Hi Infidelity

For the Italian film, see High Infidelity.

1980 studio album by REO Speedwagon

Hi Infidelity

Studio album by

REO Speedwagon

Released| November 21, 1980 (1980-11-21)
Recorded| June–October 1980
Studio| Crystal Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California)
Genre|

* Pop rock
* hard rock
* AOR[1]

Length| 34:55
Label| Epic
Producer|

* Kevin Beamish
* Kevin Cronin
* Alan Gratzer
* Gary Richrath

REO Speedwagon chronology
| Nine Lives
(1979)  | Hi Infidelity
(1980)  | Good Trouble
(1982)

|
|

Singles from  Hi Infidelity

1. "Keep On Loving You"
Released: November 1980
2. "Take It on the Run"
Released: March 1981[2]
3. "Don't Let Him Go"
Released: June 1981[3]
4. "In Your Letter"
Released: July 1981[4]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [5]
Robert Christgau| B−[6]

Hi Infidelity is the ninth studio album by American rock band REO Speedwagon, released on November 21, 1980, by Epic Records. The album became a big hit in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200, spending 15 weeks at number one (only 27 albums, and only 7 rock acts, have spent at least 15 weeks at number 1). It went on to become the biggest-selling album of 1981, eventually being certified 10 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Of the four singles released, "Take It on the Run" went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the band got their first of two number one hits with "Keep On Loving You".

## Background

[edit]

The album title is a play on the term "in high fidelity," which used to appear on album covers. The album art is an illustration of this pun where an act of sexual infidelity is apparently occurring while the man is putting an LP record to play on the hi-fi stereo.

## Songs

[edit]

Six songs from the album charted on the Billboard charts, including "Keep On Loving You" which was the band's first Number 1 hit, and "Take It on the Run", which reached No. 5 on the charts. The song "Tough Guys" uses an audio clip from the Our Gang short film Hearts Are Thumps (1937).[7]

"Tough Guys" was one of two songs from the album that charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart despite not being released as singles. Music critic Robert Christgau called "Tough Guys" his favorite song from the album but suggested that the line "They think they're full of fire/She thinks they're full of shit" would prevent the song from reaching the pop Top 40.[6]

Record World described "I Wish You Were There" as having a "novel gospel touch."[8]

## Reissues

[edit]

On October 25, 2004, the band recorded the songs of this album live from beginning to end for an XM Radio "Then Again Live" special.

On July 19, 2011, Sony Music re-released Hi Infidelity with bonus demo tracks for the album's 30th anniversary.[9] Demo tracks were recorded Live at Crystal Studios, Hollywood, June through August 1980.

## Track listing

[edit]

### Original release

[edit]

Side 1No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Don't Let Him Go"| Kevin Cronin| 3:47
2.| "Keep On Loving You"| Cronin| 3:23
3.| "Follow My Heart"| Tom Kelly, Gary Richrath| 3:50
4.| "In Your Letter"| Richrath| 3:20
5.| "Take It on the Run"| Richrath[a]| 4:01

Side 2No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Tough Guys"| Cronin| 3:51
2.| "Out of Season"| Cronin, Kelly| 3:07
3.| "Shakin' It Loose"| Richrath[a]| 2:27
4.| "Someone Tonight"| Bruce Hall| 2:41
5.| "I Wish You Were There"| Cronin| 4:27

### 30th Anniversary edition (2011)

[edit]

Disc 2: The Crystal DemosNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Someone Tonight"| Hall| 2:49
2.| "Tough Guys"| Cronin| 3:35
3.| "In Your Letter"| Richrath| 4:08
4.| "Follow My Heart"| Kelly, Richrath| 3:57
5.| "Take It on the Run"| Richrath| 4:01
6.| "Don't Let Him Go"| Cronin| 4:20
7.| "Keep On Loving You"| Cronin| 3:30
8.| "Shakin' It Loose" (Instrumental)| Richrath| 2:32
9.| "I Wish You Were There"| Cronin| 4:58
Total length:| 33:54

