REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity

REO Speedwagon released Hi Infidelity in the fall of 1980. Through 1981, it seemed like the album was on practically every turntable in the country. Even my best friend Mike, who hardly ever bought a record, had it - so I borrowed his copy for a while so I could have it on my turntable, albeit briefly, as he took it back. 

Of course, I now have my own copy on CD, a wonderfully loaded remaster, and now this one on vinyl. At the time, what I knew about REO Speedwagon was on par with what I knew about algebra - which was nothing. To my dear old basketball coach and math teacher, Mr. Cameron, who passed me on the condition that I never, ever take another math class in high school. I promised and kept that promise. I needed to get that C- so that I could meet the minimum requirements to graduate. He's passed away since, but he was a wonderful man.

So, here was REO Speedwagon catching their big break with their ninth release. They'd been on the verge of hitting it big but with Hi Infidelity everything came together, and the album would end up selling over 10 million copies. There were a lot of people who really liked the album - or at least the hits they heard on the radio - and there were a lot of hits on the radio.

Is this a perfect rock record? Nope. Even back then, it was an album that had some great moments and some spectacular WTF moments like "In Your Letter" a song so, well, bad you had to wonder what the band was thinking. Still, as far as flies in the ointment, that's really the only song that I don't care for. The label must have like it though as they released it as a single. The first side is 4 out of 5 for being awesome. Heck, that's pretty good. They can't get that many dentists to agree on anything, so it's a win.

As a young guitar player being able to play the cowboy chords to "Take it on the Run" was pretty cool - even if the song was pure cheese (if you've followed me at all, I know I use that phrase a lot, but I can't help myself. I like cheese). Gary also pulls off an absolute killer of a solo on this one. You'll have to forgive this next bit, I'm not proud of myself but it is what it is ... our cover band would do this song on occasion and we'd replace the work run with bum when we sang it. Like I said, I'm not proud of myself, but I still found myself singing along to the song with the wrong lyrics as I played the record to write this up.

Let's just pretend that never happened and move on shall we?

The second side opens with "Tough Guys" that is an oddly kitschy song that shouldn't work, but it's wrapped up in a rock and roll song and Gary's harmonic squeelies are all over the place on the riff, and it's makes me wonder if a young Zakk Wilde was inspired to add them to his playing. As a kid I didn't play side two as often, and listening to this now I remember why. It just wasn't as punchy, and while the songs are delivered with gusto they were just didn't measure up to the big songs on the first side. Oddly I'm reminded of the early '70s glam bands who loved to channel the '50s. The song's here all have an oddly nostalgic feel to them, but with a lot more distortion on the guitars. I found it interesting that the highlight on the back half was "Someone Tonight" written and sung by Bruce Hall. This could have easily been done by Kevin, but Bruce did a great job.

Closing out the album is a power ballad "I Wish You Were Here" that feels a little like Joe Cocker covering "With a Little Help from My Friends" before morphing into a gospel number with a lot of wicked guitar. If it seems like I'm taking shots, I'm not. This is really good, and frankly it was almost new to me. Like I said, back in the day I really didn't listen to the second side a lot, and making it to the end didn't happen as often.

The band was tight and was anchored by Kevin Cronin's vocals and Gary Richrath's guitar playing. of course this isn't to say the rest of band was just hanging around doing nothing. Bruce Hall and Alan Gratzer were a solid rhythm section, with Bruce's bass laying the sonic foundation that allowed Gary's high fretwork to stand out and cut through the mix. Neil Doughty played keyboards, and along with Alan actually started the band.

Still this, is an essential album by a band who really managed to be in the right place at the right time with a few killer songs, and the rest as they say is history.