced John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, symbolizing a generational shift from 1970s singer-songwriter icons to 1980s commercial rock acts.[66] With over 20 million copies sold worldwide, the album's success inspired revivals for other veteran rock bands seeking mainstream breakthroughs in the decade.[54]