## Personnel

[edit]

REO Speedwagon

* Kevin Cronin – lead and backing vocals (except on "Someone Tonight"), acoustic and rhythm guitars, acoustic piano on "Keep on Loving You" and "I Wish You Were There"
* Gary Richrath – electric guitar
* Neal Doughty – keyboards
* Bruce Hall – bass, lead vocals on "Someone Tonight"
* Alan Gratzer – drums, tambourine on "I Wish You Were There"

Additional musicians

* Steve Forman – percussion on "Keep on Loving You"
* Tom Kelly – backing vocals
* Richard Page – backing vocals
* N Yolletta – backing vocals on "In Your Letter"
* Maggie Ryder – backing vocals on "Keep On Loving You"

Technical personnel

* Kevin Beamish – producer, engineer
* Kevin Cronin – producer, arrangements
* Gary Richrath – producer
* Alan Gratzer – co-producer
* Tom Cummings – assistant engineer
* Jeff Eccles – assistant engineer
* Kent Duncan – mastering at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California).
* Aaron Rapoport – photography
* John Kosh – art direction, design
* Bobby Gordon – lighting design
* John Baruck – management
* Al Quaglieri – reissue producer
* Joseph M. Palmaccio – remastering
* Laura Grover – remastering supervisor

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for Hi Infidelity | Chart (1981–1982)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[10] | 6
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[11] | 2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] | 7
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] | 18
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] | 34
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] | 17
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 25
UK Albums (OCC)[17] | 6
US Billboard 200[18] | 1

### Year-end charts

[edit]

1981 year-end chart performance for Hi Infidelity | Chart (1981)  | Position

|

Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[19] | 2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20] | 38
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] | 51
US Billboard 200[22] | 1
1982 year-end chart performance for Hi Infidelity Chart (1982)  | Position

|

US Billboard 200[23] | 39

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for Hi Infidelity Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[24] | 5× Platinum  | 500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Silver  | 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[26] | Diamond  | 10,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Release history and formats for Hi Infidelity Region  | Date  | Label  | Format  | Catalog #

|
|
|
|

United States  | November 21, 1980  | Epic | Stereo vinyl | FE 36844
United States  | November 21, 1980  | Epic Records  | Cassette | FET 36844
United States  | 1980  | Epic  | 8-track | E36844
United Kingdom  | April 10, 1981[27] | Epic Records  | vinyl | EPC84700
United States  | 1985  | Epic  | CD | EK 36884
United States  | 2000  | Epic/Legacy | CD (Remaster)  | EK 61614
United States  | 2011  | Epic/Legacy  | CD (30th anniversary 2 discs)  | 88697695792
Japan  | 2011  | Sony Music | CD (DSD-Remaster)  | EICP 1223

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b Although the song is officially credited solely to Richrath, the album's liner notes also list Kevin Cronin as providing "lyrical assistance".

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Trenz, Brandon (1998). "REO Speedwagon". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 935–936.
2. ^ "REO speedwagon singles".
3. ^ "Great Rock Discography". p. 685.
4. ^ "REO speedwagon singles".
5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. REO Speedwagon: Hi Infidelity at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
6. ^ a b Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
7. ^ Henke, James (March 19, 1981). "REO Speedwagon's Big Breakout". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
8. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 13, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
9. ^ "REO Speedwagon's 30-Year Anniversary of Multi-Platinum #1 Breakthrough Hit Hi Infidelity". Sony Corporation of America. Tom Cording. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 250\. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0375". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
14. ^ "Charts.nz – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
16. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
18. ^ "REO Speedwagon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
19. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1981". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
20. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1981". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
21. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
22. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
23. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
24. ^ "Canadian album certifications – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity". Music Canada.
25. ^ "British album certifications – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infedility". British Phonographic Industry.
26. ^ "American album certifications – REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity". Recording Industry Association of America.
27. ^ "BPI".

* v
* t
* e

Billboard Year-End number one albums

1956–1975|

* 1956: Calypso – Harry Belafonte
* 1957: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast
* 1958: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast
* 1959: The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini
* 1960: Music from The Sound of Music – Original Cast
* 1961: Music from Camelot – Original Cast
* 1962: West Side Story – Soundtrack
* 1963: West Side Story – Soundtrack
* 1964: Music from Hello, Dolly! – Original Cast
* 1965: Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack – Soundtrack
* 1966: Whipped Cream & Other Delights – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
* 1967: More of the Monkees – The Monkees
* 1968: Are You Experienced – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
* 1969: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – Iron Butterfly
* 1970: Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
* 1971: Jesus Christ Superstar – Soundtrack
* 1972: Harvest – Neil Young
* 1973: The World Is a Ghetto – War
* 1974: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
* 1975: Greatest Hits – Elton John

1976–2000|

* 1976: Frampton Comes Alive! – Peter Frampton
* 1977: Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
* 1978: Saturday Night Fever – Soundtrack
* 1979: 52nd Street – Billy Joel
* 1980: The Wall – Pink Floyd
* 1981: Hi Infidelity – REO Speedwagon
* 1982: Asia – Asia
* 1983: Thriller – Michael Jackson
* 1984: Thriller – Michael Jackson
* 1985: Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
* 1986: Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
* 1987: Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi
* 1988: Faith – George Michael
* 1989: Don't Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
* 1990: Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson
* 1991: Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
* 1992: Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks
* 1993: The Bodyguard – Soundtrack
* 1994: The Sign – Ace of Base
* 1995: Cracked Rear View – Hootie & the Blowfish
* 1996: Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
* 1997: Spice – Spice Girls
* 1998: Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture – James Horner
* 1999: Millennium – Backstreet Boys
* 2000: No Strings Attached – NSYNC

2001–present|

* 2001: 1 – The Beatles
* 2002: The Eminem Show – Eminem
* 2003: Get Rich or Die Tryin' – 50 Cent
* 2004: Confessions – Usher
* 2005: The Massacre – 50 Cent
* 2006: Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood
* 2007: Daughtry – Daughtry
* 2008: As I Am – Alicia Keys
* 2009: Fearless – Taylor Swift
* 2010: I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
* 2011: 21 – Adele
* 2012: 21 – Adele
* 2013: The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake
* 2014: Frozen – Soundtrack
* 2015: 1989 – Taylor Swift
* 2016: 25 – Adele
* 2017: Damn – Kendrick Lamar
* 2018: Reputation – Taylor Swift
* 2019: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish
* 2020: Hollywood's Bleeding – Post Malone
* 2021: Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
* 2022: Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
* 2023: One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen
* 2024: The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift

* v
* t
* e

REO Speedwagon

* Neal Doughty
* Kevin Cronin
* Bruce Hall
* Dave Amato
* Bryan Hitt

Former members

Studio albums|

* R.E.O. Speedwagon
* R.E.O./T.W.O.
* Ridin' the Storm Out
* Lost in a Dream
* This Time We Mean It
* R.E.O.
* You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish
* Nine Lives
* Hi Infidelity
* Good Trouble
* Wheels Are Turnin'
* Life as We Know It
* The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken
* Building the Bridge
* Find Your Own Way Home
* Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon

Live albums|

* Live: You Get What You Play For
* Arch Allies: Live at Riverport
* Hi Infidelity Then Again...Live

Compilation albums|

* The Hits
* The Ballads
* The Essential REO Speedwagon

Singles|

* "157 Riverside Avenue"
* "Time for Me to Fly"
* "Keep On Loving You"
* "Take It on the Run"
* "Don't Let Him Go"
* "In Your Letter"
* "Keep the Fire Burnin'"
* "I Do' Wanna Know"
* "Can't Fight This Feeling"
* "One Lonely Night"
* "Live Every Moment"
* "In My Dreams"
* "I Needed to Fall"

Video albums|

* FM
* Arch Allies: Live at Riverport
* Live Aid (1985)
* XM Artists Confidential
* Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, The Yule Log DVD

Related articles|

* Discography
* Members

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template